How to Be a Spa Guest in Ten Easy Steps
Aw, yeah... it's your birthday and you finally got a gift card to the spa your friends have been raving about for years. You check out the website & spend the better part of an hour pouring over the menu. Do you need a facial? Hasn't it been forever since your last massage? Maybe you need BOTH? Doesn't matter! You've got a gift card and you are treating yourself to an afternoon of pampering, relaxation, & hopefully a plate-full of tasty spa snacks. You've booked your appointment and you are excited to go. Before you set foot in the little slice of heaven known as a day spa, here a few 'major keys' this spa pro wants you to know...
Scout The Menu/Know What You Want: Once you've settled on what type of service you're treating yourself to, take a look at some of the other treatments in that category. There could be add-ons or specialized treatments that are designed to help with your specific concerns. You can increase the relaxation of a massage with aromatherapy or include treats like warm paraffin or hot stones to help relieve tension in specific areas. Facials have the largest variety of services & add-ons to help tailor your treatment to your skin's unique needs. Think of what your most pressing skin issue is and look at facials or upgrades that can help. You can always wait until you consult with your Esthetician to make your final decision but it helps to have an idea of what you want the focus of your treatment to be.
- Have A Budget: Always think of how much you'd like to spend before you walk in the door. Booking a standard treatment is a great place to start however, oftentimes the most basic treatment or service may not encompass all of the needs or goals for your spa treatment. Be open to suggestions & recommendations from your technicians. As an Esthetician, my primary goal is improving the health of my clients' skin. The best way to do that is to ensure they get a thorough facial that targets their skin's most important needs... and that isn't always cheap. Maybe you've been looking for a new moisturizer or SPF and would like your esthetician to give you an expert recommendation. You also have to consider tax (if applicable) and any gratuities. Be prepared to potentially spend more than your gift card amount & if you do have a concrete budget stick to it to avoid sticker shock when it's time to check-out.
- To Be Early Is To Be On Time: Always arrive NO LESS than 15 minutes before the start of your treatment. You'll want as much time as possible to get checked-in, changed, & relaxed before your treatment is set to begin. If you want to take advantage of the spa's amenities (i.e steam, sauna, whirlpool, etc), arrive even earlier. Many spas have a check-in process that may involve completing a check-in form for your technician or include time to give a brief tour of the facilities. Arriving late can cut into your treatment time & not allow for a thorough consultation with your technician before your service. Also, tardiness can lead to scheduling issues for your technician. Us spa professionals live & breath our daily schedules. Our appointments, breaks, & lunches are carefully scheduled. A late client can mean the difference between sitting to eat lunch or scarfing down a handful of almonds while making towels & cleaning our rooms for the next guest. We want you to maximize the most out of your time at the spa & arriving promptly ensures that we have plenty of time to give you the best treatment possible.
- Turn Off, Tune Out, Unplug: Please, for the love of Pete, leave your phone in your locker. The only way you can fully relax & enjoy your quiet time at the spa is without your phone. Nothing ruins the serenity of your service (and the services of guests around you) like a cell phone ringing. I promise that there aren't many issues that are so pressing or urgent that you have to interrupt your quiet time to address them. Unless you're a new mom leaving your baby with Dad for the first time, put your phone away. New moms always get a pass...
- Let's Talk: Every spa service starts with a conversation about what your needs & goals are for your treatment. A thorough consultation enables the technician to tailor your service specifically for you. It's important you talk about any medications you're on that may affect your skin for a facial. For massages or body treatments it's important to let your therapist know of any medical treatments your doing or injuries you've had that may affect what type of body work you're able to receive. Massage therapists need to know how to structure your treatment so it's important to talk about what areas you'd like them to focus. The more candid the better. The spa is a judge-free zone. Unless you bring your phone into the bed with you... but you wouldn't do that because I just told you not to, right? RIGHT?
- Relax: You're in a nice smelling spa in a dark room with a trained professional treating you to an amazing service. Do your best to relax & let go of any external stresses in order to make the most out of your time at the spa. If you like to chat, we'll chat with you. If you want a silent treatment, we'll keep quiet. Most Spa Pros have a sixth sense about what a client needs to calm down & truly relax... we take out queues from you.
- Not So Fast: Your sumptuous & relaxing treatment is over... aw! Don't just go jumping off the table & running out of the room. Take your time, relax in the guest lounge for a while, drink some tea, enjoy a snack. You deserve, dag nab it.
- Take Suggestions: After your amazing treatment your therapist or esthetician will most likely leave a basket of recommended products for you. It's OK if you're unable to buy the day of your visit. Take note of them or the spa can notate your profile with the products so you can pick them up on your next visit. I was trained to never recommend a product I don't believe in so if if I've left something out for a guest, I know their skin will benefit from it.
- Tip: Like other areas of the service industry, tipping is customary after a spa treatment. It's general practice to tip 18-20% of the total cost of your services (before tax). Tipping is a way of showing your technician your appreciation for their hard work & good service. If you've just spent 60-90 minutes with an amazing therapist who just gave you the best massage of your life, TIP THEM. If your esthetician just took off all of your old skin and replaced it with the soft & supple skin of a wee babe, TIP THEM. Tips are an important part of our income and we work very hard to make sure we give our clients stellar service. Generally, gratuities can be added to your charges & paid via credit card but some spas may only accept cash tips. Bring some cash with you just in case so that your don't have to run to an ATM & ruin your "spa high".
- Rate & Review: Now that it's 2017 some spas may send a survey and request feedback about your experience. Take a moment to share your thoughts both good & bad. Feedback helps spas & salons maintain or improve on their level of service. Did you have a phenomenal experience? Say so! Did your therapist improve your entire outlook on life? Shout them out! Could some things use improvement? Let it be known. In the spa business, no news is bad news... we always want to know how we're doing and what we can do to bring better service to our guests.
It doesn't have to be your birthday or a special occasion to treat yourself to a spa day. The world is a frustrating & stressful place. It's so easy to get over-stimulated with too much news & not enough rest. What better way to take a break from the busy rush of life than escaping into a place where the outside world is kept put on purpose? When I get an opportunity to sit still with a magazine or a book in a fluffy robe I damn well take it. So should you! Keep these gems in mind to ensure your next spa experience is 'In-spa-rational'. Get it? "In-SPA-rational"? No? Try again? Noted.
See you at the spa.
