I ~Special Issue

Chain Bridge Rd., Oakton; 703-255-1114;ronnieelias. image411. com.

-CYNTHIA HACINLI

Serenity Day SpaServices for Men

I'DHADMASSAGESBEFORE,BUTI'DNEVERbeen to a day spa-let alone one whereI had to use the locker room of an adja-

cent gym to change into my telltale sparobe and flip-flops. (Okay, so I still havesome junior-high-vintage issues aboutlocker rooms.) Fortunately, the room wasnearly empty.Probably because it's part of a health

club, Serenity feels more unisex than Iimagine most spas do, and it offers notonly a men's locker room but services formen that range from a skin-fitness facial tosport pedicure to Citrus Sea Salt Glow. Mytherapeutic full-body massage wasn't list-ed in the brochure among men's services-only deep-tissue was, and a friend hadsteered me away from that as painful-butit was offered as an option when I called.The spa's Herndon branch-there are

also locations in Alexandria and Tenley-town-has a friendly, professional staff,and the facilities are quiet and clean, witha vaguely Oriental decor. The relaxationroom, where I waited, might have beenlifted from a Pier 1 showroom, completewith dinette (though no one offered meeven water). On a Friday afternoon, Iseemed to be the only customer.Bill, my massage therapist, asked about

my previous experience with massage. Healso inquired about areas he should attendto or avoid and whether I had relevantmedical conditions. New Age music gentlyplinked in the background.As much as I enjoy massages, I often get

antsy after 30 minutes, but I truly didn'twant this hourlong treatment to end. Billtold me to let him know if it hurt. It didn't.It was the best massage I'd ever had.My facial-a first for me-was conduct-

ed by Carol, whose way with moisturizer,exfoliant, and their many cousins was bothsoothing and brisk, her commentary aboutmy skin and the products she was using in-formative but not intrusive. Her over-the-top pampering made me feel a bit like JoanCrawford with facial hair, but I enjoyed it.I even walked out with a couple of skin-care products on my tab. Which shall re-main nameless.Serenity Day Spa, at Worldgate Sport &

Health, 13037 Worldgate Dr., Herndon;703-709-6596. Also at Old Town Sport &Health, 209 Madison St., Alexandria, 703-549-9212, and Tenley Sport & Health,4000 Wisconsin Ave., NW, 202-362-2560;www.sportandhealth.com.

-WILLIAM O'SULLIVAN

Shapes Salon & Day SpaWarm and Wonderful

FROMTHEMOMENTI STEPPEDINTOShapes Salon & Day Spa, I feltcared for. After a warm welcome, I

was led away from the noisy hair-and-nailsalon and through frosted-glass doors.I felt like I had walked into a Mediter-

ranean garden at midnight. The lightingwas softer. A small yellow rotunda was lit-up overhead. The walls were painted adeep purple with scenes of palm trees andwhite-stone fountains. In the bathroomwere individually rolled hand towels andburning candles. At that point, I forgot Iwas in a strip mall next to a grocery store.After slipping on a cozy cream-colored

robe and squishy black slippers in the lock-er room, I settled into one of four big,comfy chairs in the waiting area and filledout a health questionnaire. A few minuteslater, Carol, the attendant doing my 50-minute "signature facial," offered somewater and told me to help myself to the fruitand cookies on the table. Then she led meto Room 1, a small and immaculate spacewith lavender walls and soothing music.Throughout, Carol made sure I was com-

fortable. When she felt my hands werecold, she tucked them under the blanket.She went to great lengths to relax my tenseshoulders. She steamed, cleansed, masked,and moisturized my face. When she wasthrough, my skin was supple and more rosy.The best part was that I didn't have to

switch rooms for my next treatment: a one-hour massage with Brandi. She came to me.Brandi glided her hands along my back

and worked out any kinks with swift, deepkneading. The downside? That the treat-ments had to end.Shapes Salon & Day Spa, 2435 Centre-

ville Rd., Herndon; 703-713-0222. Also at

5622-K Ox Rd., Fairfax Station; 703-250-0000; www.shapesdayspa.com.

-BROOKE LEAFOSTER

SplashExercise in Futility

!WASINHEAVENUNTILI GOT TOTHE SPA.I'd taken three terrific exercise classes-step-and-sculpt, abs, and Pilates at the

Ritz-Carlton's hotshot Sports ClublLA-and was in an exercise-induced euphoria.Use of the gym is a bonus of booking twoor more treatments at Splash, the day spa.Then I came back down to earth.The spa locker room is the same as the

gym's-and CNN was on at top volume.Not very relaxing.Much of the staff wasn't friendly or help-

ful. I asked twice for a robe and gave up.When a spa employee saw me waiting formy massage-shivering in my tiny locker-room towel-she told me to get a robe fromthe front desk. Meaning the desk everyoneat the gym can see through the glass doors."Uh, I'm in a towel," I said. "Do you thinkyou could get it for me?" She did.The spa waiting room has soft lighting

and a tabletop waterfall, but it's tiny-iftwo people are in there, it feels crowded.During my $127 hot-stone massage, I

could hear two employees talking in the hallabout a movie one saw the weekend before.I have the sort of sensitive skin that, in

the wrong esthetician's hands, can end uplooking like I've contracted poison oak. Soit did nothing to help me relax when Tonyadidn't ask a single question about my skinbefore my $66, 25-minute Instant Gratifi-cation Facial. Turns out I worried for noth-ing: When she was done, my skin felt softand looked positively dewy.Then it was on to the Soft Pack flotation

Continued on page 156

Get the Most Out of Your Visit• When scheduling, think about what order of treatments you want. For example, youmay want a manicure after any body treatments so the polish won't be ruined.

• If you are more comfortable with a same-sex massage therapist, mention it when youmake your appointment.

• Leave jewelry and valuables at home. You'll be asked to remove them before treat-ments, and not all spas have lockers.

• If you have a serious or chronic medical condition, tell the spa staff. People with highblood pressure or heart problems not controlled by medication, for example, should notget heat wraps. Some spas ask clients to fill out a health questionnaire, but many do not.

• Speak up if a treatment is uncomfortable, if you want a massage therapist to concen-trate on aproblem area, or if you don't want a manicurist to cut your cuticles. If a treat-ment table is uncomfortable, ask for a pillow under your neck or your knees. If you arecold, ask for a blanket. The spa staff should want to please.

• If you are using a gift certificate and would rather have a pedicure than the stipulatedbody polish, ask if you can substitute one service for another.

• Plan to tip 15 to 20 percent for each service in cash-many salons won't put tips oncredit cards. Gift certificates usually do not include gratuities. ~LESLIEMILK

DECEMBER 200 I 143