Wherever you go, spring break is the time to remind people that you are thriving in college. But let’s face it, recently you have been wilting in a library by day, reheating leftover pizza by night. Your sleep schedule? Well...that’s nonexistent. The only glow on your face is the reflection of an LED screen.
Don’t fret. A week is plenty of time to build back your inner glow (or at least fake it). Here are the local salons and services that will have everyone thinking you’ve been leisurely studying on College Green all along.
Nails: 
All the miles you have logged walking in boots have not made your heels pretty.
212 S. 40th Street (Two–minute walk from Rodin)
215.382.0727
Mon–Wed: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Thu – Fri: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Sat: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sun: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Located on the same strip as Smokes and HipCityVeg, the recently open Luxe Nail Bar is close enough to get your nails done in between classes or right after a midterm to destress. They offer classic manicures and pedicures ($40 together or $15 for manicure, $30 for pedicure separately) as well as gel ($55 together, $30 for a manicure, $40 for a pedicure). The place is sleek and swift: white walls lined with chairs and bar seating, a flat screen TV and 500 types of gel colors. And, in the attitude of efficiency, you can get waxed, too. ($40 for Bikini and $60 for Brazilian).
Rittenhouse Square
2051 Walnut Street (12 minute drive from campus)
267.758.2385
Tues: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Wed: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Thu – Fri: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Sat: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sun: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Lacquer Lounge lets you get primped and pampered without having to fork over much more than you would on campus. They understand the time crunch and offer a one–hour manicure for $15 and pedicure for $28. If you have some more time and money on hand, you can go for the detoxifying Ooh La La ($25 mani, $55 pedi) or the anti–aging Fiji Island Escape ($30 mani; $65 pedi). Surrounded by pink and white decorations, embrace the simple and clean atmosphere with the peace of mind that the salon takes cleanliness very seriously, too. Their custom–built pedicure benches and soak tubs with pipeless foot baths and individual bath liners avoid cross–contamination. And by cutting out acrylic services, they eliminate that chemical stench. Sit back and breath easy.
Spray Tan: 
Because it’s not always sunny in Philadelphia.
1120 Walnut Street (17 minute drive from campus)
484.278.1389
Mon – Tues: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Wed – Fri: 10 am.. – 10 p.m.
Sat: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sun: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
It’s 2017, and you should know by now that lying under the sun or in a tanning bed is, like, murdering your skin and health. Decrease the temptation to slather on tanning oil by arriving with skin already bronzed from a spray tan. Though having opened a location in Philadelphia just this past October, Courtney Claghorn has been offering high quality, reasonably priced spray tans for a few years, beginning in California. Within 20 minutes, the technician will apply a paraben–free and organic tanning solution customized for your skin, hair and eye color. Lasting a week and costing only $39 for two spray tans, this service is great to try out for spring break.
If you want to put matter into your own hands, using a self tanning lotion is a tried and true way to increase your glow. Today, there are many formulas to choose from in drugstores and specialty stores like Sephora or Ulta, and no, most won’t make you orange.
Waxing: 
If you're going to go through the pain, do it somewhere you can trust.
1611 Walnut Street, 3rd Floor (15 minute drive from campus)
215.569.9599
Mon – Fri: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Sat – Sun: 10 a.m. – 6p.m.
Consider Body Restoration experts of the wax itself. You probably didn't give much thought to the substance pulling out your hairs, but the Rittenhouse salon swear by blue wax, which they heat at low temperatures and peel away to decrease irritation and ingrown hairs. A bikini wax costs $35, and a Brazilian starts at $85. If you are a newbie to the practice, check out their website for full descriptions of what each type of wax entails and feel assured you are in good hands.
Sugaring: 
For those that hate waxing and hate hair.
1036 Pine Street (17–minute drive from campus)
267.209.3096
Tues – Fri: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Sat: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
If the hair needs to go, but you don’t want to head to the waxing salon, give sugaring a shot at one of the few salons in Philly that offer the service. Ashley Richardson launched Green City Beauty in Philly because she was tired of the inflammation and irritation the typical wax strips caused her. Instead, the ancient method of sugaring involves applying a formula of lemon juice, water and sugar to the hairs and then quickly tugging the strands out. By pulling in the direction of the hair growth, irritation and ingrown hairs are reduced. It costs $40 for a bikini and $60 for a Brazilian, and the effect should last four to six weeks. Green City Beauty’s succulent and rose gold aesthetic will make you want to linger, and they offer sugaring for other parts of the body as well as face masks and facials starting at $15.
One–Stop Primping:
You have a midterm on the Friday before break.
138 South 34th Street (Three–minute walk from VP)
215.418.5550
Mon: 10 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Tues: 9 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Wed – Thurs: 9 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Fri – Sat: 9 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Sun: 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
You might already go here to get your hair trimmed, but don’t underestimate your friendly university salon. They offer nail care ($18 for a manicure; $37 for a pedicure), waxing ($40+ for bikini) and a range of hair care.
