Illustration by Pepper Tharp
Nearly 35 years ago, Peggy Mitchusson sent shivers of delight down St. Louisans’ spines when she opened The Face & The Body, the region’s first full-service spa with an emphasis on skin care. Since then, a number of similar establishments have cropped up. From their perfumed air to terry-cloth robes, heated massage tables to warmed oils, spas can be the ultimate indulgence. Treatments can soothe stressed nerves, mark a special occasion, or lift the spirits of the downhearted. Here’s a handful of local options, whatever the reason for a visit.
Relieving Stress
Your car broke down on Highway 40. You stayed up all night helping your kid finish his science project. You’re having a rough workweek. Whatever the reason, you could probably use some stress relief.
Two area Aveda spas, Ginger Bay Salon and Spa (gingerbay.com) and The Salon & Spa at The Chase Park Plaza (chaseparkplaza.com), offer the Stress-Fix massage ($57 to $127), a combination of Swedish and deep-tissue massage, reflexology, and guided meditation.
Have a busy schedule? Susan Boyd, spa director of ara, the spa at Ameristar Casino (araatameristar.com), suggests an 80-minute aroma fusion massage ($145) with the Dream Weaver ($45), a hot-oil treatment and scalp massage. A three-in-one cleansing experience, the spa’s 80-minute signature facial ($140) also includes hand and foot treatments.
If you’re able to dedicate an entire day to a spa visit, “definitely go for the Ultimate Spa Day package,” says Judy Pilcher of The Face & The Body (faceandbodyspa.com). “For six to eight hours, you get a full massage, mud wrap, facial, nails, hair, and lunch.” In addition to a full-body massage, the Chakrassage treatment ($195 for 80 minutes) at the Spa & Salon at the Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis (fourseasons.com/stlouis) uses ancient chakra-balancing techniques to clear your mind and still your emotions. And its Total Body Relaxation and Sleep Massage ($160 for 80 minutes) involves a 50-minute relaxation massage—followed by a 20-minute nap.
As you start the holiday shopping season, take a break between Plaza Frontenac’s stores at Stonewater Spa & Boutique (halcyondayspa.com). General manager Kris Akers suggests the spa’s therapeutic massage (starting at $55 for 25 minutes), a full-body treatment that helps alleviate tension. The healing stone massage (starting at $115 for 60 minutes) is also a good bet; warm basalt stones are set on the body to promote relaxation and calmness.
If full-body massages aren’t your thing, then try a facial, suggests Erin Mulder of Spa WingHaven Medical Day Spa (spawinghaven.com). The express facial ($70) includes cleansing with a Clarisonic Pro, exfoliation with steam, and application of a skin-calming mask.
Spa Etiquette
THE DO's
- ARRIVE EARLY. If you’re going to be late, call—as soon as possible.
- HYDRATE. If you’re getting a massage, drink plenty of water beforehand.
- TAKE YOUR TIME. “Bring a book, a swimsuit, and order lunch,” says Boyd at ara. “Stay and play all day.”
- RELAX. “I tell people, ‘When you lie on that bed, just take a deep breath and let go,’” says Andree Sanders at Wellbridge Athletic Club & Spa (wellbridge.com).
THE DON'Ts
- DON'T TALK LOUDLY ON YOUR CELL. Most spas request you turn off the ringer.
- DON'T BRING YOUR KIDS. Wellbridge offers child-care, but that’s not the norm.
- DON'T ASSUME YOU'LL GET THE FULL TREATMENT IF YOU ARRIVE LATE. “It is unfair for the next client, who is on time, to lose some of their services,” says Pilcher at The Face & The Body.
Troubleshooting
Too much partying the night before? Boyd suggests ara’s Turkish Delight ($150 for 80 minutes), a ritual based on skin-care practices in Turkish bathhouses. If you have aches from arthritis, ask for an arthritis-relief wrap ($75) at Vitality Unlimited Spa (vitalityspastl.com). Looking for a simple escape? “If a client comes in to relax and falls asleep during their session, we let them sleep,” says Wellbridge’s Sanders. If you’re suffering from migraines, sign up for a headache massage ($45) at Ginger Bay.
Alleviating Aches and Pains
If you’re recovering from a terrible illness or serious surgery, don’t go to a spa without a note from your doctor that specifies exactly what services you’re allowed to get. “A lot of our guests come in from Siteman Cancer Center, and we always make sure we understand based on their needs, what they can or cannot do,” says Kathleen Fuller, the Four Seasons’ spa director.
If your ailments are simply strained muscles and achy joints, though, many spas suggest sports and deep-tissue massages. Boyd at ara suggests the 50- or 80-minute Massage Fusion ($95 to $135), a customizable session. (For a specific sports or deep-tissue Massage Fusion session, she suggests massage therapists Ramon and Sara S.) Sanders, the spa director at Wellbridge Athletic Club & Spa, recommends Wellbridge’s 35-minute focused massage ($45). “It focuses on the injury, whether it be the hamstrings, calves, or back,” she says.
