This was my very first day spa. At 16 years old this was the first place I got my eyebrows waxed. Eventually it was also the site of my first leg wax. First bikini wax. First favorite massage therapist. I had no idea how spoiled I was by About Faces until I left my hometown of Baltimore. If I could create an About Faces in every city and college town in America I would. Their approach is simple: excellent products, professional accommodating staff, the highest quality services available, but with out any of the odd pretense that can so easily gather like mold in the highest quality day spas. Maybe a place like this can only exist in Baltimore, which is one of the more humble American cities. It's as if every woman in About Faces knows, 'We are lucky to be here, this is an outstanding day spa and it's simply where we come to relax, play, and be women'. 
My mother and I decided to get Spa Manicures. While in the waiting area we ran into a former school mate of mine and her mother who were just leaving their mother daughter mani-pedi. In fact we had the very same nail technicians, Isabelle and Joanne, as my former school mate and her mother did. It was a nice moment to be home, at About Faces. The last mani-pedi I had in North Carolina was terrifying. This manicure was the complete opposite. Sitting down for a Spa Manicure with Joanne Stoner, my manicurist for the day, completely erased any traces of terror remaining from my previous experience. Joanne's spa manicure was rejuvenating, relaxing, well-executed, and fun. She reminded me why I frequent day spas in the first place. Joanne is a professional who has been doing this kind of work for 30 years. After a bit of nail maintenance she massaged each of my hands with Creative Nail Design's Exfoliating Crystals. Then she had me wash my hands and rub in Creative Nail Design's Solar Manicure, a puddle of thick heavy salt crystals from the Dead Sea.
Finally she applied Creative Nail Design's creamy thick Solar Butter and wrapped my hands in plastic bags and towels to let the moisture soak in. Joanne also took the time to massage my shoulders while my hands were absorbing copious amounts of moisture. At this point I asked if she was also a massage therapist, to which she replied no. She was just doing her normal Spa Manicure. In truth she could also be a successful massage therapist. She rubbed away all the stress of traveling and a very busy work week in about 5 minutes. I miss About Faces. This is how every spa manicure should be. After all the spa-ing was finished she skillfully colored my nails with OPI's Kennebunk-port red. I seem to have an addiction to red nails this winter. It is also a wonderful gift to be able to get this manicure at About Faces on this weekend. I knew I would need the best manicure available and there is no where else I would rather get it. Next Saturday morning I'll fly to L.A. to bring you all the best of L.A. Fashion Week. It's only fitting that my very first day spa did my nails and gave me the reprieve I needed to set out on such a big project. Maybe it's not that you can't go home again but that you can't move on with out going home to first remember where you came from.
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