"Philadelphia" Spa & Salon Directory

As listed in this month's issue of Allure Magazine

Ame Salon & Spa
Rice Milk & Honey Pedicure, $60 111 Waynewood Ave.Wayne, PA610-995-2631
There's a dull sameness to many pedicures. But with one surveying glance at the salon's custom-made banquettes, we knew there was nothing cookie-cutter about Ame. After a warm-milk foot bath, our pedicurist painted our lower legs with heated honey to restore moisture and soothe the redness of our fair skin. Inspired to shake the status quo, we decided to pass on our tried-and-true (and somewhat tired) red polish for a punchy fuchsia.

Rittenhouse Manicure & Spa
Manicure, $20; pedicure, $30 268 S. 20th St. 215-546-4501
We were always taught to share—but this neighborhood spot subscribes to a different policy. As soon as we showed up for our appointment, our manicurist produced a box containing brand-new tools, which she explained were "just for us" and would be set aside until our next visit at no extra charge. She escorted us to a comfy chair and got to work buffing, trimming, and filing before treating us to a hot-stone hand massage that traveled all the way up to our elbows. Call us greedy, but we couldn't resist booking a pedicure as well.

Water Unlimited
Purist Manicure, $16 1114 Pine St.215-629-1199
Like dinner parties, nail salons are more enjoyable when they're small and intimate. Water Unlimited, with its serene, six-station room and aim-to-please service, fits the bill. Our nails were filed exactly the way we'd requested—to just below the fingertip—and then all ridges were buffed smooth. Next, a thick exfoliator was massaged on our hands, left to dry for a minute or two, and then rinsed away, revealing silky skin. Our manicurist wisely applied a ridge-filler before painting on a navy blue polish. The result was as smooth as glass and so resistant to chipping it looked flawless for more than a week.