Back From The Spa/Salon...And What Did We Learn?

rcxpaintball · 02-19-2005, 04:27 PM

Well I am back from the salon (been back for some time now, but I just got around to typing this up.). For those who didnt see the thread earlier I was heading out to a hoity-toity salon for a hair cut. So how did it go? And more importantly, what did we learn?

My first impression of the salon when I walked in the door was nothing of what I first imagined it to be. A very friendly and diverse staff and a very "hip" and "modern" decoration scheme. I was greeted and given a cup of coffee (Very fresh and a very high quality roast) and asked to relax for a few minutes before I went in, now I arrived about ten minutes early just because so I expected to wait. After five minutes I was ushered into the back "spa" area.

After entering the "Spa" area I was prepped for a detox cleanse steam, which to be blunt is a mixture of a aromatherapy sauna and a steam bath. A choice of light scents was offered and I chose the least scented and closest to neutral smell. Nothing to impressive there, I sat around in a steam bath and sweated for a half an hour. Did I feel cleansed? Not really, I hawked up some flem that had been in my lungs for some time and I sweated a bit, but that was all. I was given a bottle of "glature" water/bottled tap water to drink as to insure I did not become dehydrated.

Next it was on to the seaweed wrap. This is really just a glorified mud bath with leafs stuck to the mud. I wasnt to impressed when I was told what would occur. However it was surprisingly pleasant. How? The mud was heated to a temperature of my choosing and being a guy I wanted it a the hottest temp. This relaxed muscles and the way it was applied, applied in a semi-thin coat and then massaged into the skin and then another layer is applied till four layers are applied, or roughly 1/4 of an inch of mud on the skin. The ud retains its heat throughout the process. Next "seaweed" is wrapped around the mud to retain the heat and to lock in the moisture. Best example I can come up with is when you sear meat to lock in the juices, but to a much lesser extent. Now obviously this process and feeling is rather foreign to men and honestly, it isnt that bad. It was actually relaxing, all of the knots and sore muscles relaxed and I felt relaxed.

The facial was somewhat the same as the mud bath/seaweed wrap only sans the seaweed. To begin a coat of water was used to wet the skin, then a mixture of something was used for microdermabrastion (or to smooth the skin). Then a warm coat of mud was applied/massaged on to make a mask. Nothing to special occurred during the process, classical music was softly played in the background and the room smelled like flowers, unknown variety. The mask and seaweed wrap were both removed later. When the mask (facial) and seaweed wrap (mud bath/seaweed wrap) were removed I found that....Gasp!....my skin was smooth as a babys bottom, very soft and moist. Now my skin has always been very dry and hard, due to hard work and the handling of chemicals, but my skin was VERY soft and VERY moist....Amazing!

I was given a soft fleece rope and escorted to a lounge area. A small snack, being a guy this snack just made me hungry, it would have been decent for a lady but not very sufficient for a guy. The food and drink was very classy and quite tasty. Drink was good, freshly squeezed juice of my choice, my preference on pulp or not. The lounge area was private and soft jazz music was played and a lilac scent was in the air.

Next it was off to get dressed and back out to the salon area. The cut was not up to me, as to instructions were already forwarded to the stylist and she had free will on what the cut/style would be...I had no say in it other then the colour of the highlights. First a scalp massage was done while the hair "artist" washed my hair, shampoo was papaya scented. I then was escorted back to the chair for evaluation by the hair "artist" (glorified stylist/hairdresser). Haircut was boring, I had the chance to read a few magazines during the cut. A variety of music was played ranging from 80s to current. During the time the highlights were drying a neck/shoulder massage was done. More reading was completed during the massage. The colour (highlights) was then washed out and another scalp an neck massage was done, shampoo was again papaya scented. A quick touch up on the cut and a blow dry was done, then hair gel was applied.

Finally I was led over to the nail artist's chair. Like a pit crew three women descended on my and grabbed a limb. My feet were tossed into a bucket of salt water ("foot bath" with mineral salts) and a foot massage was done. A hand massage was done as well. The calluses were scraped from my feet and hands. Nails were trimmed and filed, cuticles were pushed. Finally they busted out a dremmel (not actually but it was a similar device) to remove excess nail material and bumps/abnormalities from fingernails and toenails. I declined any colour for obvious reasons. I also declined the paraphin dip. I have no clue what a paraphin dip is or does nor so I care.

