korean spa

A few weeks ago, while a couple of us girls were waiting around on M's movie set, we got to talking about the need to relax and the need for just pure girl time.  And so it was... the plan was hatched to try out a Korean spa.

I did some research, google and asking a friend at work, and then decided on the place that seemed to have the cheapest treatments.

Olympic Spa is what we all decided on, and yesterday we went down to spend the day.  Here is all you need to know, so that your first time at a Korean spa goes smoothly.

We arrived at the spa, and each of us paid for our treatments up front.  At that point we were given a key for a shoe locker.  Once inside the  spa area, the shoes come off first, and  put in the shoe locker.  The next stop was the lockers where -you guest it - the rest comes off and is replaced by a robe.

So then there are the  pools, saunas and treatment rooms.  This experience is not for the shy.

Everyone has to take a shower before they go in the bathhouse.

 After the shower, we started with the hot pool, moved to the herbal tea pool, and ended with the cold pool.

My favorite pool was the cold pool.   It was seriously torture getting in, but by the time I was in for 20 seconds my body was quite numb - and it is the strangest thing - it was so relaxing.  After that we went to the dry sauna, and sat in there for about 15 minutes.  By that time, I was seriously addicted to this place.  Our last stop in the bathhouse was the wet sauna - not may favorite - but I needed to try it.

At about that time our numbers were called for our special treatments.  (Up until this point, you can have this entire experience for only $15.00).

For my treatment, I got the Milk and Honey Body Smoothie.  When my number was called, I was taken back  to the bathhouse where there was 5 or so beds with other woman getting treatments.  I was instructed by "the treatment lady" (all older Korean women that wear basically an outfit that looks like a two piece swimsuit) to lay down on one of the beds.

As I laid there the treatment lady scrubbed my entire body with exfoliate twice. After each time, she threw buckets of hot herbal water on me.

After that was over, she put some type of great smelling oil on me, and then came my favorite part - the massage of course.

Next, came the hair, she covered my hair in some type of serum and wrapped it in a towel (my scalp was cool first, and then it got warm).  At that point came the facial.  The first facial treatment they gave me was an oily type substance.  The woman massaged my facial muscles and then lathered my face with a foamy mask which smelled like cucumber.  While the foamy mask was setting, she gave me a scalp massage, and then washed and conditioned my hair.

I honestly felt like a baby. It was absolutely the best experience ever, and very different from anything I have ever tried before. :)