New Zealand Day Spas
NZ Beauty and Day Spas
New Zealand Day Spas are great for a relaxing day alone or with a group of friends before a big event like a wedding. This article will discuss the types of treatments available at an NZ day spa and what to benefits to expect.
New Zealand is known as being the world's centre of adventure, but it is also a fantastic place to relax and be luxuriously pampered. Find out about the types of treatments that New Zealand day spas offer, and their many benefits.
The need for luxury over necessity is something New Zealanders have only just begun to discover in recent years. While Europeans have pampered themselves in private spas for centuries, the idea of being tended to by beauticians, manicurists, waxers and masseuses is still an unnecessary extravagance for your average Kiwi. However, with beauty therapy options popping up everywhere from hotels to your neighbourhood hairdresser, why not let yourself indulge in a little splurge for your body (and mind) every now and again?
What to expect from an New Zealand day spa:
Massage
Massage therapy aids the body, the mind and the spirit. Massage is one of the pinnacles of spa treatments, and most people are familiar with its benefits. Most spas have qualified massage therapists for both relaxation and injury related massages.
Facials
A single facial will not erase years of lines, with it will make you look and feel fresh and alive for a special event, and if you get them regularly, will help prevent future ageing. Occasionally, because the deep cleansing process will involve exfoliation your face may be a little pink for the hours following a facial, so best to get one done the day before you need to look your best.
For more serious results, many beauty therapists offer skin refining peels and microdermabrasion. These are more expensive options which aim to permanently improve skin tone and light facial lines.
Manicures/Pedicures
Great for group visits to a day spa, manicures are an inexpensive option for a little luxury, and are a great to keep up regularly to keep your hands looking young, and nails looking healthy. Pedicures need done less often, and are great to get done in summer or when wearing open-toed shoes. They are perhaps more relaxing than manicures, as normally come with a foot massage - but are often more expensive.
Hair removal
Obviously not intended for relaxation like all other spa treatments, waxing and other hair removal is widely available in all forms, for almost all body parts. Many spas are now offering new innovations in hair removal such as sugar waxing and IPL (intense pulse light).
Tanning
Tanning on a sunbed has been popular until recent years, as campaigns against sun and other ultraviolet rays are now widespread. People are increasing trying to look after their skin, rather than damage it for the short term benefit of a tan. While tanning from a bottle has been around for decades, the innovation of professionally applied spray-tanning has only recently gained popularity within New Zealand. Spray-tanning is great for any special event to make you look like you are fresh from a week on the beach. It is now available widely throughout day spas and is applied by experienced beauty therapists trained in giving you a natural, patch-free tan (the days of orange knees are long gone!) - which is most importantly, safe.
Specialised treatments
Many more exclusive spas offer specialised treatments, from mud-body wraps (to help rid the body of toxins through metabolic stimulation) to hot rock therapy (deep penetrating heat to relieve stress and sooth pains). These are normally more expensive than standard spa treatments such as massage or facials, but are much more exotic.
Spas are for men too!
Men can also feel comfortable in a spa, in fact there are male-specific treatments offered at many spas. If you don't feel comfortable getting a relaxation massage, you can get a deep tissue or sports massage as a post-match cool down, or try one of these:
- Man-icure - no polish or anything fancy, just a good clean up of your rough cuticles, hangnails and a trim/shape.
- Hot Shave - the ultimate in old-world luxury, the facial for the man's man. Guaranteed to be the closest shave you will ever get.
- Waxing - Chest, back or even down below, most spas offer hair removal for men - handy before beach season.
- Haircut - Everyone need them, and most day spas which offer haircuts will complement them with scalp and neck massages - you'll never want a bargain cut again!
Alternatives
For a cheaper alternative to a luxurious spa, try one of the many hot pools in New Zealand. Densely dotted in the top half of the North Island, especially around the Rotorua and Taupo regions, thermal hot pools are a Kiwi experience - treasured by both locals and tourists alike. Soak away your stress in naturally hot water in idyllic, natural New Zealand surroundings. Many commercial hot pools also have luxury spa facilities.
Looking for a New Zealand Day Spa? Check out the NZS.com directory.
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Lifestyle images from Flickr: Ladies getting their nails done, Yoga and Wine.