“Massage has been proven to help recovery, and our deep-tissue and sports massages are perfect for that,” says Haley Gilbert, spa manager at Vitality Unlimited. “The sports massage includes a lot of stretching and focusing on muscles, which is great to do before or after a major sporting event.” The deep-tissue massage ($83 to $123) is available for 60- or 90-minute sessions, and the sports massage ($87) is a 60-minute session.
The most lyrical choice, though, has to be the Four Seasons’ Rhythm of the River massage ($200 for 80 minutes). “It’s very therapeutic and incorporates a lot of stretching,” says Fuller.
And at Go!Spa (gospagirl.com), the signature massages ($55 for 45 minutes) are available in a custom Swedish or deep-tissue style. Owner Lisa Oliver suggests asking for Caleb, a massage therapist who specializes in working out marathoners’ weary muscles.
Guy's Getaway
Today, more places are tailoring services to men. At some locations, like ara and Wellbridge, guys make up nearly 40 percent of the customers, and some spas—including ara and Spa WingHaven—have private sanctuaries where men receive their treatments.
First-timers might try a spa connected to a fitness center, which tends to have a larger male clientele. “A lot of men take advantage of our splash pass that gives them access to everything, including the fitness center,” says ara’s Boyd.
Some spas have specialized treatments for hands and feet. For $45, the classic seasonal manicure at the Four Seasons in- corporates an exfoliating scrub, a moisturizing massage, and more. And just as you might take extra care to detail your car, Ginger Bay offers men’s foot detailing for $45.
Most spas offer facials to revive the skin, ideal for men who shave on a daily basis. Mulder says Spa WingHaven’s gentlemen’s facial ($80) helps soothe razor burn or other irritation—and it comes with a hand, foot, and neck massage.
In terms of massage options, Fuller at the Four Seasons’ Spa & Salon points to the 80-minute men’s therapeutic massage ($195), which uses volcanic ash and a deep scrub to clean pores.
For the works, Ginger Bay’s Just for Him package ($155) includes a 60-minute massage, a facial, and a manicure. And at Oxygen Spa and Salon (oxygenspasalon.com), the Professional Male package ($185) includes a 30-minute deep-tissue massage, a 60-minute gentleman’s facial, and a men’s manicure.
Spa Specials
This month (November 2013), Go!Spa offers a free lunch with its Spoiled Rotten package. At ara, you get 15 percent off your bill if you bring a bag of nonperishable items to donate to Operation Food Search. And Ginger Bay offers free Aveda makeup touch-ups along with its spa services.
Preen the Teen
Adolescence is hard enough. Go!Spa’s Teen Queen package ($65) indulges your teenager with a Feelin’ Fabulous or Blemish Blaster facial, plus Mani on the Go! and Pedi on the Go! treatments. And at Oxygen Spa and Salon, the 2-hour Teen Time package ($155) includes a facial, skin analysis, skin-care instruction, a manicure, and a pedicure.
Mahvelous Makeovers
You needn’t be Eliza Doolittle to be transformed from dumpy to divine. Spas all over the city are happy to oblige—minus the education in elocution.
If you’re wondering what a certain hairstyle would look like on you, visit James Pearson Beauty Salon & Day Spa (jamespearson.com). For $65, you can try out the computer imaging services—allowing you to see what you’d look like in different style and colors—and receive a complimentary makeup application as well.
“We pride ourselves in continuing education, so all of our stylists stay current on trends and what’s new and hip,” says Ginger Bay general manager Ryan Campbell. “We also offer makeup lessons, so people can learn about the latest trends and apply those at home.” Each $50 lesson includes a skin-care consultation.
At South County’s Heritage Salon & Spa (heritagesalon-spa.com), services include makeup application ($45), with airbrushing offered for $15 more. Assistant manager Vikki Christopher notes that Heritage also has stylists certified in DevaCurl, a set of products and techniques to help manage curly hair.
Each spa and salon claims its own talents. The Face & The Body’s stylists “create a style and a cut that is going to be manageable for the client,” says Pilcher. This differs dramatically from the special-occasion outing, where the spa’s hair and makeup specialists provide a look that Pilcher says “the client couldn’t do at home.”
The makeovers at Stonewater Spa & Boutique can include services such as haircuts and coloring, makeup application, and lessons. “It’s fun for us to see the transformation,” says Akers.
At The Chase, stylists strive to ensure their hair and makeup services endure. “We are always sharing tips on how clients can implement styles at home,” says salon supervisor Amanda Edgar. “When we do full makeovers, we send our clients home with the tools they need to keep it up.”
Pampering Moms-To-Be
Just about every spa employs massage therapists certified in prenatal massage (available after the first trimester), and they all recommend pedicures for the pregnant lady. But only one spot, The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis (ritzcarlton.com), offers the ultimate pampering package (starting at $349): a night at the hotel complete with a massage, scrumptious snacks (house-made spicy pickles, a Nutella fondue, and sparkling apple cider), and breakfast in bed. “We do a lot of weddings, honeymoons, and anniversaries—and those naturally lead to mommies-to-be,” says general manager Doug Chang. “It’s an evolution of the romance.”
By Nancy Curtis and Christy Marshall
