Sparkle review

I finally availed the Sparkle service I bought from Metrodeal. The voucher includes Japanese hot oil, hand and foot srub and reflexology. According to the deal, the whole service is originally valued at Php 800 and will last for 60 minutes. Here's my review.

When I arrived at the spa, there's a lady who also availed the deal (i only noticed it when we were seated side by side) and she almost had her hair done that is all wrapped with foil. No electronic heat was put on her head for the hot oil. The staff is already preparing for her scrub when another staff called me to wash my hair.

After washing, the staff put on some mask or conditioner like on my hair. While applying with bare hands, she also massages my scalp and head which is good. When applying and massaging is done, she wrapped my hair with a foil and secure it with a towel-like band around my hairline. By this time, the lady customer beside me had her scrubs on her hands done. She was a little ahead of me on all of these services.

The next thing the staff did to me was applying some essential oil on both my arms and hands. Later, a scrub was applied. Same procedure was applied on both my legs and feet. The scrubs were kinda coarse. I felt uneasy when the staff rubbed the scrub on my arms and legs hard especially to those sensitive skin areas. I thought I had a skin scratch with it.

These srubs were removed by the staff with water and sponge. After it was removed, the staff started massaging my arms and hands. I guess this is the reflexology part. The massage was a little hard, making my fingers "crack" which I didn't like. When my arms were done, the staff started massaging my legs and feet. Most of the massages were at my sole. Pinching and pressing my sole, fingers and legs. I thought these will be very relaxing if you have tired lefs an feet. As for me, again, it was kinda painful. Well maybe because I'm not fond of massages. And also, I wasn't tired that day so my muscles were not stiff. There were even times that I already exclaimed painfulness to the staff so she can lighten the massages.

When all this massages are done, the staff then rinses my hair. Afterwhich, my hair was swiftly dried with a blower. The staff didn't comb or used a brush while drying my hair. She just gently scan my wet hair with her fingers to dry it. I like this technique in drying my hair. While blow drying, the lady customer was at that time was just gettig ready to rinse her hair.

When my hair was dried, the staff gently combs my hair. Surprisingly, there were no tangles. My hair was all straight as if I had it relaxed. I love the effect on my hair. It was soft to touh too.

You will noticed that I keep on mentioning the lady customer. Well, it is because she were ahead of me to undergone the treatment and all but still i'm the one who finished it first. It took me less than an hour to finish but I guess that will be dependent on the staff who is taking care of you.

Overall, I give the whole experience a rating of 7 out of 10 (10 being the highest). I like the Japanese hot oil on my hair. I like the srubs but it would be better if the staff won't rub it hard on your skin. I didn't like the massages simply because I'm not fond of massages. It's painful on my part. But I think that kind of massage will be very relaxing after a tiring day. The deal at Php 149 discounted price was all worth it. But if it returned to its original price of Php 800, I find it expensive. The Japanese hot oil has a good effect on my hair but it seems the same effect when I use Human Heart Nature's Hair Mask. As for the massages and scrubs, I can't comment further on the price as I haven't done same service from other salon. Should I go back there? Well yes, but mostly for hair treatments and mani/pedi or foot spa service. Nothing more than that. Will I recommend it? Yes, especially if you are fond of massages. The staff are friendly too. They're also giving recommendations without really hard selling their products and services.

Me Time at Sparkle and David's Salon

When I saw this pampering coupon in Metrodeal at Sparkle Hair Rebonding Treatment Center and Spa, I immediately got interested since its associated with hair pampering.  Since I haven't got back to relaxing my hair at Fix salon, maybe a hot oil will do for the meantime just to keep my hair straight.  Another interesting item in the deal is the hand and foot scrub.  I'd like my feet to be pampered as this is often times neglected.  I don't get to moisturize my feet as often as I want unlike with my with hands which are more exposed.  What's more interesting on the deal is that its location is very near to our home.

I called up and inquired about the deal as well as the services they offer.  The person I talked to told me that I can buy the Metrodeal coupon in their spa and immediately avail the services immediately even if it states there that it can be used starting May 2. Since the deal is only Php 149, I checked also the other services they're offering.  I thought of adding any foot pampering including pedicure.  Sparkle's website describes all the services and packages they offer.  Each of their service has detailed description with estimated time to finish each service.  Although price is not indicated, the description seems inviting.  That's why I decided to visit Sparkle late in the afternoon that day to avail the coupon as well as get a pedicure.  By the way, the person I talked to informed me that I should have reservations first before I avail any of their service but she also told me that I can just drop by later and just tell the receptionist her name, Grace.

When I arrived, the receptionist told me that the coupon can only be availed starting May 2.  Grace was wrong on that aspect.  And she's no owner or manager of the place.  She's one of the staff / personnel who does the services to you.  She was performing foot spa to one client when I arrived.  Maybe its somewhat commission based if I go directly to her that's why she told me to look for her.  Anyway, I thought I can already have my hot oil treatment done.  Nevertheless, I still bought one coupon and availed their pedicure service at Php 175.  I'm not sure if this is cheap or expensive as I have never had pedicure before.  Yes, my feet are still virgin in that aspect.  It's me who does the cleaning of my toenails and putting on nail polish to it.  So this time, I'll try others to do it on my behalf to make my feet cleaner.  I'd like to have a foot spa along with the pedicure but I decided, since I'm not yet familiar with this spa, I'll just try first their pedicure.

I'm kinda ticklish person so when the staff, Jovie (I think), started cleaning my foot, I felt uneasy but I didn't let her notice it.  She cut my toenails, applied cuticle remover and start cleaning my foot.  Her hands were quite light as I didn't experience any discomfort while she's doing my feet.  What I didn't like was when she applied nail polish and some gets out of the nails, she uses her nails directly to my skin to remove it.  I hope she used cotton instead.  But overall, my first time experience in pedicure is somehow nice and not a nightmare.  I would definitely go back there and have my nails done.

Since I wasn't able to have a hot oil treatment, I then decided to trim my hair since the ends are already getting dry.  I visit the David's Salon, just within the area of Sparkle.  I had my hair cut there before and it was ok.  So I thought, since I'll just have it trimmed, it won't be disastrous to my hair.  My second time experience with them in terms of hair cutting and blow drying is ok.  I just didn't like the blow drying of my hair this time.  The staff wasn't too careful in pulling my hair that it seems kinda painful but tolerable.  I'm just worried that it might give too much damage to my hair.  Although the stylist told me that my hair isn't that dry but it lacks shine.  She's offering me to have hair spa at Php 600+  with hair cut already.  Aww.. it was already too late.  I'm willing to get hair spa but she's already cutting my hair when she told me that.  She just advised me to have my hair treated at least every month.  And yes, I plan to do that.  Nevertheless, my overall hair cut experience with them was ok.  Not exceptional though.  Well maybe because I just had my hair trimmed.

It's really nice to have this me time although its not that much done on me today.  Maybe next time I'll try other services in Sparkle (manicure and some of their body and hair treatment and facial) and David's Salon (hot oil or hair spa).  My hair is relaxed but I only entrust Fix Salon to do that.  It's been over a year already since I had my hair relaxed but thank God it isn't all that frizzy at this time.  I just wonder how to get shinier hair.  Any tips?