Spa Smarter Frequently Asked questions
General - Massage - Facials - Waxing - Nails - Body Treatments & Weightloss
General FAQ
Do I really need to arrive 15 minutes early for my appointment?
It is highly advisable that you arive 15 minutes prior to your scheduale appointment, especially if this is your frst time vi visiting the spa. Normally, their is someshort forms to fill out just like any wellness center. If you arrive right on time and then have to fill out paper work, you might cut into your actual treatment time. In addition, it also gie you the chance to relax and unwind prior to the service and get a complimentary beverage or snack if one is provided. If you do arrive just on-time its ok but be aware that you might not get the full experience.Do I need to tip the therapist and if so how much?
Tips or gratuities are a commen part of the spa experience. Just like waitstaff at a resturaunt a large porton of their wage is made up of the tips that are left for them for preforming a service. The normal range for a tip is between 15-25% of the service total of $10-20 per hour long service. When buying a gift certificate look for a place that allows you to include a tip on the gift certificate so then you gift will havee no finacial string attached and the recipient can enjoy the must out of the experience.Why can I not just walk-in and get an appointment?
While most day spa accept walk-ins they by no mean gaurantee that you get an appointment. Some spa book out several weeks or even months in advance so it is always wise to plan ahead for trip so you can be sure to get your spot. If you are looking for a primetime spot aroun lunch, afterwork, or on weekend be sure to call ahead early because these prime spots are normally taken by the regualer clients.I got a gift certificate why can't I just come in and get my service done?
A gift certificate is not gaurantee to recieve your service at the exact time you choose. It is a agreement between the spa and the purchaser to preform a service in a specific time frame based on availability. While a spa will save some prime spots for gift certificate clients they may not be available when you need them, so you should always call a few weeks in advance to plan your appointment. If you call a few days or the week before the gift certificate is set to expire the spa may only have limited spots in which to perform your service if any. So the best advice is plan to redeem your gift certificate in a short time after recieving it so you don't run into any problems.Why can't I come in to get a service at 6:45pm when your open until 7pm?
This is a common question amount spa goers, the main point is that spa plan there scheduale based on full hour appointment. These means even if they close at 7pm they take there last appointment at 6pm. If you show up at 6:45pm the front desk staff will be in the process of their clean-up and shutdown routine, while therapist may have already left for the evening if they do not have a 6 pm appointment. In addition, call made to some spas during this final hour may not always be answered due to previously stated senerio. The best senerio is to call a few day or a week ahead to scheduale your appointment. If they know in advance the day spa might be able to stay open later to accomediate you if you really need it.Who gets robes to wear at a day spa and how far should I undress under them?
The use of robes is normally set up by the individual day spa, but the rule of thumb is that if you have multiple services such as a massage and facial,that you will be asked to change into a robe. This is more for the benefit of time and to optimize your experience from having to undress and redress for every service. Under the robe it is advise to undress down to the level of your comfort. No spa should require you to be fully undressed at anytime, allthought it may be advised for some body wraps.Why is a credit card needed to hold an appointment?
Credit cards are used to reserve you appointment with the day spa. Since the spa can only take a limited number of appointment in a day they normally hold a credit card and have a written cancellation policy with resulting fee. This is merely a deterent to prevent people from booking prime appointment and then cancelling them last minuite, while other clients wanted that appointment slot but would be unable to scheduale due to the spas previous obligation with them. In addition, therapist are paid for the services they preform so if you cancel they don't recieve any compensation, so they look foward to providing you a wonderful service just, as much as, you enjoy recieving one.Why is my service cut short if I am late, and why do I still have to pay the full amount?
When you scheduale an appointment the spa they block out a set time frame for your appointment and may scheduale several service back-to-back. In this case the length of your service can not be extended to make-up foryour lateness. Skilled therapist will more closely focus in on areas of concern during the shortened service to give you the most effect in the time frame provided. The cost however will normally remain the same due to the fact the spa was ready to preform your service at the time designated, so the spa may invoke its cancellation or lateness policy and thus charge you the full amount of the service. The best way to avoid these is it to plan on arrive at the spa 15 minutes ahead of time so you will be ready for your appointment as soone as it becomes available. Best case senerio the spa cn get you back a little early and extend your service a few minutes more than the normal.Massage FAQ
Do I have to get completely undressed for a massage?
