Best of Hudson Valley 2013: Best Salons, Spas, Health and Beauty Stores in the Hudson Valley, Upstate NY

PLUS: Readers’ Picks, including best day apa, health club, and yoga center

Editors’ Picks

Peaceful Spa Retreat

PEACE IN THE POOL AT MOHONK MOUNTAIN HOUSE SPA New Paltz
Wash away your worries at Mohonk (which was recently named the number one spa in the U.S. by CondeÌ Nast Traveler). Come alone ($90) or with a friend ($150) for a 50-minute aqua session, during which an instructor guides you through tai chi, stretching, and meditation in the resort’s glittering pool. Relaxing music plays both above water during your upright positions and underwater during your submerged ones — soothing your body, mind, and spirit throughout the entire experience. 877-877-2664; www.mohonk.com/spa

Pampering For Guys

HOT TOWEL BARBERS Kingston, Saugerties, Highland
Gentlemen, let’s face it: A good barber shop is hard to find. Or at least it was hard to find until certified master barber Randy Romeo opened up his first shop in Saugerties. Now, you can settle down in a comfy barber’s chair and choose from a slew of styles, executed either with scissors, a razor, or both. But the real old-fashioned feel comes from the shaves. Whether you need a full cream shave or just a mustache, goatee, or beard trim, be sure to treat your cheeks to a wash ($3) and the shop’s signature hot towel press ($5). Enjoy it all while you flip through the latest magazines, drink a beer, or catch up on the game on one of the flat-screen TVs. Ahh. www.hottowelbarbers.com

Massage By The Minute

BIRCH BODY CARE Kingston
If you haven’t got the time or money for the standard one-hour massage package offered at most spas, never fear: Birch Body Care lets you pay by the minute. Just walk right in and ask for either the massage or the stretch session; these services cost $1 per minute and can last anywhere from 10 to 45 minutes. Of course, if you want to go the more traditional payment route, regular packages — which range from couples and expectant mother treatments to massages that target the hands, feet, and head — can be booked by appointment. 845-331-7139; www.birchkingston.com

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Affordable Day Spa

RIVER ROCK HEALTH SPA Woodstock
The only thing that beats a top-notch massage is a top-notch massage that won’t burn a hole in your wallet. River Rock’s Asian-inspired decor and relaxed country setting help you unwind before you even sit down for a treatment. Choose from myriad services ranging from massages and facials (using organic skin care products) to specially catered appointments and afternoon tea luncheons. The combination Swedish and deep tissue massage provides 60 minutes of paradise for only $85. It’s the royal treatment without the royal price tag. 845-679-7800; www.riverrock.biz

Natural Nail Polish

JEAN TURMO Woodstock
This family business has been a favorite destination in downtown Woodstock since it opened in 1976. Jean Turmo features everything from household items, gifts, and incense made with natural oils to bath and body products — as well as an extensive line of cosmetics. “We have more than 100 colors of natural nail polish,” says Rebecca Turmo. Manufactured especially for Turmo, the popular polish is free of chemicals like formaldehyde, toluene, and DBP. And nothing sold in the store is tested on animals, Turmo adds. 845-679-7491; www.jeanturmo.com

Day Spa For The Whole Family

STUDIO 2 FAMILY DAY SPA Otisville
It’s tough for busy folks, especially parents, to find time for self-care and pampering — and Studio 2 Spa owner Erin Dziados took that into consideration when developing her family-friendly Orange County business. It offers a wide range of hair, skin, and nail services and massages for men and women — plus a kiddie playroom complete with a Playstation2, toys, and more. “Some spas and salons say ‘Please don’t bring the children,’ but we’re the opposite: We encourage kids to come along with the parents,” Dziados says. And if the little ones get a hankering for some pampering of their own, Studio 2 offers Kiddie Spa treatments for ages two through 12. Children can sample services such as “Princess Pedicures” and kiddie facials, to both have fun and help develop good skincare habits from an early age. They even host “Little Princess Glamour Parties” — a nifty way to celebrate a birthday or other special event. 845-386-9699; www.studio2familydayspa.com