pamper yourself to unwind

Your first visit to a spa can be very exciting; you are about to get pampered and taken care of by someone else. However, it can also be a little intimidating. When you walk into a spa, you are entering a new world that has its own etiquette rules. Here are a few key spa etiquette rules that you should be aware of before your first visit.

Turn Your Cell Phone Off

The entire point of going to the spa is to relax. It is not to keep up with your friends or stay on top of your work. Most spas strive to create a relaxing environment by using mood lighting, playing relaxing music and filling each room with relaxing and refreshing scents.

Respect the work that the spa takes into creating a relaxing environment by turning off your cell phone or putting it on silent. Using your phone takes away from the relaxing experience you are supposed to be having, and takes away from other spa users experience as well.

Show Up Early

Don't arrive exactly on time for your appointment; you generally have business that needs to be taken care of before you appointment begins.

At a basic spa, you are going to need to attend to any necessary paperwork before your appointment. Then, if you are getting a massage, you also need to include time to disrobe. You should arrive at least ten to fifteen minutes before your appointment is scheduled to begin.

If you are going to a larger spa, such as one located at a resort or specialty destination, you may want to get there about a half an hour before your first appointment. Just like with a smaller spa, you will probably have to fill out paperwork before you first visit and you may also be given a tour of the facility. At many larger spas, you can use the pool or hot tub to relax before your appointment, or work up a little sweat in the steam room. Make sure you give yourself enough time to take advantage of these extra features.

Take A Shower If Offered

If the spa you are going to has a shower in their locker room, it is generally considered polite to shower before your appointment. That way, you will smell fresh and your skin will be warm and soft for your treatment.

Choose Your Level Of Nudity

It is generally considered acceptable to be completely nude when you get a full body massage. Some spas will provide you with a robe so you can undress in their locker rooms before moving onto their message rooms, but many smaller spas will just have you get undressed by yourself inside of the massage room.

Generally, your massage therapist will provide you with a blanket so you can lay down and cover yourself up. Your massage therapist will move the blanket to expose the area of your body that they are working on; the rest of your body will be covered up with a blanket. However, if you don't feel comfortable, you can wear your underwear or other clothing during your massage. The key is to feel comfortable enough to relax.

Let Your Therapist Know What You Want

Finally, don't be afraid to let your massage therapist or the spa worker who is assisting you know what you want. If something does not feel right, let them know. If you want more attention to a specific area of your body, speak up. If the massage room feels too cold or too hot, let the masseuse know. It doesn't matter if you are getting a full-body massage or a manicure – the person who is helping you out will do their best, but they can't know exactly what you want if you don't speak up.

If you follow the general etiquette rules listed above, your first visit to the spa should go smoothly. If you are unsure of anything, just ask a staff member to help you. They have first-time visitors to their spa every day, and are used to answering questions and providing guidance in order to make their visitors' time go smoothly.