No absolutely not. You can undress down to your comfort level. The therapist will keep you properly covered at all times, and just revealving the areas that the therapist will be working on at that moment. In addition, the therapist will leave the room to give you a few minutes to undress and get under the sheets, so you will never be exposed to the therapist at anytime.If the massage say 60 minutes why was my massage only 50 minutes?
In most spas a standard massage is book based of the time the room is reserved for you whih is 60 minutes. The actual massage takes 50 minutes with 5 minutes taken prior to the massage for a consult and for you to undress, and 5 minutes at the end of the massage for you to relax and wake up (hopefully you were asleep) and then dress. Our massage therapy services are 60 minutes hands on so expect to be in a service for up to 75 minutes for each 60 minute service.Whats the difference between a massage at a day spa verses one at massage center?
There is no real difference in terms of the massage at one or the other, the really difference is technique and experience. Massage centers offer really cheap massages preformed by therapist who are normally fresh out of massage therapy school with little experience under their belt. Day Spa massage therapist are normally more extensively trained in different massage modalities and are usually more experienced, so that they can effective treat the issue at hand quickly and more effectently. In addition, the day spa provides alot more relaxing and quality environment that may include relaxation music specially designed to stimulation the relaxation centers in your brain, as well as, fountains and substanial drink and beverage stations. In addition, many spas have club or discount plans to make getting services on a regular bases just as affordable as going to the massage center, while giving you a more experienced therapist.Are you suppose to tip a massage therapist?
Tips are left up to the individual client, but on average tips for massage therapist run between $10-20 per hour service.How often should I get a massage?
This is a very complex question because there are a lot of factors that take place in determining how often such as cost, time restraints, physical problems, etc. On average clients recieve massages 1-2 times a month. This increases if the client has a physical ailment that they are trying to take relieve. Massage like any treatment are not a one time occurence, to see consistant result, even if its to decrease stress and relax, have to be on a consistant bases. Massage therapy is an important part of your lifestyle and should be considered just like sleep, diet, and exercise.I don't have aches or pains why should I get a massage?
While massage is great for relieving aches and pains, it is more importantly used help relax and decrease stress & tension and increase circulation and detoxification. Studies have proved that an hour massage a month will increase you productivity by over 25%, increase you awareness by over 10%, increase you life expectancy by up to 10 years, decrease you stress level by over 15%, and decreases you cars gas consumption saving you approximtely $0.10 a mile.(Enough to pay for the massage)I am late for my massage appointment now what?
A good massage therapist will preform a more focused massage on problem area that you discuss if you are late for an appointment. For instance if you are having upper back and neck discomfort the therapist will focus the regular amount of time on that area while shorting a different part of the massage such as the arm or hand massage.Facials FAQ
Do I have to get completely undressed for a facial?
No absolutely not. You can undress down to your comfort level, which is normally just removing your top so the therapist can work on the neck and upper chest. In addition, the therapist will leave the room to give you a few minutes to undress and get under the sheets,so you will never be exposed to the therapist at anytime.Are you suppose to tip a skin care therapist?
Tips are left up to the individual client, but on average tips for facial appointment run between $10-20 per hour service, basic waxing (ie brows, under arms, etc) $3-10 per service and advance waxing (ie back, legs, bikini) from $10-20 per service.I have acne prone skin and advanced acne medication don't work what should I do?
See a real skin care therapist immediately, (not one at the MALL!!!). Actually most people with acne conditions actually have normal skin. The acne is cause by stess or by an overworking the skin. If you have stress putting a pound of acne cream on your face will not solve the problem, destress with a massage or a facials with high frquency treatment. If your overworking your skin doing thing such as using an exfoliant everyday like benzoyl peroixide (in most acne medications) or picking at your skin doing manual extractions...just stop. Your actually making your situation worse. Your over stripping the oils from your skin and you skin is over producing oils to keep up. Leave you skin alone for a week and then scheduale a visit toget a consultation and a facial and set-up a results driven skin care plan.How often do I need a facial?
For people on a normal at home skin care program a facial once a month is fine. If you are looking focus on a specific concern such as acne or anti-aging, facials may be recommended every week to two weeks for the first few months then month facials to maintain results. Consult you local skin care therapist to set-up a skin care program right for you.I hear everyone talk about microderm what is it all about?