After paying the bill, I got the hell out of there..."accidentally" leaving a large black trail in their parking lot. I then stopped at the nearest fast food joint (Culvers, "A better brand of beef makes a bigger person bigger") for several greasy burgers and a shake to satisfy my hunger. I later learned that Culvers burgers are a gastric delight and I was forced to roll down all windows for several miles on the way back.

So what did we learn? What was my final consent on this?

Well frankly I felt a bit girly with my nails being primp and proper. The cut isnt something I would normally have done, but the overall reaction of people is that it is very nice, and to a certain extent it does look good. Perhaps as time goes on I will warm up to it. The spa treatment is something every guy should go thru at least once in his life, its not as bad as you think....and some times it is good to "feel pretty". Overall I think that it is something I will do again (sans the nails) and I am very happy with the service I received at the spa/salon. Its something I highly recommend to guys wanting to do something for the ladies in their life, trust me when I say this, Ladies do notice these things and when you make an effort to change and look a bit better they appreciate it ALLOT. Chances are you will be rewarded for your effort, and thats just an added bonus on top of having a better look.

LAMANTEthePBguy · 02-19-2005, 04:50 PM

You retain your manhood with your comparisons: cooking meat, hard work and chemicals, and not being filled by thier "snack"

Care to share the bill amount? Sounds like you must care a lot for someone since spa visits are expensive I think.

RainTreeBoy · 02-19-2005, 04:56 PM

So what was the best part of the day? The mud wrap thing or the burgers?

Sounds like you had fun though. Maybe I'll try it sometime in the next few years.

Feralboy · 02-19-2005, 04:57 PM

Yeah, what does the bill for that kind of thing run? Might do it someday...if I can find one sufficiently far away for it to be IMPOSSIBLE to see anyone I know...

OWNAGE · 02-19-2005, 05:08 PM

No pictures?

rcxpaintball · 02-19-2005, 05:47 PM

No pictures...Pictures would have been very pointless. What would I have put? Heres me having my feet scraped....look at the lady whos doing it, she hates me for having big calluses. Heres me sitting in a chair reading.....Heres my butt covered in mud....

As for the price heres how it broke down:

Spa Manicure (includes paraffin) $35
Spa Pedicure (includes paraffin) $60
Facial $65
Aromatherapy Steam Shower $15
Body Treatments $65
1/2 Hour Massage $40
Salt Glow Rub $35
Bioelements MudTherapy Rub $40
Arctic Algae Body Wrap $80
Haircut mens $38
Foil/Highlighting $85
Hair Color $51
Hairstyling Blow dry/style $23
Hairstyling Shampoo/set $23
Stress Relieving Scalp Treatment $15
Tips $85
Burgers And Large Shake $20
Gas (Long Commute) $25

Keep in mind I tried a bit of everything here, You could have made a package for much less by only doing specific items and/or having a less experianced person doing the work.

OWNAGE · 02-19-2005, 06:15 PM

$800? Did my calculator count that right?

You must have gotten something nice for that, huh?

Bowser99 · 02-19-2005, 08:51 PM

Wow, I commmend you for keeping your manhood through this. You spent alot on that though. Looks like you had fun though.

p8nter24 · 02-19-2005, 09:05 PM

800$!!!!!!!

thx aero for hosting

STO Balla 22 · 02-19-2005, 09:23 PM

Wow...don't ever tell me that Paintball is an expensive hobby. Looking like a rich pampered person is much more expensive.

killa_n00b · 02-20-2005, 06:38 AM

Eventhough $800 is a lot, if you say every man has to go through it once, I will someday when I am a rich person(if that day doesn't come none of you will know either way).

TiPpYsGaLoRe · 02-20-2005, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rcxpaintball
Back From The Spa/Salon...And What Did We Learn?

