by Jean Shea
Are you hoping your business will finish the year on a high note? The holiday season offers a significant opportunity for incremental client revenue through body treatments that firm and refresh skin just in time for the new year.
Many spa owners recommend clients consider a wrap or body polish at the end of each season to get rid of dead cells and instill a sense of renewal. What better time than right before the holidays to suggest clients treat themselves to a polish followed by a massage to relax and feel silky smooth for holiday festivities. At the same time, don’t forget to encourage clients looking for something particularly special and personal for a friend or family member to consider a holiday gift certificate at your practice or spa.
To get the most from your holiday treatment specials, keep holiday treatment options at a minimum. The fewer packages you offer means less staff training and less specialty products. Also, make sure to feature retail products that complement the treatment. You might even want to create a special retail “take home” customized kit with trial services to serve as a reminder of the treatment.
Here are a few recommendations for treatments that are sure to put your clients in the holiday mood—not to mention putting an extra ring in your cash register.
Holiday happiness
Revive weary and tired bodies with a stimulating milk-and-honey sugar body-polish exfoliation followed by a comforting wrap, perhaps containing a cocoa massage balm. This treatment is designed to melt away your clients’ holiday stress.
Ingredients
¼ cup (2 ounces) of a milk-and-honey sugar body polish
2 tablespoons of a cocoa massage balm
10 to 20 drops of cinnamon essential oil
Supplies
2 rubber spa bowls
10 hot, moist hand towels
1 sheet plastic wrap
1 thermal blanket
2 bath towels
1. Add ¼ cup of the milk-and-honey sugar body polish to rubber bowl, and mix well. Warm prior to application.
2. Add 2 tablespoons of the cocoa massage balm and 10 drops of cinnamon essential oil to rubber bowl, and mix well. Warm prior to application.
3. Apply an exfoliation treatment using the milk-and-honey sugar body polish. Remove with warm, wet towels after application.
4. Apply the cocoa massage balm in an even layer to each body part, while quickly covering each area with plastic wrap. Cover the client with a towel to keep warm.
5. While standing at the head of the table, pull up all layers of sheets, thermal wrap and blankets, cocooning the client.
6. Allow client to rest for 15 to 20 minutes; stay in the room or near client for reassurance.
7. Remove plastic sheets, removing any excess balm along with sheet.
8. Perform finishing treatment with the cocoa massage balm remaining on the skin.
Peppermint Pedi
Don’t forget to pamper the feet! This perfect holiday treat for the feet will have your clients’ toes feeling rejuvenated and refreshed after all that holiday shopping.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon (0.5 ounces) of a pedi-scrub with marine elements
2 tablespoons (1 ounce) of rose mud
1 tablespoon (0.5 ounces) of a pedi-balm with marine elements
6 drops of a peppermint essential oil
Supplies
3 rubber spa bowls
4 hot, moist hand towels
Plastic wrap
1. Add 1 tablespoon of the pedi-scrub with marine elements to rubber bowl. Warm prior to application.
2. Add 2 tablespoons of rose mud and 6 drops of peppermint essential oil to rubber bowl, and mix well. Warm prior to application.
3. Add 1 tablespoon of the pedi-balm with marine elements to rubber bowl. Warm prior to application.
4. Smooth the pedi-scrub with marine elements over the entire right foot. Apply in small, circular movements, paying special attention to rough/callused areas. Repeat on the left foot.
5. Remove scrub with a hot, moist towel
6. Apply the rose mud to the entire right foot using small circular movements; repeat on left foot.
7. Cover both feet with plastic wrap and a bath sheet. Leave on for five to 10 minutes. Use this time to pamper your client with a neck and shoulder massage.
8. Remove rose mud with a hot, moist towel.
9. Complete the treatment with a 10-minute foot/lower leg massage using the pedi-balm with marine elements. Encourage clients to add an additional 15 minutes to their foot massage for a small fee ($12).
Jean Shea is the founder and president of BIOTONE (www.biotone.com), one of the industry’s leading providers of professional massage therapy and spa body-care products. Shea serves as chief product formulator for all of BIOTONE’s offerings and is involved in many industry initiatives to further the knowledge and benefits of massage therapy in education and health care.