SPA REVIEW: The "Stress Relieving Treatment" at the Douglas J. Aveda Institute in Royal Oak

Yesterday, I totally took a "Mommy Break" to get my spa on at the Douglas J. Aveda Institute in Royal Oak. Thanks to FREEISMYLIFE reader and twitter pal @kayleehawkins, I had a pass to get a FREE spa service of my choice - yes, I said FREE!

I had never been to the Douglas J. Aveda Institute before so this was a real adventure. It is located on South Center street in Royal Oak. The building is beautiful! I have never seen a beauty school that looked so professional. The building actually looks like something that belongs in Beverly Hills, California!


At the reception desk, I filled out an information form and they took my coat and offered me coffee, tea, or water to drink - pampering already with minutes of entering! I was informed that only graduate students work on clients and that none of the students are allowed to take tips from the customers, so this pampering was going to be totally FREE. The spa service that I choose was the "Stress Relieving Treatment" which is 1 1/2 hours long.

I was led to the upstairs spa area by my assigned student to a private room. I was given a towel with velcro and a robe to change into. I was asked about my health and any expectations that I had from the treatment. I told her that I just wanted to be pampered and she said that was no problem. She brought out a warm basin of water and massaged and exfoliated my feet while I drank my water in my nice warm robe. I was in total heaven.

I was given a choice of three aromas for my massage oil and I choose the vanilla. I hopped up on the table on my back on top of a heating pad and I was covered in towels. It was like being in a fragrant, warm cocoon. The treatment started with a mini facial and then a neck and head massage with oil and it felt WONDERFUL! Next my feet and lower legs were massaged and by the time my second leg was finished, I had fallen asleep. Next, each hand and arm were massaged and covered in warm towels.

The treatment finishes with a back and neck massage and by then, the 1 1/2 hours are over. Unlike when I usually get a massage and I am rushed off the table for the next customer, this time I was allowed to get up and dress at my own pace. When I went back down to the reception desk, I gave them my free pass and they gave me my coat and told me I was all set. I was so relaxed that I hated to have to leave, but all good things must come to an end.

I loved my experience, but if you are the type of person that is extremely picky about how a spa treatment is performed, a beauty school might not be for you. My student did not get the lighting right the first time she tried and she forgot to bring in all her spa items when she first entered the room. Also, one of the school's instructors popped in and out of the room to make sure that my student was performing up to par, and from time to time I could hear some noise from the area where customers were getting their hair done. But none of these things bothered me and I am a very picky person.

I will definitely be back to the Douglas J. Aveda Institute for more spa services. The regular cost for the "Stress Relieving Treatment" is only $35 and that price fits into my frugal budget. They also give customers on their email list 1/2 price coupons from time to time. When you go, you should budget about 2 1/4 hours from start to finish in your schedule. I don't know of anywhere else that I can be pampered to this degree for such a low price. By the time I picked up my son from school, I was in a totally right frame of mind and wonderfully relaxed.

For more information on the Douglas J. Aveda Institute, click here for a list of all the spa and hair services and click here for their hours. The free pass that is available on FREEISMYLIFE is good until the end of the month. You should be picking up the phone and calling for your appointment NOW!

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COMING SOON!
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One of my FREEISMYLIFE readers will be writing a guest review on her FREE Facial Spa Service at the Douglas J. Aveda Institute. Watch for it!