The Cost of Beauty

How many of you go for facials and massage?

Many of you do go. No need for a poll.

On Sunday, I went for a facial at my beauty salon at Vivocity (oh yes, I still have a few sessions with them). It included a shoulder and neck massage. That very day, I got a neck sprain. Actually, it's an old injury from 2009. However, once injured, thus fragile. It only took some kneading to cause my neck muscles to hurt again.

With the bankruptcy of several beauty salons during the year, the lack of laws surrounding this industry is brought to light.


What are the factors to consider when signing a beauty package? Different people have difference consideration factors. Here are some of mine:

1. Number of outlets of beauty salon
The more outlets there are, the more resources the headquarters have. This will result in reduced chance of bankruptcy.

On the flip side of the coin, beauty salons on the large scale does not view me as a valued customer. What is a $3k package to those who sign on the dotted line for a $10k package?

If I consider the 2 that I have packages with:

- Beyond Beauty: They are always running behind time. I have no idea if it's just me or it's them. I am pretty fed up with waiting. My first trial facial with them was in a storeroom because "it was a busy day". By the way, I made an appointment and was not a walk in customer.

- Poly Beauty (Vivocity): The facials always start on time. The downside is that it only has 2 outlets. The main worry is that I would have no recourse if they were to close down.

2. Cost of the package and the package
Being the typical Singaporean I am, I would like to sign for value for money facial packages.

BUT sometimes there are misrepresentations which makes it impossible for you to make correct decisions. Even up to today, I have not found a beauty salon and package that I am satisfied with.

- Beyond Beauty: Initially, I mentioned to their employee my budget is $100 per session. With each session I attended, they asked me to upgrade my package to something better. Apparently, the previous package I signed was the most basic of the basic treatments. I felt so cheated.

Yes, I did upgrade my course. Obviously, per session costs more than my budget now.

To EMPHASIZE, they asked me to upgrade EVERYTIME I went for facials. One day, I got really pissed off and scolded the person.

"You think I print money? EVERYTIME ask me upgrade?"

I got out of there after that.

- Poly Beauty (Vivocity): I don't need to elaborate how they misrepresented the services of my current package and went back on their words. You may read it at link.

3. Effectiveness of treatment
There are 2 types of treatments- manual extraction and machine treatments.

I have done both - manual extraction at Poly Beauty and machine treatments at Beyond Beauty.

There are both good and bad. For manual extraction, ladies are at the mercy of the skills of the beauticians. As for machine treatments, I seriously think the blackheads are still clogging up the pores. Are they effective at all?

***

Missing from my list is a factor which I never considered. However, it has become a concern for me.

Are the beauticians qualified? Do they have to pass a qualifying test before they can perform facial / massage services?

Ouch, it's time to rest my neck early.