Asha SalonSpa's personalized extras soothe mind and body
A door may separate the styling area from the spa treatment rooms at Asha SalonSpa in Lombard, but the philosophy of relaxation permeates the entire space. The goal is to make every visit a full sensory experience. While you wait for an appointment, you can relax on silver couches with a warmed scented neck rest, listen to upbeat music, and sip a glass of lemon or cucumber water. The salon is decorated in modern, environmental ways, featuring walls covered with stacks of rock and vases filled with flowers.
Every service at Asha comes with just a little more than you might expect. Every guest, and even friends or family waiting for someone, receive a complimentary hand massage. Whenever you get a shampoo ($30) you'll also receive a scalp massage in one of the fully reclining chairs. The staff encourages guests to pick scented oils, part of a philosophy that says your mood and personality will determine what scents are pleasant at certain times and that the scents can actually help improve your state of mind.
No matter what spa treatment you receive, you're guaranteed to get to sample some different smells, presented to you while you close your eyes. Instead of having to fill out a form on potential health issues in the waiting area before receiving a massage, you start out discussing the procedure while relaxing with a warm foot bath. It's a soothing environment in which you discuss what you're looking for and also pick out any other scents used in the treatment. Your choices produce almost an olfactory horoscope, with the therapist placing you in an elemental category, whether you're a water looking for soothing herbal smells or a fire seeking high energy.
I tried the Himalayan Rejuvenation Treatment ($175), a mix of body exfoliation and aromatherapy. After picking out a set of scents, the therapist rubbed me down with a rough cream to remove dead skin cells followed by time in a warm tent breathing in scented air to clear out my pores and sinuses while leaving me feeling relaxed, if sweaty. The treatment culminates with the strange sensation of scented oil dripping slowly on your forehead and scalp, which feels soothing so long as it doesn't roll into your eyes.
If you need to wash off after a body treatment, there's an impressive shower that will remind you of how much fun you had playing in water as a kid. It contains numerous nozzles shooting in all directions with a variety of settings from jets to dripping rain.
All of the products used at Asha are from Aveda, which means they are 97 percent plant-derived. If you find something you particularly like and are looking to take home a little luxury for yourself, there's a huge selection of products for sale complete with areas to try items like beauty products that catch your interest. One unique aspect of the newest Asha location is a yoga studio, where you can take a class to get even more relaxed.