Salon and Spa Directory: Kinara Spa

We know of Kinara as the facial stop for A-list celebrities before they hit the red carpet. Yes, the Red Carpet Facial really is divine, but this spa tucked within Robertson’s row of luxury retail stores offers more than just ultimate facial treatments. Kinara provides a one-stop shop for all kinds of beauty treatments so you can be pampered from head (at their hair salon) to toe (at their mani and pedi stations).

I was treated to a body scrub in their special Vichy shower room and a blowout with the famed hairstylist Gui. I’ve had plenty of body scrubs before, but nothing as unique as the Kinara body scrub, which is performed with a suspended shower that holds eight rotating showerheads. When I arrived, I checked into the bright two-story spa and was shown to the changing room and lockers. I changed into a fluffy robe and was led to a back waiting room with comfortable couches, fruit infused water and lots of magazines.

Sarah quickly came to meet me and led me to the Vichy Room with walls covered in blue mosaic tiles. In the center of the room held a rather odd looking bed pod, but the plastic bed was surprisingly cushioned and comfortable as I tucked myself in and covered myself with a big towel. I received the Bora Bora Scrub, a delicious smelling blend of Hawaiiwan brown sugar, sea salt and essential oils of sandalwood, cedarwood and mandarin. Working in sections on my legs and arms and making sure the majority of my body was demurely covered, Sarah applied the scrub without any water, making for a effective yet luxurious exfoliation. There was just the prefect amount of pressure as she buffed away my dry skin -- it was like a massage and a body scrub in one!

The coolest part of the scrub was the aforementioned rain shower. As I lay there comfortable enough for a nap, warm water rained over me from multiple adjustable showerheads. It was heaven. The water gently falls on you and then onto the floor of the room and drains discreetly. By the time the water is turned off, the floor is mostly dry. But just in case, before Sarah left the room for me to put on my robe, she put my slippers by the bed and left a path of clean towels to the door.

After my scrub, I changed back into my clothes and was led to the hair salon, where Gui met me with a hug and cheerful, “Hi Jenny! Omigosh, I’m calling you Jenny already and I don’t even know you!” I knew Gui and I would be BFFs by the time my hair was done. There’s no other way to put it: Gui is amazing. Not only in his expertise in hair (he’s traveled the world styling red carpet, runways and photoshoots), but more importantly he made me look and feel amazing from the inside out. Before I went in, I had been hanging my head in shame for weeks over the mess of my “in-between” hair -- that frustrating time when you’re waiting for your hair to grow out. When I embarrassingly pointed out my one-inch black roots, a stark contrast to the rest of my light brown red, Gui exclaimed, “I LOVE roots!”

My hair had hit that awkward length where it flips at the shoulders. Gui loved it. He examined my haircut and reassured me that it still held its shape, and that he adored it, claiming, “You are so edgy!” I gave him free reign to style my hair however he liked, and he created a textured, bouncy blowout. As he worked, he shared his beauty secrets (“Always use the best tools and products”) and told me stories that actually made me laugh aloud. In the middle of our session, he randomly asked for my sign (I’m a Sagittarius). To which he replied, “I knew it! I get along best with Sag! My mom is a Sag, my boyfriend is a Sag, and I think my cat is a Sag too!”

I left with an amazing blowout that just got bigger and messier, especially by the next day. I never looked better or felt more confident. I went in hating my hair and within the hour, Gui had convinced me I was a rockstar. It doesn’t get any better than that.

Loving the soft, imperfect curls Gui created

For a full list of the beauty treatments available and to book an appointment, visit kinaraspa.com.