First ever spa day

[Geraldneedsasecondclassstamp]

My friend has booked a spa day for us both next month and I haven't a clue what to expect/bring. It's just for the day, not overnight. I know that we will both be getting a massage and a facial and then afternoon tea. We have full use of the facilities.

I honest haven't a clue. I've never even had a massage except from my husband. Worried it'll hurt and I won't be able to relax!

What do I bring? I like to swim and there's a pool so I thought I could have a swim before the massage. Do I bring a hairdryer and my straighteners? I know they provide a bathrobe and slippers. What if the robe doesn't fit me? Do you get undressed for the massage? I don't know what's best to wear. I'm normally in jumpsuits every day and dresses and cardigans for work/occasions.

So many questions!

I just usually take a swimsuit, flip flops and hairbrush/shampoo. Everything else is usually provided!

I change into a joggers and t shirt/hoodie to eat, I don't like sitting in a robe to eat.

Also regarding the locker check if you need to bring a padlock. There is a spa in my local City that you either leave your stuff in an unlocked locker or else have to bring your own padlock.

Thank you @Geraldneedsasecondclassstamp for starting this, and all the lovely posters who have given such helpful replies.

My friend is trying to persuade me to go and I am nervous too, so this is all really helpful.
Thank you all

Honestly, don't be. In my experience Spa staff are lovely and helpful and will explain every step with you particularly if you tell them it is your first time at a spa.

😊

I think I'm nervous because it's my first time going and also it's an intimate thing. The only person to give me a massage is my husband! Hopefully I can relax into it and not be too tense.

Thanks everyone for all your advice! I'm quite looking forward to it now 😁

Don't shave the day before, if they have ant salt-water pools!
Drink loads, I always find dehydrated after being in hot water/ saunas all day.
Enjoy!

Any spa I have been to provides flip flops. They have driers in the locker rooms, so you can dry swimsuits and wear again later. I happily swan around in the robe (with underwear) the rest of the time.

I love a spa.

I wear a tankini (my tummy isn't really up for bikinis) so the top comes off for a massage.

If you like them, the steam room can be fab before a massage as all your muscles will be warm and ready to be soothed!

You don't have to wear the paper thong for a massage if you don't want to! I always bring bigger pants. 😂

Unless you plan to swim twice and don't want to put on a damp costume, you won't need more than one.

Swim and be sure to shower afterward so you are chemical-free for the massage, then put on a robe with nothing beneath it. (I can't imagine getting a massage in a swimming costume!)

The massage therapist will take you into the massage room, which usually is dimly lit with a freshly-made massage table including linens and blanket. They will ask you about your aims for the treatment and special needs/areas to avoid, then they will leave the room. You undress to "your comfort level" - some people keep pants on but most therapists I know prefer that you be completely nude. I am always nude for my massages.

You climb onto the table and lie face down, reaching back & pulling the sheets and blankets over you to at least waist level. Your arms can go forward, dangle off the sides or backward by your side. They will instruct you if they need your arms in a specific position to do a particular muscle group.

The table may be heated, which is nice. The therapist will knock and return, and fully cover you up. Then they will expose only the body part they are working on. One leg at a time, for example, and they will tuck the covers up between your legs so that your crotch isn't exposed. I assume some side boob is visible when they fold back the covering to work on my back but I don't really care. It's not a sexual situation.

At some point they will ask you to turn over. What they do is hold up the sheets and blankets so you can flip, while the blankets are in front of their own face and their gaze averted. It's really no big deal. Your arms and shoulders will be massaged. I've only had one therapist who did the muscles at the top of my front chest, and she asked first, and it was for a specific condition. They won't massage the front of you from above breast to thigh.

You need not talk. Every so often I say "that feels great, thanks" so they know they are on the right track. If they are kneading too hard, or too light, just let them know, they don't take it personally. When you are face down your face will be resting in a little round padded halo with an opening in the center and a toweling, fresh cover on the halo. Just relax into it.

I have had men and women practitioners and it makes no difference; they have seen it all and I am not particularly modest.

You can walk all around in just the robe, or just the robe and pants. I wouldn't wear anything else beneath it; but I'd take clean pants to put on at the end rather than put on used ones.

For the facial they may do it with you in the robe, but I have had plenty where I am asked to get on my back on the table (which will include linens and blanket) and cover up, while the therapist steps out. That way they can massage neck and shoulders as part of the facial. I do it nude as I find having my undergarments rub and pull against the sheets to be annoying. Again, the tables generally are heated; it's a lovely sensation.

The one caution about facials: usually they will put cotton wool or a flannel across your eyes and beam a VERY strong light onto your skin so the therapist can assess it. My eyes are super light-sensitive and even with the covering, the light is literally painful. You can ask them to avoid the eye area with the light, if this is the case with you.

I hope you have a great time!

Just to offer a counter point to the previous post about being naked for a massage, I have been to lots of places and I've never not been told to keep my pants on. I think one place even explicitly said on their website that it was required to wear pants. I would advise keeping your pants on.

