5 small ways to get the most from your spa visit
This weekend is Father’s Day, and we look forward to working with new clients who were generously gifted a gift card for the occasion. We thought this would be a great moment to answer some popular questions that we receive from first-time spa goers and review some general spa etiquette tips.
Here are 5 tips to make your experience amazing!
#1. Do what you need to feel amazing before your appointment
Spa time is YOUR time. You set aside a chunk of time for some self-care, so do what you need to feel the best before your appointment. Answer those important emails. Have a snack if you tend to get hungry. Don’t allow a busy brain or grumbling tummy ruin your relaxation.
We also recommend that you take a quick shower before your appointment if you are coming from the gym or a very physical job. Many spa services require direct contact with your bare skin, particularly body grooming, massage and body scrubs. These services are easier to perform on clean skin, and will also give you peace of mind throughout your treatments.
#2. Arrive early
Imagine your daily routine: get up, get ready, look at your to-do list and rush around accomplishing as much as possible. It would be unfortunate to treat your dedicated spa time as just another task to check off your list.
Avoid rushing to your massage or facial by scheduling to arrive 10-15 minutes early. Every spa will have their own suggested time frame, so check with them when you make your appointment.
#3. Turn your cellphone on silent (or completely off)
You’ve arrived at your appointment early; now what? Take a deep breath and take advantage of the time to unplug. Turning your cellphone off or on silent will help you to chill before your treatment begins. And it will also help everyone around you to do the same. No one likes to hear someone’s phone ringing or beeping with every text message.
#4. Communicate with your therapist
Over the years, we’ve heard lots of stories of people having mediocre or bad spa experiences while on vacation or at their neighborhood salon. The one thing that all these stories have in common is that the person never spoke up to tell their therapist about their discomfort or expectations.
Massage pressure too firm or soft? Temperature of the room too warm or cool? Need to use the restroom during your treatment? Let your therapist know. Remember: this spa time is YOUR time.
#5. Acknowledge good service
If you received good service and enjoyed your spa experience, let your therapist know by telling them. Therapists LOVE the work that they do and the results that they can deliver, so let them know that they were successful in helping you achieve your goals.
If you would like to show your support for the business, you can also leave a review on social platforms you use: Google, Facebook, Yelp, etc.
Alot of our clients are first-time spa goers or people visiting from places outside Ontario, so we frequently are asked “Is it custom to tip? If yes, how much?”. In Ontario, tipping standards for spas and hair salons is between 15-20 per cent. Similar to restaurants and other industries, tipping should always be a reflection of the quality of service that you received.
What happens if you had a negative experience? If you received bad service, you are welcome to forego the gratuity. We also recommend that you contact the manager or owner of the business to share your experience. Give them a call or write them an email with details of your experience. A business can only resolve issues if they are made aware and are given the opportunity.
If you have further questions about how to make your spa visit amazing, or any suggestions of your own, please share them with us.