Services


Hair Salon

Editors’ Choice
Scarlet Salon (pictured)
No fretting about putting your hair in the wrong hands here. Any of the 26 stylists at LoHi’s Scarlet Salon, including three men, will do right by your coif, so settle in for a cut and highlights (together starting at what we promise is a well-spent $150). If you have a morning appointment, enjoy a cup of java on the side; otherwise, wine service (one complimentary glass) starts at noon. Want to take home the 100 percent vegan line of Number 4 High Performance products you just had massaged into your scalp? Samples are in the goody bag waiting for you at the front counter. 1575 Boulder St., 720-855-7839

Readers’ Choice
Bang Salon multiple locations


Landscaper

Editors’ Choice
Blu Design Group
The folks at Blu Design Group can create the ideal yard for just about anyone—including Nike. The Swoosh hired the three-year-old Englewood firm to craft a meticulous and varied outdoor experience at its Shanghai headquarters. Closer to home, you can view BDG’s range in a lush Cherry Creek entryway, the rock pathways encircling a Castle Pines home, or a beautifully shaded Aspen office building. If that’s not enough, the company’s impressive list of awards—including Best of Houzz 2015 (an online community for home design)—should sway you in its direction. 3334 S. Sherman St., Englewood, 720-498-4637

Readers’ Choice
(TIE) Weston Landscape and Design Inc. 2190 S. Raritan St., Englewood, 303-944-7495 and Lifescape 3002 Walnut St., 303-831-8310


Massage

Editors’ Choice
Peace of Mind Massage
There are times when we want (OK, need) the full spa massage experience. But most days, our aching backs—thanks to desk jobs, hauling kids around, or working out—just require an in-and-out hour of skilled kink removal. That’s when we book an appointment—sometimes just a day in advance—with Taylor “Noel” Jordan (pictured) at Peace of Mind Massage, located in a converted house in Platt Park. First-timers (who receive $10 off) fill out lengthy questionnaires (that the staffers actually use) before being taken up to one of four modestly decorated treatment rooms. During the 60-minute integrated massage ($70), Jordan’s expert hands apply various techniques, from Swedish to therapeutic stretching to reflexology, to find just the right combination to relieve your tightness. 1249 S. Pearl St., 303-881-5533

Readers’ Choice
Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa multiple locations


Barber

Editors’ Choice
GQ Barber Lounge
Established in 1996, this LoDo institution brought polish to men’s barbershops before the man bun was even born. It continues to stand out from the rest of the manscaped pack because the staff understands that while style matters, it’s no match for substance. A dozen barbers (nearly all also trained in an array of other services, including manicures and pedicures, waxing, and facials) work the cutting-room floor, ensuring even walk-ins don’t have to sacrifice too many billable hours. The result: a trim (received with an on-the-house IPA) that looks better longer—and a reminder of why our elders deserve to be respected. 1605 17th St., 303-991-1010

Readers’ Choice
Matthew Morris Salon
13 S. Broadway; 2644 Walnut St.; 303-715-4673


Spa

Editors’ Choice
Izba Spa
Nestled within the Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the 20-year-old Izba Spa transports you to an Eastern chalet via private treatment rooms decorated with floor-to-ceiling wood carvings of leaves and flowers. Each treatment area contains a hot tub, massage tables, and a 160-degree steam room known as a “banya.” (Water and essential oils are poured over a pile of hot stones; the steam helps you sweat toxins out of your body.) Try it all with the basic two-hour treatment ($110), which combines services at all three stations, including what might be one of the weirdest, but also very effective, ways we’ve heard of to get your blood flowing: Masseuses tap you with oak branches and then rub your skin with real honey (you’ll shower after) to stimulate blood flow and restore your “internal energy.” Hey, if it works, it works. 1441 York St., 303-321-1239

Readers’ Choice
European Wax Center multiple locations


Mani/Pedi

Editors’ Choice
Fingers & Toes A Nail Retreat
Our readers told us in 2012 and 2013 and 2014 that Fingers & Toes was their favorite spot to get polished. We heard you—and we’ve got to agree. The Bonnie Brae salon’s accommodating staffers (they helped us find parking in this tough-to-land-a-spot ’hood) and small yet varied menu (think express manicures as well as pampering spa treatments such as healing scrubs) make it easy for in-and-out appointments—like squeezing in last minute on a Tuesday for a necessary touch-up. We suggest settling into the cushioned bench with your favorite reading material and treating yourself to an hour-and-a-half-long healing mani/pedi combo ($83), including Footlogix seaweed scrub and hand and foot massages. Or book a happy hour pedicure on a Wednesday between 2 and 5 p.m. and get a free mini manicure. You’ll look great for the actual happy hour next on your agenda. 743 S. University Blvd., 303-955-1920

