HAIR
Aveda Botanical Hair and Scalp Therapy Treatment
From $268 for 75 minutes Urbanhair, Seviin at Tangs; tel: 6737-7813
Want hair as sexy and bouncy as a K-pop star's?
That is how my husband described the way I looked like after I emerged from the salon.
My coloured and permed hair is dry and my scalp is oily, with small signs of thinning at the crown. So the therapist kicked off the treatment by massaging a detoxifying treatment oil for thinning hair into my scalp. The oil contains salicylic acid for exfoliation and avocado to decongest follicles.
This was followed by a penetrating moisture treatment (made with buriti fruit and pomegranate oils), a damage remedy hair mask (blended with quinoa protein and castor, jojoba and meadowfoam seed oils), and a PH balancing conditioner.
While my hair was wrapped up to let the moisturising formula work , I was given a relaxing shoulder and neck massage with lavender oil.
The session was completed with a blow-dry.
I was glad that almost 80 per cent of the treatment was done on a comfortable reclining bed, so I could snooze.
Afterwards, my mind felt recharged too - thanks to Aveda's aroma-therapeutic essential oils that were generously spritzed around the cosy treatment room.
My scalp also felt less oily for the next five days.
SP Personalised Alchemy Treatment Service
From $80 for 45 minutes Kimage Prestige, 01-201 Marina Square; tel: 6276-2700
This is a multitasking personalised treatment. For example, I could choose to rejuvenate my hair colour while getting a hair voluminising treatment in one sitting.
After analysing my dry and frizzy chemically treated hair, the therapist decided that it needed hydration and smoothening treatments.
The deep-cleansing shampoo wash was accompanied by a thorough head massage.
A smoothening formula and hydrating essence were then applied to my hair and I was placed under an infrared lamp for 10 minutes to boost the efficacy of the products.
Another rinse-through and a blow-dry completed the session.
My hair felt more supple and smooth for the next five days, and I could not stop running my fingers through it.
Steam Infusion Hair Treatment
$85-180 (depending on salon) for 60-90 minutes All L'Oreal Professionnel salons, including Salon Vim at 04-07 313@somerset, tel: 6884-7757
My lacklustre strands could definitely use a little love, so it was with anticipation that I went for this strengthening treatment. L'Oreal Professionnel has introduced a new haircare treatment in which a handheld steampod is used reportedly to open up hair cuticles so they absorb products better.
There are four different treatments - keratin treatment for coloured/permed hair, repair treatment for damaged hair, radiance treatment for fading colour, and steamcare treatment for rebonded or frizzy hair.
My stylist suggested the Pro-Keratin Refill course with the steam-infusion treatment because my hair was dry from being coloured and permed.
The process started with the stylist washing my hair with a Pro-Keratin Refill shampoo to cleanse the hair and scalp. Then came a keratin treatment in avial which was sprayed onto the hair.
My hair was blow-dried till about 80 per cent dry before the handheld steampod gadget was used. A bit larger than a flat-iron, it is applied in the same way, clamping and passing over hair section by section.
The idea is to open up the hair cuticles so the keratin treatment can be better absorbed and sealed in.
The white puffs being emitted looked worryingly like smoke from burnt hair, but it was just the steam.
The steampod was followed by a hair masque, which was combed throughout my hair and left on for about five minutes before being rinsed off.
The stylist applied some heat protective cream before blow-drying my hair straight.
I was quite impressed with the end result. After just 11/2 hours, my hair was noticeably softer, shinier and straighter. It looked healthier and I enjoyed the pampering sensation of getting my hair done.
The results lasted about two washes and my mane felt sleek, sexy and hair-commercial worthy. The stylist recommends the treatment every other month or so for improved results.
BODY & FACE
Lava Bambu Massage
$288 for 90 minutes ($198 per session for a 10-session package) Ultimate Radiance Lift Facial
$488 for 90 minutes ($388 per session for a five-session package) Spa Club, 75 Beach Road, 01-00 Fu Yuen Building; tel: 6339-9238
The spa recommends that you combine the body and face treatments for a head-to-toe glow.
The massage combines traditional techniques with the use of a heated tool that resembles a bamboo stalk to relieve muscle tension.
I thoroughly enjoyed the soothing body massage when the therapist used her hands. But when she switched to using the heated massage tool, I found it a little too hot to bear.
So she massaged my body with the stalk over a thin towel, which felt more comfortable.
Using skincare products from British spa brand Aromatherapy Associates, the Ultimate Radiance Lift facial is made to boost dull and tired skin. After a deep cleansing ritual, the elaborate treatment comprised of at least six kinds of skin boosters and masks.
In between each step, mild micro-currents were administered to my face, neck and entire decolletage to ensure that it was thoroughly absorbed.
The next day, and for the rest of the week, my face and body felt super-smooth and my husband pointed that I was glowing too. The pores on my face looked tighter and the corners of my mouth were also a little more lifted than usual.
Chocolate Spa Treatment
$188 for 120 minutes. A couples package ($368 for 120 minutes) is also available. It will be offered only until the end of this month Ikeda Spa Prestige, 05-22 The Central, tel: 6222-8080
The name of this treatment alone conjures up all sorts of delicious images.
Studies have shown that chocolate has a whole host of benefits, from increasing blood flow to the skin, which in turn speeds up the skin renewal process, to stimulating the production of endorphins - the mood-lifting hormone.
For this scrub and massage treatment, massage oil and goat's milk lotion are mixed with chocolate for a moisturising and relaxing experience.
