Over the past several years, the sweet, soothing sensations of
the spa have become a popular respite for the weary. Sometimes,
after a long day of work and chauffeuring the kids, nothing sounds
more relaxing than plopping down in a chair or on a massage table
and letting someone pamper you to no end.
Over the past several years, the sweet, soothing sensations of the spa have become a popular respite for the weary. Sometimes, after a long day of work and chauffeuring the kids, nothing sounds more relaxing than plopping down in a chair or on a massage table and letting someone pamper you to no end.
On other days, however, the thought of cozying up at home sounds much better: your own robe, familiar surroundings and no need to get in a car and drive home when you’d rather go to sleep.
So, why not mix the best of both worlds?
The in-home spa party is a trend that’s gaining popularity, and it’s no wonder. Invite some friends to your home, buy some food and set the mood with music and candles. Hire a therapist to give massages, pedicure, manicures and facials, and when you feel like turning in for the night, you’re in exactly the right place.
If you’re on a tighter budget – or simply want to keep the environment more personal – skip the therapist and have friends take turns pampering each other.
Sound appealing? It does to several clients of Merilyn Strange, a local independent sales representative for Avon, the well-known beauty products company.
Many of Strange’s clients, ranging from Salinas to Morgan Hill, throw themselves in-home spa parties on a regular basis, offering friends a chance to get together, catch up and relax in an environment more private and personal than a day spa.
“(In-home spa parties) are quite popular simply because it’s fun to be pampered,” Strange said. “They’re very popular with working women, whether they’re working at home as homemakers with their families and children, or if they’re working full-time outside the home. It’s just a time for everyone to pamper themselves.”
A typical party lasts an hour to two hours and can be elaborate as you want, including wine, hors d’oeuvres, ambient lighting and goodie bags for guests. Parties also can have themes or celebrate momentous occasions, such as bridal or baby showers.
Parties also can be limited to just manicures or pedicures, or they can include massages and facials. The most common products Strange said she sells for in-home spa parties include facial mists and masks, detoxifying body washes and ultra-hydrating body lotions.
Although the majority of in-home spa parties are held for women by women, men are jumping on the bandwagon as well. Danna Wroblewski, owner of Milpitas-based Grace Massage, offers in-home spa parties for couples, a preferred option for men who don’t feel comfortable going to a spa.
The parties also are popular with pregnant women, Wroblewski said, who might find the prospect of driving to the spa, getting relaxed, then having to drive back home less than appealing. Most people throwing in-home parties opt for a basic, 90-minute deep tissue massage, she said, but some go all out with full two-hour sessions.
After moving from San Jose to Gilroy in December, Joe and Jennifer Saindon decided to throw themselves an in-home spa party for just the two of them, a relaxing end to several days of lifting and unpacking heavy boxes. The couple had visited various massage therapists in the past, but for them, the in-home experience was unprecedented – and much enjoyed, Joe Saindon said.
“It was a guilty pleasure. I had some serious pain from all that moving,” he said. “It’s so nice because you’re in your own house, side by side, and not in some spa. It was so good.”
Part of the reason in-home spa parties are becoming more common is the stress of today’s fast-paced world leaves many people searching for a way to unwind, Wroblewski said.
“Massage is very helpful to the body. It helps you heal, increases circulation and releases stress. It makes you a healthier person,” she said. “People are really beginning to need that, but they’re spending all this money on beds and chairs and other gimmicks. And an in-home party is just really convenient. It’s making more and more sense for the busy Californian to not have to go to the spa, but have the spa come to them.”
Hiring a therapist for the in-home party can run anywhere between $90 and $300 per person, depending on the type and length of massage as well as how many extra amenities are included, such as bubble baths and refreshments. For a moderate party for five people, the bill would total somewhere around $750 – a thought potentially counterproductive to the ultimate goal of the party.
For a more manageable price – $7 per person – Dara Hershey, owner of A Passion for Nails in Hollister, offers manicure parties in her nail salon that imitate the in-home experience, complete with music, television and movies.
“I try to create a relaxing atmosphere so it’s just like being at home,” she said. “Usually, salons are more like assembly lines than salons. They’re so noisy and not very intimate. I wanted this to be more intimate and more friendly, where girlfriends can just hang out and not worry about everyone hearing their conversation.”
