beverly hills styling and day spa
by sandi tomlin-sutker

Drive east on Tunnel Road…and keep your eyes peeled for your turn! The Beverly Hills Spa sits tucked into the back corner of a shopping center just past Office Environments. The building and sign are simple, even quiet. But when you walk inside, the atmosphere changes immediately to a lively, friendly bustle.

On the day I was to get a facial from aesthetician Pamela Robinson (plus a 20-minute massage from therapist Cindy Smith), Pamela gave me a small tour beforehand. In contrast to the activity in the waiting room, the hair styling salon and the hair transplant consultation area (they are leaders on the East Coast in both transplants and wig creation, especially for cancer patients), the Spa area was serene. A subtle, pleasant scent and quiet music brought my mind quickly into a peaceful state.

I liked the fact that the massage rooms include showers, so that one could get a massage mid-day or before going out to an event. They offer many individual treatments but just imagine a full day that includes Massage and Body Wrap, a Facial, Manicure and Pedicure, a Shampoo and Blow-Dry and a lovely gourmet lunch with several choices! If you don’t have that much time, you can still nurture yourself royally with several 2 ½ to 3 hour treatment choices—all include a healthy snack and beverage.

I noticed on the brochure that they offer a Men’s Retreat of Facial, Massage, Manicure, Shampoo and Haircut. I asked Pam if she sees a trend toward men coming in for this type of treatment: “More and more men want to take better care of themselves and they’re becoming more comfortable with things like facials. You know they look closely in the mirror when shaving and notice skin problems…but usually it’s a woman who suggests they come in.”

She proceeded to tell me a story about her son-in-law, just back from military duty in Iraq. “His feet were stuck in heavy boots for ages, and when he got home he immediately asked me if he could get the warm paraffin wax treatment that is part of our pedicure.” Healthy nurturing indeed!

After the tour, Pam took me to the facial treatment room. Once I was settled comfortably onto the massage table, she first oiled my hands and put each one into a sort of heated glove for the entire time. She began by examining my skin under magnification, and one by one applied a series of soothing and healing cleansers and masks. She uses a product line, Academy, chosen for an impressive recommendation—it’s also used at the Ritz-Carlton.

“These products are as natural as you can get without having to keep them in the refrigerator.” And they did feel gentle to my sensitive skin and smell delightfully fruity (I was tempted to take a bite of the apricot mask!)

Pam told me that many women get the facial if they can only do one treatment, since they come out both relaxed and with skin glowing—I can attest to that result. She also helps the woman create a daily routine that fits her lifestyle and pocketbook.

Next I put on a Spa robe and walked across the hall to a massage room. The 20-minute massage includes neck, shoulders and low back—and I really needed it: I’d awakened that morning with extreme pain in my shoulder and neck. Cindy began gently, with a light massage oil and an Enya CD playing in the background. As she worked on my shoulders, she found all the tight, painful places, and inquired, “How much pressure do you like?” When I told her I like a very deep massage she proceeded to give me one of the best I’ve ever had. My shoulder and neck pain disappeared and didn’t return!

Later that same day I went to hear Womansong at their fund-raiser and community sing. A friend greeted me, took my hand and exclaimed, “what have you done to your skin, it’s so soft!” That is encouragement enough for me to find time and money in my life to nurture myself… Let’s see, if I cut out a few mocha lattes each week, maybe one less dessert, and…

Beverly Hills Styling & Day Spa, 1078 Tunnel Rd., Asheville, NC 28805, 828-298-6371. Pamela Robinson, Aesthetician; Cindy Smith, LMBT. Grady and Thelma Parham, owners