For once in my life, I agree with Laurie. Good post.

Thank you @LaurieStrode for the detailed reply. Really helpful!

I will likely wear underwear as it's my first time just to see what it's like. I'm hoping I'll love it and book in again maybe for a night away by myself.

I sit in the sauna after swim to dry myself off a bit before a massage.

Try not to worry too much I'm sure you'll have a lovely time.

Thank you @LaurieStrode for taking the time to write all that out.

Glad it was helpful.

Forgot to say that when you lie face down (some of them start you face up but that is rarer) squirm forward so your face is on that halo; when they come in they will adjust it so that it is comfortable. When you flip, you'll have to squirm forward so the back of your head is on the table.

If it's affordable, some of the enhancements like hot stone are nice; they have a little oven with heated smooth rocks and place them on various muscle areas. Feels fantastic. It's generally an extra charge; same for aromatherapy and other add-ons.

When they are done they will cover you up fully and generally do a "leave-taking" last press on your back, or sweep their hands down your back, so it's not an abrupt stop. Then you will be left to dress or get into your robe. I always leave the tip on the worksurface where they keep their oils and such, or on the massage table; leave the bedding/blankets folded back somewhat neatly. Maybe for a full spa day there is a different tipping arrangement.

If you ever get a chance for a Vichy shower massage, jump at it. (In a reputable spa, not a dodgy one). Basically it's in a tiled wet room, the practitioner wears swim shorts and t-shirt, you wear nothing. The table is under a device with multiple powerful jets of water, and you are covered by thick towels that get totally drenched. The jets augment the massage; at the best one I had there were also fire hose type things in the wall that the therapist (a man) used on my back. In between water jets he did a full body exfoliating salt scrub.

It's a bit vulnerable, basically you have a wet towel over your rump, and when you are on your back, a wet towel over the groin and over the breasts, but at that point, who cares? (Where i had it done, there was a glass see-through door from the treatment room to the hallway where a female staffer was stationed. More for the protection of the practitioner than the client, no doubt). The combo of hot water, salt scrub, professional massage, the white noise of the water spray, etc. is a sensory delight. It took about an hour. Afterward you want to say "just wheel me to the nap room!"

@LaurieStrode

"Just wheel me to the nap room"

Haha! I feel like this could be the start of an expensive "hobby" 😁

LOL, it is, believe me. It can be addicting. But so good for mental and physical health.

Visiting my cousin in the States, we went to a spa connected to a casino that was so luxurious; it had about a dozen separate little shower rooms off the women's room, each had a louvered door, an entryway with stone bench and then the shower itself all tiled with beautiful stone, and posh toiletries from shampoo to razors and shaving lotion. There was a huge antique hutch filled with large rolled towels.

The toilets were in a separate room down the hall, and the area around all the washbasins was marble, high-ceilinged, big mirrors, other antiques, and then a long vanity with little benches and every possible toiletry or cosmetic you ever could need, all clean and free for the using. Vases of flowers. Hair dryers, straightners, curlers, etc. The lockers were all mahogany or some similar luxury wood. The waiting area had teak loungers like you'd see aboard an old transatlantic ship.

After treatments you could go to a sauna, or steam room, or room with four in-ground jacuzzis from lukewarm to hot, plus a deep cold plunge pool, with windows overlooking the garden. The attendant just told us to wrap a thin towel she handed out, around us, and not bother with swimming costumes, underwater. It was to die for. (All of this was women-only; there were mirror facilities of the same size and amenities on the other side, for men). Cousin told me it's since been closed after the recession over there. And destroyed, razed to make room for some tacky development. Broke my heart.

Hot stones 100% worth it!

Have worked as a therapist in various spas, all have required knickers or paper ones are provided (but these are vile).
Do tell your massage therapist if the pressure isn't right for you. We really do what to know so you get the treatment you want! Relax & enjoy.

I had a body wrap once where they asked that we wear sort of a paper thong; it was grim. Everywhere else said nude or pants. One of my neighbours is a massage therapist and she says it's easiest if people are nude, but whatever they prefer is fine with her. She pretty much sticks to her existing clientele these days and is not seeking new clients, so I guess she and they are all used to one another and not self-conscious.

I agree these paper undies are a nightmare. But the wrap often has ingredients who stain so they want to avoid having angry customers because their proper underwear is ruined.

And there is no way you can get a normal pair of knickers off when you are covered in a salt scrub or a thick layer of gunk which does wonders for your skin.

This thread actually inspired me to look for a new spa, the one I used has massively reduced its treatments and I love a full body treatment.

Wear old pants or bikini bottoms to the massage, not a one-piece. Take a book and some headphones for music on your phone, if you might like that. Maybe a sports bottle so you can carry water round. They will have water but often in tiny paper cups so you have to keep refilling... they advise hydrating well after a massage (it does always make me thirsty).