What to Expect When You Go to a Spa

As Spa Week starts today, we thought this would be a great time to delve a little deeper into what to expect when you go to a spa.

Once you arrive at the spa, turn your cell phones, pagers, PDA’s, and any electronic devices all the way off (not vibrate, not silent, but off!) or better yet leave them in the car so you can truly relax and enjoy your spa time. There is nothing more distracting than the sound of a phone ringing, beeping, or vibrating during a treatment. It brings you back into the feeling of stress in your busy lifestyle and is very counter productive to letting go and relaxing. Remember you are not the only one there, and the other clients enjoying their treatments do not want to be disturbed by the outside world either. Also keep your voice down, using what I call your “spa voice” in order to preserve a restful, tranquil environment for everyone - we all know what it can be like when someone talks a bit louder than necessary.

Many people ask me about how to indicate to their therapists what they like or don’t like. At my spa, we have a thorough intake before each session to discuss client goals and concerns, and to find out client preferences for pressure and which areas to concentrate on or avoid. However, many places do not ask in which case it is up to you to let the therapist know before your session if you have allergies or injuries, what your goals are, what you like, and what you don’t like. During the session if adjustments need to be made to make you more comfortable, like pressure, temperature, or anything else, do not be afraid to let your therapist know. Believe me, we would much rather have you tell us during the session than find out later you did not enjoy what we were doing. You are not hurting a therapist’s feelings; rather, you are letting them know what they can do to bring you the most benefit and satisfaction, which is ideal. Do not hesitate to ask questions either. Remember your therapist wants you to enjoy the treatment as much as possible, and so do you, so you have a common goal.

If you enjoy chatting during your treatment, that is fine as long as you keep the volume down. However, it is definitely more challenging to breathe deeply and fully take in all the benefits of any treatment while you are talking. Most therapists take the cues from their clients, but will only speak when asked a question, in order to assist the client in receiving the maximum relaxation and treatment benefits.

There are a lot of places that do a “hard sell” of products after any facial treatment. I myself do not believe in that but have experienced it many times, much to my chagrin. Do not be pressured or bullied into buying products you don’t want. On the flip side, if you do have questions about what the most appropriate home regimen would be for you, your esthetician is the ideal person to ask. They are experts in the field and have just observed your skin throughout the facial treatment, and have the information and insight to help you put together an effective home care regimen. Be clear about your preferences (milky or gel cleanser, what type of finish do you prefer from a moisturizer, etc) and she or he can be your best source of help to maintain your skin at home between facials.

Expensive does not mean better when it comes to products. Many times what you are paying a high cost for is fancy packaging, marketing, advertising, perfumes &/or animal ingredients. The only thing that matters is ingredients—what is in the product and what is not in the product. Synthetic fragrance (perfume) and animal by-products (mineral oil, lanolin, petroleum) can be extremely irritating to the skin, almost as much as an allergen, and should be avoided. That being said, very cheap drugstore brands may be gentle, but many times they are so mild that they do not accomplish much in the way of results. Look for products that are cruelty free and do not contain artificial fragrance, and that contain botanical ingredients and possibly also some cosmeceutical (cosmetic + pharmaceutical strength) ingredients. Be sure to indicate any allergies you have, as well as likes/dislikes in terms of scents, so your esthetician can be sure to take those into consideration when putting together your home care.

Avoid buying skin care products at a beauty supply store! The sales people there are just that—they are not skin care experts nor have they worked on your skin, and they are likely looking at your skin with makeup on in the store, which makes it impossible to tell your true skin type and needs. Your best bet will always be choosing products after a facial, with the recommendation of a licensed esthetician.

Gratuities and tips are another topic I get asked about on a daily basis. Our policy is that gratuities are never expected but always appreciated. The word tips is often tongue-in-cheek referred to in the service industry as an acronym for “To Insure Proper Service” (yes, they took some liberties with ensure). If you receive excellent care from a therapist, giving a gratuity is a token of your appreciation of that care. Industry standard is 20% of the regular cost of that treatment. If you paid a lower price due to a discount or promotion, be sure to ask what the regular price of that treatment was so you can tip accordingly. Be advised that many spas and salons do not accept gratuities on credit cards, so you may want to bring cash or personal checks with you to the spa in order to be prepared.

Every business owner I know appreciates feedback from their clients and customers, and the spa industry is no different. If you have comments, either positive or constructive, please take a moment to let the front desk know, or if you are more comfortable you can email or call the spa after you leave. If you experience something that you love, it is a wonderful thing to let the therapist know and let the front desk know. Conversely, if you think there are things that could make your experience more enjoyable, it is helpful to indicate that as well so they can address your suggestions and (hopefully) incorporate them into their everyday business. Believe me, every comment is valuable and I always take every bit of feedback under advisement.

I hope you found these tips and this information helpful. If you have any questions feel free to leave them in the comments.

See you at the spa.

Sharōn Ronen is a licensed esthetician and the owner of Skin Haven in Los Angeles. She hopes that everyone can leave their spa experience feeling both relaxed and rejuvenated and welcomes your questions.