PRIV: Uber for Beauty Services?
If there are two things that I On The Scene editors love it’s beauty treatments and convenience. Living in the Windy City, whether we’re leaving our River North office in order to go grab a cocktail in Lakeview or ending the night in Wicker Park, there never seems to be enough time.
Yet, smartphone apps are slowly taking over the world, and I think we all can admit to pretty much living our lives via applications on our phones. Who hails taxi’s anymore when there are Uber and Lyft? Who relies on using pen and paper to count your calorie intake when there’s MyFitnessPal? Too busy to make dinner? There’s Postmates, Grubhub, Doordash.
When it comes to beauty, especially if we’re in a hurry, we can all agree we hate having to rush out the door to catch the Red Line with an unblended contour. Luckily, the tech industry has finally caught on to this fact. Enter: PRIV.
PRIV, which stands for Privacy and Privilege, is an on-demand beauty app that brings beauty and wellness professionals directly to you. You name it, PRIV’s got it. Right off the bat, PRIV sets itself apart because it’s more than just beauty— it sends its team of stylists (hair, makeup, nails) or wellness professionals (fitness, massage) to you anywhere you are.
You simply download the free app, select what service(s) you want, and choose a professional based on your needs and availability. You can select based on each professional’s bio, portfolio or ratings and essentially Uber them right to your door. You can either schedule a time or choose the closest stylist.
Prices are remarkably reasonable if you take into account that it’s in Chicago and that they come to you. A mani/pedi averages around $70 (tax and tip included!), which is less than what many high-end salons charge in the city.
At I On The Scene, we like to get the best bang for our buck. Here is a list of PRIV services ranked by popularity and price compared to similar services at salons throughout Chicago.
PRIV Services Vs. Chicago Salon Services
- Manicure
PRIV: $35
Average Chicago Salon: Juko Nail & Skin Rescue, Wicker Park: $28 + tip
High-End Chicago Salon: Madelyn Chicago Nail Spa, West Loop: $35 + tip
- Blowout
PRIV: $50
Average Chicago Salon: Blowtique Salon, River North: $40 + tip
High-End Chicago Salon: &blowdry Salon, South Loop: $45 + tip
- Makeup Application
PRIV: $60
Average Chicago Salon: Mac Cosmetics, River North: $50 + tip
High-End Chicago Salon: Goldplaited, Lakeview: $55 + tip
- Manicure & Pedicure
PRIV: $70
Average Chicago Salon: Juko Nail & Skin Rescue, Wicker Park: $64 + tip
High-End Chicago Salon: Madelyn Chicago Nail Spa, West Loop: $80 + tip
- 1 hr. Personal Training Session (Including Yoga/Pilates)
PRIV: $125
Average Chicago Salon: Total Results Training, Lakeview: $100
High-End Chicago Salon: East Bank Club, West Loop: $150
- 1 hr. Massage
PRIV: $125
Average Chicago Salon: Massage Envy, South Loop: $100 + tip
High-End Chicago Salon: Four Seasons Chicago, Gold Coast: $180
As you can see, when it comes to beauty services, and considering the cost and convenience, everyone should try PRIV at least once. If you’re in need of an at-home or in-office pampering session, PRIV is the answer to your dreams!