Microderm is preformed by two methods, particle and non-particle. Particle microderm is best described as a sandblaster for the skin, where the therapist uses a thin wand to blast fine particles at the skin to exfoliate the outer dermal layers. This method is less common recently due to the fact of free particles can be inhaled and are not healthy, and several people over the years have had burn marks from undertrained therapist using the equipment. Non-particle microderm uses a solid band of particle and has the same effect as a belt sander. While the this fix a lot of the health issue by containing the particles there still have been cases of over exfoliation by therapist. The newest trend is in layered peel facials such as the Botanical Skin Resurfacing Facial. These facial have results equal to or better than microderm but are applied uniformly over the face so the client recieve a much more even and controlled exfoliation.Why is my face white/frosting a day after I recieved a chemical peel?
This effect is called frosting and is usially associate with an AHA peel like gycolic or lactic acid and is caused because as the peel exfoliated your skin it reached a layer of the skin that was newer and had not completely died yet. This layer of skin is only half attached with haf being dead skin and the other being healthy skin. The dead skin lifts up and becomes a flap and flap reflect the light and gives you the frosted look. Using a cleanser or gentle exfoliant will help remove that layer and get you skin back to the glowing tone you expected.Waxing FAQ
Does waxing hurt?
Honestly it depends on the person. Some people have a high discomfort tolerance and others have a low one. If you feel like you might be in a little discomfort take an aspirn an hour before your appointment. For the most part waxing is not a painful experience, and has been over dramatize by Hollywood.How often should I get waxed?
There are some rules, but each person is different dependin on how fast you hair grows.Eyebrows 2-3 weeks
Legs 4-6 weeks
Bikini 3-5 weeks
Back & Chest 3-5 weeks
Whats the different types of waxes?
There are two main types of waxes: soft and hard. Soft wax can be used in either pot or roller form and is the most common wax often called strip wax. This wax is applied to the skin and a cloth strip is place over it when the wax drys the strip is romoved and the hair is trapped in the wax. Hard wax is found in the pot variety and is applied to the area being wax and allowed to dry without a strip. The wax itself acts as the strip when it is removed. Hard waxes are often used in sensitive areas such as the bikini area.Why is waxing better than shaving?
With shaving you are cutting off the hair at the thickest most part which causes the hair to grow in thick and fast. With waxing you are removing the hair and the root so you hair will grow back in slower and finer.Whats the different between threading, tweezing, sugaring, and waxing?
Threading removes hair by using a thin piece of thread to essential tweeze the area where the hair needs to be removed. Unlike tweezing threading can remove multiple hairs at once thus making it easier for the technicial to make a straight line. Tweezing, the use of tweezer to pluck out individual hairs, gives greater control to the technician. Brow shaping wth tweezers over the past few years has become an artform, with artist brows see on the world runways. Sugaring is process similar to waxing where a warm sugar paste is applied to the area and then removed like a soft wax. Sugar can be preformed at a lower temperature than waxing so the likely of getting burn is decrease, even though the overall likely with waxing is very low. Sugaring still involves manual removal of the wax and hair with a stip and can thus still be discomfortable. Probably the most effective removal method is a combination of methods includin soft and hard waxing with tweezing to get that "eye"-deal look.How long should my hair be before waxing?
Hair should be between a 1/6 to 1/2 inch in length, or if you can grab the hair with the tips of ur fingers it can be waxed. Hair longer than this may need to be trimmed. If you have to trim you should do that prior to your appointment.Can a get a bikini wax while I am on menstrual cycle?
Yes, you can, but it is not recommended. The period 3 days prior till 3 days after are you most sensitive and will increase your level of discomfort and sensitivity. In addition, if you do decide to get wax during remember to use a clean tampon immediately prior.When can't I get waxed?
It is not recommended to get waxed while using retinol products or Accutane, have sun burn or lazer burn in the area being waxed, have an STD, or Diabetic (unless with a doctors note)Can I use a numbing creme prior to my appointment?
It is not recommended due to the affact that the creme might adversly affect the wax ability to remove hair. If you are worried about discomfort take an aspirn one hour prior to the appointment.Nails FAQ
Why should I get a manicure & pedicure at a spa with a professional nail technician?