The therapist started off by applying a chocolate scrub, made out of goat's milk lotion and white cocoa powder, all over my body for 30 minutes. After rinsing it off, my skin felt smoother than it had been in a long time.
The treatment includes a soak in a rose salt bath for 30 minutes. The water was a little hot at the recommended 40 deg C, but the heat helped to soothe my stiff neck and shoulder muscles.
For the hour-long massage which followed, the therapist used a dark chocolate essence mixed with massage oil.
The deep-tissue massage was so relaxing that I dozed off. I left the spa smelling of chocolate for the next few hours.
I did this treatment on the day that I left for a 20-hour flight to the United States. Even though I did not put any body moisturiser for the duration of the flight, my skin felt soft and supple throughout. It also lasted for the next two days.
Perfect Synergy Treatment
$360++ for 75 minutes Remede Spa, level 2, The St Regis Singapore, 29 Tanglin Road; tel: 6506-6896
If you have to get yourself ready for a hot date but are pressed for time, this would be the perfect option. It consists of a microdermabrasion facial and a pedicure done at the same time.
The facialist and podiatrist (the latter was trained by renowned French podiatrist Bastien Gonzalez) synchronise their movements so the experience is seamless.
For example, when I was being massaged on my right shoulder by the facialist, the podiatrist kneaded my left calf; and when a moisturising mask was applied on my face, my feet were wrapped in a warm paraffin wax.
The microdermabrasion facial left my face a shade brighter for the next 10 days.
And the pedicure was excellent. Before the treatment, my toenails were in bad shape. I had a blue-black nail that was falling off (a plank had fallen on it four months ago) and the rest of my nails were yellowish with white spots due to continual nail-polish use.
After the session, the entire blue-black nail plate was neatly trimmed away to reveal the pink healthy nail underneath. And the rest of my toenails were scaled and buffed to a healthy, shiny pink. For the first time in a long while, I did not feel the need to have polish on my toenails.
It definitely put an end to my husband's snarky comments about my ugly toenails.
Lush Anti-aging Body Treatment
$255 for 120 minutes Lush Spa, Singapore Polo Club, 80 Mount Pleasant Road; tel: 6254-9091
To help you attain firm, toned and silky-smooth skin, the spa uses products from French brand Decleor.
The therapist started off by rinsing my feet in a small cup of cold milk and warm water (I felt like Cleopatra), then had me lie on a comfortable heated bed.
For the next 80 minutes, she kneaded the tension and knots away painlessly from my neck, shoulders and upper back with a body-sculpting balm containing essential oils of rose, chamomile and myrrh.
I was then wrapped in a rich regenerating body cream (made with the imortelle flower, rose, chamomile, lemongrass, lemon, grapefruit, frankincense, myrrh essential oils and shiitake extract) for 30 minutes. In the meantime, I was given a thorough head massage.
The therapist did such a good job at getting rid of my aches and water retention that my body felt a lot lighter afterwards. My skin also felt very smooth and supple for the rest of the week.
Jet PR3 Facial
$480 ($238 for introductory session) for 60 minutes Jet Concepts at 03-03 Wheelock Place, tel: 6733-7055
The new Jet PR3 facial's name is derived from its goals to protect, repair, regenerate and revitalise the skin.
It consists of cleansing the skin with a Jet Stream device that is supposed to clear sebum, dirt and dead skin cells. After that, a dual wavelength light treatment is applied using both red and infrared light to stimulate cell turnover.
The therapist started by cleansing my face with both a liquid and foam cleanser.
She then applied the small handheld Jet Stream device, which uses fine streams of water to deep cleanse the skin and remove dirt. The water was sucked up into an attached tube so it did not leave my face wet.
The sensation was like a slight pinching, but most people would find it tolerable, pain-wise. In some areas, like around the nose, it even felt satisfying - like I got to scratch the area hard without hurting my skin.
When that was done, the therapist used the handheld dual wavelength device to brush the skin three or four times over each area.
I felt barely anything though I could see a red light through closed eyelids. The therapist explained that the red wavelength activates cell turnover while the infrared light is said to promote healing and increase anti-inflammatory properties in the skin.
The treatment was finished with the application of an anti-ageing essence, serum and cream that include active ingredients such as apple stem cells, hexapeptides and caviar.
The dual wavelength treatment is also supposed to improve absorption of the serum and cream.
My face felt clean and glowing afterwards, with no signs of redness.
The treatment - which includes effects such as brightening, smoothing and sharpening - is recommended about once a month for those with mature skin.
Clear skin is always desirable and thanks to this treatment, my skin felt very clean and caressable as well.
O2 Bubble Facial
$194 for 90 minutes; additional treatment of the Variable Pulsed Light (VPL) at $160 Qi Mantra outlets; www.qimantra.com (If you are a first-time Qi Mantra facial customer, mention "Urban" when you book the facial and pay $68. Promotion excludes VPL and ends Feb 28; terms and conditions apply)
Why look good just on Valentine's Day when you can glow the entire week?
I was left with brighter, tighter and glowing skin for seven days after this treatment.
After a deep-cleansing facial and extraction (which was quick, painless and left no marks), an Epidermal Growth Factor treatment was applied on my skin and layered with a frothy oxygen mask.
The therapist then performed a quick but thorough shoulder and neck massage when the mask was on.
The treatment was topped off by a round of Variable Pulsed Light, which is said to stimulate collagen production and give skin added radiance.
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