Imagine yourself in a plush robe enjoying a glass of wine or cup of coffee by the fireplace.
Relaxing music plays in the background, and a soothing light show dances across the ceiling. Quiet, calm and serene. Your masseuse greets and whisks away to enjoy a piece of Africa, a lovely wine room or perhaps a step back into medieval times.
SPAtacular Escapes, located outside Mechanicsburg, is a family-owned spa and wellness center with a mission to offer high-quality service using all organic, natural and chemical-free products, said salon manager Chelsie Clark.
Upon entering the spa, you feel like you’re walking through a streetscape—each wall is a different color to give the illusion of strolling by different buildings. The five massage rooms each feature a different theme. If you’ve never had a massage before, Clark and her mother, Shelly Wendeln, recommend spending some time in the sauna outside the locker rooms to help warm up the tissue. This will allow you to make the most of your massage time, Wendeln said.
A sitting room is located just outside the locker rooms so clients don’t have to walk around the entire spa in their robes. The room features a beautiful fireplace, cushioned chairs and an array of drinks to enjoy. Whether you’re waiting for your massage, or simply want to enjoy the experience longer, you may find it hard to leave.
Wendeln, president and CEO of SPAtacular, put great thought into the design and layout of the salon. From skylights, beautiful archways and the Mediterranean-style exterior, your mind may trick you into believing you’ve suddenly sailed off to Italy or Greece.
“I wanted clients to get a feeling of stepping back into time when things were slower paced, as well as getting a feeling of being transported to another place,” Wendeln said.
The hair salon is designed with the stylists and clients in mind. The lights simulate natural lighting so there are no surprises when you walk outside after getting a color treatment, Wendeln said. Each station also has its own trico-anazlyzer tool, which is a small microscope stylists use to get down to the root of clients’ hair. The scope is placed on the scalp, and an image appears on the screen, which helps a stylist determine why a client may be losing hair, why it’s oily, etc. From there, the stylist is able to prescribe a treatment specific to the client, Clark said.
It’s important, when a stylist recommends certain products, that clients do their best to listen. While shampoos in local stores may be cheaper, the products often are expired and don’t actually do what the labels promise, she said. Buying from salons is the best way to ensure you’re getting what’s best for your hair, she added.
“While you might be paying a bit more for the products up front, you end up saving a lot more money in the long run,” Clark said. “It’s not me making money or boosting the sale. It’s to help clients see results.”
SPAtacular’s prices are comparable for the area with manicures starting at $20 and relaxation massages $75 for 60 minutes.
“We didn’t want to be a salon that people could only afford to come to once a year,” Clark said. “We want our clients to be able to come back and not break the bank.”
SPAtacular Escapes is located at 200 Technology Dr., Mechanicsburg. For more information, call 717-791-7723 or visit www.spatacularescapes.com or their Facebook page.
Author: Courtney Gontz
