Li Li was very nice and very light with her touch. I would like to give her another try for a…read moredifferent service.
I came in for a head and scalp therapy this time. In fact, I walked in thinking this would be a salon for mostly head/hair massage and perhaps a facial - but they do offer everything from full body massage to hot stone massage, facials, haircuts, hair extensions, and waxing. When I called in to make an appointment, I was told I didn't really have to make an appointment and can just walk in.
I'm not sure whether they have different personnel for each service, and when I came in, there was only one person working there (Li Li, aka Lily). When I left, there was one other lady there. They were speaking Chinese and looking at me up and down, and I didn't like that, though LiLi was nice to me. I'm not sure if everyone is licensed for all the services they provide.
The massage room is one big room with curtains for several stations, so it's not very private. There weren't any other customers when I went, though, so it was quite private.
Like I said, I got the Groupon deal for a "90-minute original Chinese Head & scalp treatment". This one is not on their menu. There is the regular 65 minute scalp spa therapy (which is more like what I got, but for a longer period, minus the scamp testing, flushing, ginger hydration, face clean/mask), and a 95 minute total treatment, which includes a mini facial. What I got was more like the $65 45-minute hair wash service for 90 minutes. Lili did ask me if I wanted the facial added, but we had to use google translator because she couldn't speak English and I think something was lost in translation. I think she was telling me that I could add the facial for more money, and I didn't want to pay more for a service I wasn't ready for. I'm also very, very particular about facials. So I declined, and would have declined either way, but I'm not sure if she was offering additional treatment for free or pushing more service for a fee.
As to the scalp therapy. To be blunt, I didn't like it. I've had a real head and scalp therapy. They will test your scalp, and tell/show you what the problem area is, what they can do to relieve it, and provide the right products (including protein/oil/masks for deep conditioning). What I got here was a very long shampoo treatment.
Lili basically shampooed (the shampoo smelled like Herbal Essence). The water shower/flushing mechanism was used to provide a rain bath like experience (the machine was not as nice as the one I had done before, where the water is actually jetted out. This was more like a gentle pour). Then she put hair conditioner (again, not sure what product they use, but it is not high end or salon grade). There was very minimal actual scalp care/massage. More like she kept washing my hair.
The shoulder and neck massage was good, though not as good as what I get with my massage therapist. I did expect this though, since I came in wanting a scalp massage more than anything else.
Afterwards, Lili added in a hair dry, which apparently is not included, though they will let you use their blow dryer for self drying. It wasn't a blow out - just a hair drying. I actually wanted to do the drying myself. Then I could at least flip the hair over and get some volume in. If you need a blowout, make sure to ask for an actual blowout/style and don't pay extra just to get your hair dry.
Oh, and they will take payment up front. Then ask you to tip after the service. But you can't use your card to pay for tip, so have cash ready. Or they will take Venmo. Or tell them to add the tip when you're paying at the beginning.
Anyway, long review of the disappointing Hair Scalp Therapy here. Based on my previous experience in Korea, I don't recommend it here. However, Lili is very nice, and I would be willing to give their body massages a try. As far as a facial, I'd check with them to make sure that whoever provides the facial is a trained/licensed esthetician before trying. Personally, I would also ask what products/brand they use for the facial.
