Spa Basics Guide

H ave you ever tried a body treatment at the spa? If you're like most spa goers, probably not. For many reasons, body treatments are often passed over in favor of massages or facials. But these treatments deserve your attention too. They provide multiple benefits that massages and facials just can't offer. So the next time you visit a spa, think about trying something new with a body treatment; for many people, once they try body treatments, there's no going back.

What is a body treatment?

There are multiple services that fall under the category of body treatments. In fact, most everything outside of massages, facials, and nail services qualifies. The term "body treatment" just means anything that focuses on the body, not the face, nails, or hair. Under that definition, massage would be a body treatment too. But since therapeutic massage has become extremely popular in its own right, most spas separate massage into its own category, away from other body treatments.

What kinds of body treatments are there at spas?

Body wraps and scrubs are by far the most popular kinds of body treatments, and they are often combined into one service. In a wrap treatment, a customer's skin is cleaned and then rubbed with an essential oil blend, natural product like clay, or a moisturizer. Then, the entire body is tightly wound in a cocoon of fabric, seaweed, or plastic. After setting for a while, the wrap is removed and the products are washed off, usually with a shower.

Body scrubs are the second type of common body treatment, and they're often administered just before a wrap. A body scrub is an exfoliating treatment; it consists of an abrasive material, usually sugar or salt, which is combined with oils. This product is rubbed all over the body, releasing dead skin cells. After it's rinsed off, skin looks fresher and feels smoother.

Other forms of body therapy include bath treatments and waxing. Bath treatments are becoming more and more popular and are sometimes called hydrotherapy. Types of spa bathing services include soaks with natural botanicals and mud or clay baths. Waxing services are offered at most spas as well, but since most people don't get waxed for therapeutic reasons, these services are not worth describing in detail.

What are the benefits of scrub and wrap treatments?

The popular combination of a salt scrub and body wrap offers multiple beauty benefits. First of all, the exfoliating scrub segment leaves skin soft and radiant. The oils used in a scrub will also leave your skin smelling lovely all over.

Wrap treatments can give different results depending on the types of products coated on the skin and the variety of wrapping material itself. In general, there are two basic kinds of wraps - moisturizing and detoxifying. Moisturizing wraps are therapeutic treatments that leave skin soft and lively. These types of wraps typically use shea butter or another natural emollient to correct dryness and scaly skin.

Detoxifying wraps, on the other hand, are meant to slim, firm, and, of course, detoxify. They usually products like seaweed, mud, or clay to draw out toxins and make skin seem more elastic. If you want to lose a few quick pounds, detox wraps are the way to go. The products used are natural diuretics and firming agents, so you sweat out water weight and toxins. Many customers lose up to six inches off their waists after a wrap! If this sounds unbelievable to you, keep in mind that the extra pounds will come back after a few hours. Despite the non-permanent results, detox wraps are still a must-have for special events that require you to look your best.

Who should get body treatments?

Anyone can enjoy body treatments. Since there are such a wide variety of treatments available, there's bound to be one that suits your needs. If you have especially dry skin, you may want to be careful about the type of scrub and wrap you purchase; an abrasive scrub and a detoxifying wrap could irritate your skin.

Where can I get body treatments?

If you're after a wrap-and-scrub combo, you shouldn't have a hard time finding it. Every spa facility should offer at least one body treatment, although they may claim that waxing services fulfills this requirement. Still, most large day spas and all resort and hotel spas will offer wraps and scrubs. Not all locations will provide detoxifying wraps meant to help you shed pounds, however. Research the spas in your area carefully to find out if any provide this service. A spa may offer a wrapping treatment, but in most cases it will be a basic moisturizing service.

How much will it cost?

Wraps take a lot of work and require large volumes of products. Therefore, they aren't cheap. You'll be hard pressed to find any wrapping treatment that sells for less than $150, especially if a scrub is included. At top-of-the-line locations, you could pay as much as $300.

Scrubbing services, on the other hand, tend to be one of the most inexpensive treatments available at a spa if you can find them offered on their own. Most of the time, scrubs are combined with other treatments. If you can find a scrub with no strings attached, expect to pay $25 to $40 for it. This price seems lower than it actually is; keep in mind that scrubs don't take very long to perform.