Readers’ Choice
Fingers & Toes A Nail Retreat


Flower Shop

Editors’ Choice
Diz’s Daisys Flower Shop
Multitasking has become a way of life in the 21st century—even, it seems, for flower shops, which often sell home goods and tchotchkes alongside their blooms. Not so at Diz’s Daisys Flower Shop, where only flowers fill the adorable 21-year-old boutique. Hidden along the border of Sunnyside and Highland, Diz’s is by no means limited to its daisy namesake (though it does always boast a rainbow of gerberas); on any given day, more than 50 varieties are available. Make your own bouquet from a cooler filled with individual stems that arrive fresh daily—many from local growers such as Fort Collins’ Jordan’s Floral Gardens—or order a mixed arrangement made by the expert staff, whose singular focus holds the attention of our, admittedly, multitasking minds. 2709 W. 38th Ave., 303-477-7229

Readers’ Choice
The Perfect Petal 3600 W. 32nd Ave., 303-480-0966


Interior Design

Editors’ Choice
Jeffrey P. Elliott
While it’s not uncommon for interior designers to do commercial and residential work, it’s not often that you find one who excels at both. Which is why Jeffrey P. Elliott’s style (minimalist without being stark) is so compelling. Commercially, he’s the design mind behind LoDo’s Dorchester Social Eatery and Fruition Restaurant’s redesign. In homes, he’s unafraid to mix styles. You might see a massive grand piano paired with two modern upholstered chairs in a formal living area. Or a great room with plush sofas and…a desk because, let’s be honest, we’re all guilty of working in front of the TV. Elliott understands that—and us. 303 S. Broadway, Suite B342, 303-860-0109

Readers’ Choice
Studio Thomas
7355 E. Orchard Road, Greenwood Village, 720-467-0131


Ski/Snowboard Tune

Editors’ Choice
The EdgeWorks
Sharp and fast: That’s what we want from a freshly tuned snowboard or pair of skis. And it’s what the Edgeworks delivers—usually in less than 48 hours. From the $35 basic edge and wax to the $55 full tune, wax, and repair, the staff at this 21-year-old shop keeps your snow gear in schussing shape. The Edgeworks also hosts free maintenance clinics throughout the winter (brews and snacks provided), so you can glean some at-home know-how between professional tunes. When the lifts close for the season, peruse the store’s stock of high-end demos, which go for way below sticker price. 860 Broadway, 303-831-7228

Readers’ Choice
Colorado Ski & Golf multiple locations


Bike Shop

Editors’ Choice
Adventure Cycling
Situated in an unassuming strip mall in Aurora, Adventure Cycling is a small but formidable shop that makes you feel welcome, regardless of whether you’re a novice or own a $12,000 carbon-fiber racing machine. Cyclists won’t encounter any condescending employees here. Instead, find all of the basics, from full bikes (including a demo program) to water bottles and socks (available in the online store as well), a bike-fitting studio, and a team of cycling-enthusiast workers who are happy to help fulfill any two-wheel needs. Of course, the 31-year-old AC also offers mechanic services—attitude not included. 4361 S. Parker Road, Aurora, 303-699-2514

Readers’ Choice
Campus Cycles 2102 S. Washington St., 303-698-2811; 7310 W. Colfax Ave., Lakewood, 303-237-1115


Pet Services

Editors’ Choice
Paradise 4 Paws
Love to travel, but feel guilty leaving your furry friend behind? The solution sits just a few miles from DIA, where the nation’s third Paradise 4 Paws location opened in December. The 25,000-square-foot cage-free resort (rooms start at $25 a night for cats, $45 for dogs) gives your pets their own fun-filled vacation with bone-shaped splashing pools for Fido and climbing structures and a fish tank for Fluffy; treat them by scheduling grooming sessions, extra cuddles, or massages. Anxious parents can check in via webcam, but there’s no need to worry: Smaller pooches have their own wing, and there is a vet’s office on-site. Staffers will even help you make your flight with a ride to the airport (parking in P4P’s uncovered lot is $12 per night). 24735 E. 75th Ave., 303-342-6996

Readers’ Choice
Paradise 4 Paws


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—Images courtesy of Jason Dewey and Paradise 4 Paws

Daliah Singer
Daliah Singer
Daliah Singer is an award-winning writer and editor based in Denver. You can find more of her work at daliahsinger.com.