Hendersonville, NC Spa and Massage

Perhaps it was the warm, friendly service. Or maybe it was the use of skincare products by Aveda. No matter the catalyst, the fact remains that Day Spa 12 West Stone has flourished into a full-fledged spa since starting as a modest salon in 1980. Today, visitors can get pampered and hide from peeping feds for a whole day, enjoying a massage in a softly lit aromatherapy room and relishing a salt glow treatment or a mani-pedi before lunch. When owner Carol McAlister takes a break from soothing her clients into states of bliss, she pours time into her second passion, no-kill animal shelter H.A.R.P.

As visitors to Spa Theology slip into plush robes and slippers and nibble organic treats in the relaxation lounge, stress falls away—so does the rest of the outside world. Evoking a secluded country farmhouse perpetually filled with warm, late-afternoon light and truckloads of all-organic crops, the spa spirits guests away to a realm of rough brick walls, creamy curtains, and recessed nooks glowing with tea lights. Once pamperees have reached at least a level eight on the ahhmeter, they're ushered into a treatment room to be plied with only botanically-based, paraben-free salves. Treatments can also be tweaked to include soul-relaxing Polynesian rituals or Reiki energy healing.

In addition to routine cuts and color services, tress tamers at Shampoo Hair Salon strive to reverse years of follicular damage with demineralization and deep-conditioning treatments. Hair services extend past the shoulders; eyelash and eyebrow tinting accentuates fuzz, and waxing services send mixed messages by whisking it away. In addition to haircare, aestheticians gently nourish skin with sugar scrubs, paraffin dips, and energizing facials that enhance mugs' ability to dodge rogue pies with organic Éminence Skin Care.

Though clients flock to licensed massage therapist Dana Randall to experience the soothing effects of her hands, they soon come to realize that her eyes have the same calming powers. Before asking them to recline on the plush massage bed, Randall gets to know her clients face-to-face. Through these informal chats, she comes to identify which modalities might best help them shake off soreness and anxiety from trudging through long workdays or arm-wrestling boogie monsters nightly.

Randall’s breadth of knowledge is as extensive as the range of ailments she can treat: during each massage, she may draw on techniques that span Swedish, deep-tissue, trigger-point, sports, and prenatal modalities. Through this integrative process, she zeroes in on trouble spots and endows physical and psychological benefits that range from easing lower-back pain to promoting an overall sense of calm. When she isn’t soothing muscles with her nimble fingers, Randall draws out built-up wax and other impurities from the ears with gentle ear-candling therapy.

Stacy McCain, help patients to maintain healthy, pain-free lives with non-invasive chiropractic care. Sufferers of stiffness, low back pain, or migraine headaches may reap the benefits of thorough chiropractic examinations, which send the doctors sleuthing over spinalscapes in search of bulging disks and stuck-on “Kick Me” signs. The treatments emphasize progressive rehabilitation, a method which allows doctor and patient to work together to track the effectiveness of treatments.

Mind, body, and soul merit equal attention at Spa de la Vie, where therapists and aestheticians pair a holistic approach with a meticulous eye for detail. In line with their focus on results, the spa’s certified consultants begin each facial, massage, body wrap, and mani-pedi with an in-depth analysis that helps them discern the most suitable treatment for each visitor.

While devising a treatment plan to complement skin type and beauty goals, the spa’s staff sets the stage for relaxation with complimentary slippers, robes, and herbal neck wraps. Aestheticians take care not to disturb burgeoning states of serenity as they gently slather skin with all-natural Pevonia products during facials, skin masks, and body wraps that exfoliate skin and highlight natural contours. Therapists employ a similarly tender touch as they treat backs and shoulders to massage techniques culled from eight modalities. Their menu of services includes prenatal massages for expectant mothers and the option to add a 20-minute reflexology session for feet prone to protesting their soreness by stomping on the surfaces of icy lakes.