Imagine the feeling you have when leaving a spa. You’re relaxed, pampered, beautiful, fresh…. You wish it would last forever. But then you get stuck in traffic, you find the to-do list in your purse, the kids are demanding dinner, and when your husband sees the bill, he says “You spent what!?” And the feeling evaporates.
Well, there’s a secret that not only extends those benefits, but also helps you justify the expense. It involves shifting your perception of the spa. It’s not just a place of escape and general mental shutdown, but also can be an institute of higher learning. Most quality spas employ experts with training and knowledge you can take home and use for years.
Although spa treatments are probably pretty low on your budget priorities right now, if you splurge or are lucky enough to get a gift certificate, here are the best treatments with the longest-lasting effects (according to a few insiders).
Professional makeup application: Usually conducted by a “beauty technician” (why do they make it sound like so much work?), this session involves a thorough assessment of your look, plus recommendations for how to enhance it. If you can resist the sales pitch for expensive products, you’ll take home lots of practical advice. Best done before an important event, like a wedding, for further justification.
Brow shaping: Your eyebrows are your most important facial feature because they frame the eyes and, to a degree, the face. If yours are starting to look like Andy Rooney’s, it’s time to take action. But before you reach for the tweezers, it’s worthwhile to have a spa expert show you how it’s done. This is a true science. Your brows are best when they’re proportional to your face and create specific lines.
Hairstyling: While getting your hair done regularly at a spa is generally too costly, a one-time splurge can be useful for gathering tips on how to better care for and style it. Some spas even offer computer programs where you can scan a photo of yourself and see how you’d look with different tints and ’dos.
Personal training: What? Go to a spa and sweat? Actually, if you’re out to lose weight and get back in shape, this is your best beauty bet. And, long term, it’s a bargain. A personal trainer will assess your fitness level, design a custom program, and demonstrate the correct way of doing each exercise. Ask for an at-home plan with dumbbells and bands to keep costs low.
Nutritional consulting: You can drop a lot of cash on cellulite-reduction and other fat-busting treatments but the reality is none of them work in the long term. Instead, look for a spa with a registered dietitian who will assess and revamp your diet. This is the key to lasting weight loss and extending that “just-spa’ed” feeling. Keep a detailed (and honest) food diary for 2 weeks prior to your appointment.
Oh, and while you’re there, of course, sneak in a pedicure or massage. You deserve it.
Comments from Members
I get my a season "do" change once or twice a yr. Then I take pictures and have them duplicate the look for LESS at GREAT CLIPS/BEST CUTS or other discount chain. I still look GREAT but, at a fraction of the cost! I also look for deals on manicures and pedicures I just got both a spa mani/pedi on special for under $30 for BOTH ! I go to cosmetics counters and get FREE consultations/samples and other goodies for the cost of a lipstick or other product!
I definitely agree with the brow shaping - I stopped plucking, let them grow out, and then went to a professional to get them done. Then it was so much easier at home to maintain with tweezers once I had that good shape - no more overplucking!
Even one time spa trips can't fit in my budget. Sigh...
I wish for once that I can be pampered at an all day spa, but I cannot afford it.
This is a really great idea! Really great tips do come from the experts!
Another good way to get a bargain on hair, makeup and mani/pedi's is to visit your local beauty school. Don't worry...they have to complete a certain number of hours before they 'practice' on you and they are always under the watchful eye of the instructors.
I wish I could afford a spa trip, I have heard good things. Local beauty schools are a good idea to help save money. If you want a massage you could go to a massage school, havent done that yet.
In these tying economical times a GREAT place to save some money, give and get education is at a local community college for haircuts,massages,facials, etc. I go to the local junior college they have a cosmetology, asthetician, and massage program (my daughter is in the latter). Cost of a full one hour body massage is ONLY $20!!!!!
WOW! The students need practice and the money is donated to them for their massage club. Same with the facials for students in the asthetician program. You can even by salon products like Redken from the cosmetology dept. Call them today and have some ME time on a dime!!!!
thanks
blu
It would be a dream to get one of these treatments, they sound so great and totally worth the money.
So I agree with the brow shaping and all that, but I like creating my own spa day right in my own home. Creating bath beads/salts is very easy and inexpensive (btw- they make great gifts). I just tried a new chocolate milk bath, my skin is smooth and i got to soak in a room that just smelled like deliscious chocolate (be careful, don't drink the bath water lol). Anyway, I'm just saying, spa days are great, but if your like me with a huge household and not a lot of money, you can get the same feeling right in your very own tub for A LOT less money.
Times are tough. I go to a "training academy" for all my beauty services. It's half price & services are done under the guidance of licensed personnel. I say "why do without"!!!!
I have went to a beauty school before and it was pretty cheap! It was nice to go for half the price. Also I am going to a salon soon because the person is doing a buy get one so I am getting a haircut and pedicure. I know I have had a massage before from a student and it still was awesome! I think any type of pampering at lower cost is really great.
Also a few times a year I will go to the mall and have them do an application of make-up on me and sometimes can get a sample of something.
I got some really great ideas from reading everyones comments, Thanks!!!!
The best place to go for your beauty and pampering, they are less expensive and can be compared to helping you feel beautiful as the real professional would is the Beauty Schools, they provide hair cuts and styling for just a few dollars also offer manicures/pedicures and all those other beauty services as well
I had been fortunate enough to stay 2 nights at a health spa in Slovakia with my son and his wife.Wow! what a feeling!!! Only problem for me was being naked with other women (only) and the language barrier was strange. It lead to sme "fun" things to talk about later. :)
Beware the beauty school. A bad manicure can hurt for weeks if not months and I have had a bad hair cut. Let alone what they did to my poor Aunt. She went in for color. UGH!
We are in Farmington, NM and we have the best relaxation place ever! Not that it replaces the "hands-on" massage, but it leaves you relaxed and the tension is gone. I couldn't believe how inexpensive it was!! The Breathing Room is what it is called and I believe they have a website. Now talking about it, I think I will visit there today! Walk-ins or appts, so it is convenient for any schedule.
I would love to have a personal trainer to banish this 4 month old new baby mama muffin top. Lol.
I would love to have a personal trainer to banish this 4month old new baby mama muffin top. I could also use a nutritionist to help me plan out meals and buy the best groceries. I am a big snacker and I can definitely benefit from some healthy munching tips.
Great info. I really enjoy getting a massage from the varies places suggest check with your YMCA for great prices also.Thanks
