BEAUTY & WELLNESS

Straight-Razor Shave
If you’ve had only a barbershop shave, do yourself a favor and try the “Royal” at The Art of Shaving. In a private, wood-paneled nook in the back of the store, master barber Lara Cooke takes delicate care of your unkempt mug, treating it to scented oil, rich lather, a lemony hot towel, moisturizing balm, and two rejuvenating shaves (the second to clean up any rough spots). Rosewater-dipped pads cover your eyes as Cooke spreads on a deep-cleansing clay mask. And she offers DIY tips throughout (try an aftershave without alcohol, or always rinse with cold water). For $55, you’ll walk out feeling like a million bucks. >> Fashion Mall, 819-0233, theartofshaving.com.

Nail Polish Lab
Not sure about that shimmery turquoise-blue polish? At the Nail Studio at Sephora, you can try dozens of choices before you buy, either on your nails or on a piece of paper. The shop carries Sephora by OPI and Dior, as well as hard-to-find British brands Illamasqua and Nails Inc., SpaRitual, and Julep. The range of colors and finishes could make a 96-count box of crayons jealous. >> Fashion Mall, 587-0700; Greenwood Park Mall, 859-8491; sephora.com.

Blowout Bar
To take your locks from lackluster to glamorous fast, head downstairs at Carmel’s Salon 01 to its sunny, orange-and-white, nine-chair blowout bar. Starting at $30, the service—shampoo, condition, tension-sapping scalp massage, and style—can range from silky tresses with subtle bounce to a modern take on Dynasty bouffants. You can usually snag a same-day appointment during the week. >> 200 City Center Dr., Carmel, 580-0101, salon01.com.

Brazlian Wax
Okay, even The Naked Monkey can’t make a bikini wax as fun as a barrel of—well, you know. Instead, we’ll gladly settle for the smoothest, quickest, most pain-free service out there ($70, backside “baboon” included). Pros at these locally owned spas choose from six tubs of warm wax to find the best one for each customer’s skin and hair type. >> 355 Indiana Ave., 341-0149; 270 W. Carmel Dr., Carmel, 566-2929; 8355 E. 116th St., Fishers, 585-4929.

Ballet Classes
Beginners need not apply to Indianapolis City Ballet’s Penny and Jock Fortune Master Class Series. But dancers with a year of experience on pointe can study with a roster of distinguished visiting instructors, including the ballet master of New York’s American Ballet Theatre and the academy artistic director of the Joffrey Ballet. Each session includes a Q&A and 90 minutes of hands-on (well, feet-on) instruction. >> $30 per class. Location varies. 339-1413, indianapoliscityballet.org.

Help for New Moms
Do you really need to lock your toilets when baby-proofing? Finally, there’s someone to ask. Becky Drummy Fehman, a registered nurse and former nanny who pretended to produce a show called Baby TV when she was growing up, has created Ready the Nest, a concierge service that offers in-home newborn-care classes, registry guidance, breastfeeding support, and even grandparent-refresher lessons. >> $50 and up. 210-2992, readythenest.net.

Juice Cleanse
Brie bender, eggnog overkill—whatever you’ve done this time, Natural Born Juicers can help you rejuvenate with a regimen of 18 fruit- and vegetable-based concoctions made from organic, raw, and unpasteurized ingredients. Some flavors are more palatable than others, but each day’s finale—almond milk with vanilla and agave nectar—will make you feel like a sinner again. >> $135 for a three-day beginner cleanse. City Market, 797-4254, naturalbornjuicers.com.

TRX Class
The most convincing pitch for the TRX class at Fit Flex Fly is the clientele. Look around the floor (if you can remain conscious) during one of the Nora gym’s 55-minute cardio-pumping, core-strengthening classes, and you will see chiseled triceps, bulging calves, high butts, a refreshing dearth of muffin tops—and people actually smiling through the pain. And yes, there is pain. With a thumping soundtrack and lots of motivational ninja mind tricks, trainers incorporate cardio, circuit work, and a little bit of kickboxing into the nylon-band suspension workout, in which various appendages are hoisted into the air (making cheating impossible) during push-ups, planks, hamstring curls, and a host of other Cirque du Soleil maneuvers. A single session costs $20 (after an $89 introduction fee), a small price to pay for starring in your very own “Just Do It” ad. >> 1706 E. 86th St., 218-3928, fitflexfly.com.

Illustrations by Ben Kirchner

This article appeared in the December 2012 issue.