The answer is simple, if your sick you go to the doctor, if you want to learn you go to a teacher, well if you want your nails to be healthy you go to a professional nail technician. Yes, you can go out and buy some at-home products to do your nails, but those products are simply designed for maintence between appointments. Only professional nail technician will know the proper way to take care of your nails. If you are just polishing your nails at home, are you doing the proper steps to make sure your nails and cuticles are healthy, and prevent your nails from splitting, chipping, breaking, or even lifting from your nail beds. In addition, are the products you are buying for at-home doing more harm then good. In fact, a lot of the products sold in the local pharmacies such as an callus removers with metal scrapers or graters, and wooden cuticle pushers are actually banned from being used professional because they are deemed unsafe for clients use. With a professional service, they will use the proper tool to give you healthier better looking nails, and show you how to maintain them.Why are spa nail services more expensive than nail salon services?
It comes down to getting what you pay for. In a nail salon, they are planning on making money based on volume, and getting more people in and out quick at the cheapest price possible. The use products that are usually not as high as quaility and products that are harash to the feet and hands to achieve the same result quicker. If you compare a spa pedicure at a nail salon the average service takes about 25-30 minute and cost $30-40 dollars. These salons use chemical lotions to exfolite the heels and feet to achieve a smooth appereance, and spend little time about 2-3 minutes on foot and leg massage. Compared to day spa where the average cost is $50-65 and takes about an hour to preform. In a day spa, the products at the day spa are normally of higher quality and provide better quality results. In addition, the technician spends an average of 10-20 minute just smooth and removing callus on the foot and carefully making the foot become smooth and healthy, as well as, 10 minutes of foot and leg massage. Finally, a day spa pedicure can last 4-5 week while a nail salon pedicure lasts 2-3 weeks, making a nail salon pedicure more expensive in the long run.What are the difference between acrylic & gel nails?
Acrylic nails are more water soluble than gel nails, so they tend to lift when exposed to excess amounts of water. Individuals that work in restuaraunt, dog groomers, car washes, and gardeners are recommended to choose gel nails over acrylic nails.What is the best nail polish to use?
That is merely presonal preference while OPI, Essie, & Creative Nails are some of the top salon quality brands their is no clear cut winner. As a rule, the more expensive the nail polish the more vibrant the color meaning you won't have to apply a lot of coats to achieve the color you want. In addition, usually these these products use higher quality products that give of less odor when doing your nails. In the end, try all the brands and find one you are happy with.What are the basic sanitation requirements?
All pedicure tubs should be cleaned with bleach or a disinfectant like Lysol(tm). All tools should be cleaned with an anti-bacterial cleaner, then submerged in disenfectant or other liquid sterilization method. This is true for at-home tools to. If you use tools at home even just on yourself you need to clean and sterilize them before each use to prevent bacteria infection.Body Treatments & Weightloss FAQ
What would you recommend for weightloss?
Weightloss no matter what you are told is a life style change more than anything else. Fad diets and treatments are just that Fads they work well in the being and die out because their only short term gains and not long term affects. Weightloss is a culmination of serveral variables includeing but not limited to diet, exerise, and mental health. Diet is the simpliest of all changes in weightloss and the hardest for most people to grasp. Again diet is a lifestyle change, not eating enough calories for 10 weeks will make you loss weight but you get to point where you can't maintain the lifestyle. A good diet is one that is changed weekly to achieve your goals and be able to conteract obsticles that you might have during the course of the week. Excerise is merely increasing you calorie burning from the number of calories you burn in your normal routine. The average person that is inactive burns 1500-2000 calories. So Excerise is really just taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or instead of going directly for what you need at the store wonder up and down the isles a few times. Excerise can be a visit to your local spa to get a massage which increases you circulation and burn calories.Whats the best type of body treatment to get in the summer?
Suger glows are a wonderful treatment to get in the summer because they exfoliate the outer layers of dry skin that you accumulate during the more arrid summer months. In addition, this treatment help balance out uneven in tanning to help give you a nice warm summer tan.Whats the best type of body treatment for cellulite?
To reduce cellulite conditions there is no magic cure, you need to have a change in lifestyle once cellulite is visable seen. Cellulite is caused by decreased circulation in the affected area, as well as, decreased elstin and collegen production. The only way to counteract hese affect is a combination of diet, massage, and detoxifying body treatment. Any treatment without using this three techniques will ultimately proceduce no long term positive affects.
