The Indian Spa or How to Spend 5 Hours Being Slathered With Every Single Cream You Can Think Of

Mood: Happy – Sri Lanka in 2 days!

Listening to: Alien Vs. Predator

I went to visit my sister in law last weekend. She decided that she wanted to do some girly bonding with me and that a spa was the perfect place to do it. Apparently, almost everyone goes to get their hair cut, get facials, get hair removed, etc.  She decided dragging her brother (my husband) was also needed. Her husband stayed home with both my two nieces and my two daughters – bless his heart!

We went on a Saturday afternoon, which meant it was packed. We only ended up waiting for a half hour, so it was ok.  I decided to get a haircut, a fruit facial, and a coconut oil hair massage.  I haven’t gotten my hair cut since we moved to India 6 months ago – I’m rather intimidated by going by myself and not being able to explain what it is I want done. This sounds silly, but I’ve actually had this happen at a Dominican salon in the US, so my sister in law was much appreciated reinforcement. Fruit facials are pretty self explanatory.  Coconut hair oil massages are also.

I went in first to get my hair cut. My sister in law explained what I wanted to the stylist. She cut my hair in 10 minutes flat (shortest haircut time evar), complaining the whole time that I was having hair fall. Hair fall is an Indian euphemism for your hair falling out, for whatever reason. This wasn’t news for me, I’ve been trying to get it to stop for a year now. I even saw a dermatologist in the US who told me it was a nutritional thing, but had no idea how to fix it. Gee, thanks.  I told her I knew about it, but she continued on about the whole time.

After that was done, my sister in law and I went upstairs to start our hair massages. They had us change into really loose tops that tied over our chests.  We both sat in chairs for a few minutes. The girls came in with bowls of warmed coconut oil and proceeded to massage the hell out of our heads. It was really intense sometimes, but absolutely wonderful. I loved it. I ended up looking like a greased pig, but it was wonderful. They washed my hair out later.

For our facials, we were asked to lay down on our backs on a bed that was covered with a big plastic sheet. It was a little odd, but that was how this salon was set up. She proceeded to smear this lotion/potion/hoodoo juice all over my face for the next 2 hours. IF you’re a person who is uncomfortable with a stranger touching you while you’re not fully dressed or don’t like too much touching in general, an Indian spa is definitely not for you.  After I was done, I was thoroughly touched out, but nicely relaxed.

4 days later, my skin has thoroughly exploded. Not sure what all junk she put on my face, but my skin does not like it at all.

Becky