As you may already know, I love a nice soak in a hot bath at home. It is one of the nicest things I can do for myself after a long day. But, sometimes, I need a change of scenery and need to utilize the help of others. Like a good girlfriend who will honestly give her opinion on a dress purchase or a life decision, you should have your own dream team of people and a place to go to get rest and feel rejuvenated.
First things first... Is taking care of yourself a priority? Do you firmly believe that taking care of yourself will make you stronger? I know as a woman that may sound a little weird since usually a lot of women are so focused on giving themselves to a lot of people and they forget about themselves.
I also think your mother can set a good example of investing in yourself. It was my mom that took me to meet a make-up expert at the Clinique counter. And, she was also the person who took me for my first pedicure and eyebrow waxing. She knew that she had to teach me to look after myself and she was there to show me how.
Also, do you have a place to go to relax, to beautify, and to get rest?
When I was in Paris, I read about these places called hammams. Unfortunately, I ran out of time and didn't get a chance to make an appointment. When I returned to Texas, I realized that I didn't have to wait for another vacation to indulge in a spa moment. So, I did a little bit of research and tried to take advantage of what I had here in my own city.
Tony at King Salon: Since my hair is thick, unruly, and Asian, I need to rely on someone who understands me. And, Tony is my guy. I've been going there for years and most of my female relatives go there too. He just knows how my needs to be cut, and fortunately for me, I just pay him $20 for my hair cuts. This sure as hell beats the $75 over-priced haircuts I was getting at a fancy salon inside the loop. Tony's haircuts grow out well too, and I'm never disappointed. A haircut can make a huge impact on your look, and if cut properly, you shouldn't have to spend a lot of time trying to flatten it, shove product in it, or blow dry it to perfection. After getting a Tony cut, you should wash it, dry it, and put a tiny bit of styling wax and you're done.
Reflexology massage at Triple Tree Center: If you are willing to drive out to Chinatown, I think this is definitely worth the trip. Before this visit, most of my massages consisted of a membership at Massage Envy and the occasional chair massage at Whole Foods. The only problem was the amount of money I was spending. $55 per hour on the table or $1 a minute in the chair. It was too pricey for me to indulge in this.
My parents started getting their massages in Chinatown and told me that they were pretty affordable and good. So, I figured if my parents trusted these people, I should give it a shot, too. So, I paid a visit to Triple Tree Center and got the 60 minute massage for $30 dollars. (Yes!)
So it is a little bit different from your traditional massage. You walk in and sit in a chair that reclines flat. You keep your clothes on. So, I wore a tank top and leggings. You put your feet in a hot warm bath while a very strong Asian woman works on your ears, head, neck, shoulders and arms. Then, you remove your feet out of the bath and she massages your legs and feet. And in the end, she will work on your back and the backs of your legs. It is amazing! And, it is so much more affordable. If you do a lot of workouts or get stressed a lot, I think this is a great alternative to the pricey massages.
Mani/Pedi: I don't have a favorite place for this, but lately, I've been visiting Avalon Nail Salon right on the curve of Shepherd because they have always been consistently nice to me and their work has always been pretty precise. I like coming here right when they open. There usually isn't a line and you can relax in their spa chairs. They also do a very good job massaging your arms and legs and really like to exfoliate. As the warmer summer days start to come, I look forward to coming here. So, I'm not ashamed to wear my flip flops and sundresses.
Facials at Naked SkinCare & Waxing: I've been trying to add this in to my beauty regime. I really don't do much to my skin, but I felt like it was finally time for someone to give me some useful advice on how to take care of my skin. I decided to give this place a try. I thought the experience was very relaxing. Who doesn't like getting a dose of aromatherapy, facial massage, exfoliation, tingly mask, and moisturizer? I don't know if I'll come very often, but a friend of mine recommended that I should at least go seasonally.
Sauna and Hot Tub at the Gym: So, this is another way I've been unwinding lately. After a few laps in the pool, I love sitting in my gym's hot tub. I am usually the only one in there. It's a good way to melt away the aches in my muscles, and afterward, I like to finish off with some time in the dry heat sauna.
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