There are many uncalled-for situations that bring about the need for a glammed-out glow-up. Life happens, but it’s time to take care of yourself, sis. Whether you’re going through something as tough as a break-up from a long term friend or partner, or simply recovering from having your wig snatched one too many times, Fashion Nova has what you need to help you get back on the right path.
From a fresh wardrobe to a sparkly set of nails, or a new hairdo that spells out Y-O-U, we can point you in the right direction. Read on to find out which cities are the best for a glamorous glow-up!
Top 20 U.S. Cities for a Glammed-out Glow-Up
New York, stand up! The best U.S. city for a glow-up was none other than the Big Apple. New York City scored the highest overall and won first place for three out of five categories on our list. If you can imagine it, you can achieve it here. NYC has all the resources you need to turn it all around and create a brand new you, from 30-minute facials by expert estheticians to charming yoga studios on every corner.
Coming in close at second place was Los Angeles in sunny California. The City of Angels tied with New York City for many categories but fell just short of the Big Apple. Aside from being home to all of our favorite celebs and movie stars, LA is high-key known for its gorgeous beaches and chic shopping malls. For those seeking a chiseled physique and baby smooth skin in the Golden State, LA has some of the country’s best healthy restaurants for clean eating.
Looking for a wardrobe that will blow you away? The Windy City is the place to go. Chicago came in third on our list of the best cities across the country to cop a total makeover. If serving looks is scheduled on your glow-up calendar, Chicago is home to many renowned shopping districts, like State Street and the Magnificent Mile. Go ahead and treat yourself to a new fit from one of America’s most forward-thinking fashion districts.
When you think of Seattle, you might think of staring out the window of your favorite coffee shop on a rainy day while curling up with a brand-new book (hello, some coffee shops serve wine). However, Washington state has much more to offer beyond your next caffeine fix. Seattle is one of the best cities to get active in the great outdoors and flex on the gram with stunning natural backdrops. The Coffee Capital of the World is also known for its breathtaking hiking trails, like Snow Lake and Mount Si.
What Type of “Glow-Up” Are You Looking For?
To determine the leaders across our variety of glow-up types, we totaled our city scores by category and scaled each from 0-10 to represent the most favorable conditions. Here’s a look at who came out on top!
Up first for the Feelin’ Yourself category is a four-way tie between NYC, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Phoenix! The good news is that no matter where you are in the U.S., there’s no shortage of spas, salons, and fitness centers to help you get started on your glow-up journey.
Not to be completely outdone by all the previously mentioned places, Houston had the second-highest number of nail salons and the third-highest number of hair salons compared to any other city. If the secret sexy ingredient in your look is a new and improved do, consider taking a trip to Therapy Hair Studio, which was recently named the best hair salon in North America.
NYC and LA tied once again for first place in the Style and Shopping category, but two cities in the Sunshine State tied for third in our overall top five. Sometimes you just gotta try before you buy. Thankfully, Miami is home to many iconic shopping malls, like Mall of the Americas and Dadeland Mall. Plan a shopping date with your squad and check out International Plaza and Bay Street, home to many popular brand shops and a diverse restaurant scene.
Managing your mental health can be challenging to handle on the daily. We get it, adulting is hard. Thankfully, a city in Maryland has what every self-care queen craves. Baltimore came in first place in our Mental Health category due to its high number of mental wellness resources throughout the city. Along with having many mental health professionals and therapists to choose from in Charm City, Baltimore has also recently made great strides to invest in its behavioral health efforts and improve health conditions citywide.
New York City won first place in our Active Life category, which pushes it just above Los Angeles for the best overall U.S. city for a glow-up. The Big Apple is one of the most walkable cities in the country. Not only do you need a car to get around in the City of Angels, but LA was also recognized as the sixth worst city to drive in the U.S. If getting a snatched bod is on your to-do list, consider ditching your car and moving to NYC. Your glutes will thank you.
Closing Thoughts
We know it’s hard getting your groove back after a tough break-up or wig-snatching life event. After sulking and depriving yourself of a proper beauty routine, it’s challenging to get back on course. Thankfully, the great U.S. of A is full of salons, beauty experts, and gyms galore to get you back to your most glamorous state. How do you plan on glowing up for this new season of life?
A glow-up might be just what you need to have you feeling your best, so why not go all out with a fresh set of nails, new haircut, perfect bod, and some glowing skin, too? Don’t forget to complete the look with a hot-AF fit from Fashion Nova.
Full Data
That wraps up our city ranking of the Best U.S. Cities for a “Glow-Up”. Interested in diving deeper into the numbers for all the cities, or wanting to see how your city stacks up if it’s not listed within the above map?
We’ve compiled our full data study for all 100 U.S. cities analyzed into the interactive data table below. Search for the city you call home or click on the heading of each column to sort by that category!
Methodology
We collected data using a variety of factors to rank the 100 largest U.S. cities by population. We included factors related to physical beauty and mental beauty, which were weighted according to their impact on the overall glow-up experience. Individual factor scores were then added together to give each city a final score from 0-100. Higher scores indicated which cities are the best for glow-ups.
Ranking Factors:
Feelin’ Yourself (Worth 11.0)
Number of Spas
Source: Yelp
Weight: 1.25
Number of Nail Salons
Source: Yellow Pages
Weight: 1.25
Number of Hair Salons
Source: Yellow Pages
Weight: 1.25
Number of Fitness Studios
Source: Yellow Pages
Weight: 1.25
Number of Estheticians
Source: Yellow Pages
Weight: 1.25
Number of Healthy Food Locations
Source: Yellow Pages
Weight: 1.00
Number of Dietitians
Source: Yellow Pages
Weight: 1.25
Number of Makeup Artists
Source: Yellow Pages
Weight: 1.25
Number of Tanning Salons
Source: Yellow Pages
Weight: 1.25
Style & Shopping (Worth 2.0)
Number of Boutiques
Source: Yellow Pages
Weight: 1.50
Personal Consumption Expenditures by State
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis
Weight: 1.25
Mental Health (Worth 5.0)
Number of Therapists
Source: Yellow Pages
Weight: 1.25
Number of Mental Health Experts
Source: Yellow Pages
Weight: 1.25
Number of Life Coaches
Source: Yellow Pages
Weight: 1.25
Number of Mediation Centers
Source: Yelp
Weight: 0.75
Percentage of Adults with Anxiety/Depressive Disorders by State
Source: KFF
Weight: 0.50
Active Life (Worth 2.0)
Number of Yoga Studios
Source: Yelp
Weight: 0.50
Number of Hiking Trails
Source: Yelp
Weight: 0.50
Percentage of Residents Within a 10 min. Walk of a Park (Park Walkability)
Source: Trust For Public Land
Weight: 0.50
Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Weight: 0.50