That:
1. You are on Arnold Schwartzenegger's hitlist.
2. Finacial expert you are not.

Flamethrower · 02-20-2005, 07:56 AM

While it may have been a fantastic experience for you. I seems that it was. I doubt highly that most women would be appreciative of a spa treatment you got for yourself. Your girlfriend/fiance may be different.

Most people here can hardly afford a bag of paintballs let alone $800 for a pamper session at a salon. Most people don't have that kind of disposable income. I could see maybe spending $100-$150 on something like this, certainly not $800, IMHO that is just a waste of money. That is just me.

My wife is a certified massage therapist $0, I cut my own hair $0, Color (my own) $0, Relaxing bath tub full of stuff the wife thinks I need $3, Full head to toe massage $0, Manicure $0 (I work to hard to make a manicure last more than a day, I do what I can on my own.) Mud wrap $0 (I am Italian my skin makes enough moisturizing oils to make it soft.)

Getting to pay my wife the tip.

Priceless.

Well in the end, each to their own. If you don't mind dropping this kind of coin, have at it. I would suggest next time you have $800 to lose give it to me and I will put it to good use on gunpowder, reloading supplies and gun parts.

4THDEGREE · 02-20-2005, 08:08 AM

Give me a good old fashione barber shop with Field and Stream magazines on the coffe table and a quality $6 haircut and another Timmy at the house

rcxpaintball · 02-20-2005, 11:10 AM

First off the money spent was the result of a lot of hard work and savings, its not like I have 800$ just laying around to throw around. Second you dont have to spend that much for a good treatment, you can spend much less at a smaller spa and get just as good service. As for a financial expert, no I am not...I do very well in my financial investments and endeavors, I can afford to go and do something like this every so often but by no means am I a fincial expert.

As for Arnold having me on his hit list, hes a bigger girly man then me...he has a spa treatment THREE times each month. Let him bring it, down in the backwoods of WI we might not have the gang violence of CA but weve got angry rednecks...and lots of sheep....

In my opinion it was a learning experience, it isnt something I would do each month but perhaps twice a year. As for the outcome my skin is looking better then it has in yeas, but within a day my hands and feet were back to normal. And suddenly I am welting again, I though I was over that. Ah well, the reward for sitting around and going through that was very worth while.

Next time I have 800$ to "lose" it will be going towards the purchase of a pallet of paint, I hate buying paint, it costs to much and you need to reorder at least once each month. Can you imagine having a paint bill of 3K+ a month?

BunkerBuddy_666 · 02-20-2005, 06:29 PM

we learned that when people write long paragraphs, other people dont read them.

wiseguy360 · 02-21-2005, 02:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TiPpYsGaLoRe

That:
1. You are on Arnold Schwartzenegger's hitlist.
2. Finacial expert you are not.

I was gone for two days and your comments still bug me.

zaccwazhere · 02-21-2005, 07:58 PM

I've heard that the "spa" around my area is full of prostitution.

thepeashooter · 02-21-2005, 09:10 PM

Sounds alright but for $800 Ill stick to my hot-tub, TV and couch. And besides there is no way in hell they could remove my calluses without them basically going down to the bone(trust me ive tried before) as for my face being soft its not gonna matter as in 5 hours its gonna be all rough and stubbly anyway. Nails I manicure them myself with my teeth. As for my hair. If god wanted me to have streaks he would of gave me streaks.

Ebonclaw · 02-22-2005, 11:32 AM

RCX, you need to attend the spa at the Hotel Santa Fe, out in New MExico where I went for my honeymoon. They have some very unique treatments that are not available in normal spas. For instance, they take stones that have been worn for years from the Rio Grande river and heat them after applying some kind of heat sensitive lotion or soemthing to your back, so when the stones are places on your back in specific points it is the WEIRDEST yet most relaxing feeling in the world. Like NOTHING you have ever felt in your life. And you're laying there on you stomach on the balcony of the hotel with these hot stones on your back looking at the blood red New Mexico sunset while sipping a glass of wine and thinking to yourself "life is good".....at which point they hand you the bill, probably to keep you from dying of happiness.

But definatly worth it.