Women frequent upmarket spas and salons for some pampering and quality me-time, writes RESHMA KRISHNAMURTHY SHARMA
Looking good has been a priority since forever. Didn’t Cleopatra bathe in ass milk and drink pearls to look a knockout? And didn’t Hamlet rudely tell his mum to paint an inch thick but yet come to poor Yorrick’s state?
The trend, however, to pamper oneself at an upmarket salon or spa, is relatively new.
Be it a homemaker or a working professional most people are heading for branded up market salons rather than the smaller ones in the neighbourhood. Whether it is unisex parlours, or a salon that also doubles up as a spa, beauty studios are pulling all stops to have the millennial woman destress and pamper herself.
Plush interiors, exotic and soothing aromas, well-mannered staff, soft lights, the latest magazines make all the difference. Such pampering comes with a price, but customers believe it is worth their while.
Manjul Gupta, who owns Body Craft says: “At our salon we give importance to personal attention. Hard work pays. The feedback we receive proves that clients want to quality and we believe that we are offering what every customer wants. We have specialised staff for each area like hair or skin, which also translates to value addition for the clients.”
Anita Mithra, a marketing consultant, a regular at a swanky salon says: “It is not that I do not visit smaller salons, but it is limited for mundane stuff like a quick manicure or change of nail polish. For something like hair or a facial I need to be sure of quality as well. Lighter on the pocket, could also mean lighter on service.”
There is a belief that a branded parlour comes with the inbuilt parameters of ambience, hygiene, well trained staff and skilled professionals who are certified from authentic sources and will not be running a shoddy outlet.
Says Prarthna Pradutt of Peaches, “People are aware of global trends and they want the person running the salon not to be just anyone who is there to manage cash but someone who is thoroughly skilled in all facets of the beauty business. People look to the person running the parlour for efficiency of the person to offer the right solutions and products as after all they are paying for it.”
Undeniably the rise of disposable income is also contributing to the choice.
This factor with the awareness and pressure to be well groomed is making urbanites spend on beauty services either as a necessity, a stress buster or as an affordable indulgence.
With a daily bombardment from all kinds of media, younger and younger people are visiting salons and spas for a feel good experience.
Nandini Hirianniah, an entrepreneur with Morpheus Ventures says: “I go to Spratt Studio. It works marvellously well as my three-hour getaway. Apart from the perfect ambience and being looked after by experts, little things like clean floors and towels make this a perfect choice for me.”
Call it a fad or a need the modern women is leaving no stone unturned to look good and have fun while getting it done.
Why would you choose
- Plush interiors, exotic and soothing aromas, well-mannered and highly-trained staff
- Cleanliness and hygiene
- The extra cost is worth it
- A visit to the spa is a perfect stress buster
- Increase in disposable income is a factor as well