For the eco-conscious consumer, conserving natural resources is a top priority. Waterless treatments and products at the spa are gradually becoming more popular, a great benefit to the customer, the spa—particularly one that wants to stand out—and the environment. As suggested by the name, waterless treatments are those performed without water or with very little water.
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For the eco-conscious consumer, conserving natural resources is a top priority. Waterless treatments and products at the spa are gradually becoming more popular, a great benefit to the customer, the spa—particularly one that wants to stand out—and the environment. As suggested by the name, waterless treatments are those performed without water or with very little water.
Waterless Pedicures
Enjoying a waterless pedicure may seem incompatible with the very nature of a pedicure, but at Ethos Day Spa in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a fully eco-friendly spa that opened in September 2020, it is par for the course.
Licensed nail technician Jenna Lahr explains that the spa replaces the water basins with three series of hot towel wraps. “After the first towel wrap, we do nail grooming, trimming, cuticle removal and callus removal. Then we use a foot file and scrub followed by the second series of hot towels to remove the scrub,” she says. Next is an oil application and a massage, and a third round of hot towel wraps; the final stage is a leave-in moisturizer followed by nail polish application.
This treatment hits the three pillars that the spa is trying to achieve in its eco-friendly offerings: sanitation, sustainability and performance. “Those pedicure basins are notorious for holding bacteria on the bowls’ surface and piping inside the jets. To properly clean it, a hospital grade disinfectant must run through it for 15 to 20 minutes, which is rarely done,” explains Lahr. “When we replace the basin with hot towel wraps, it exponentially lowers the risk of infection and creates a service with no cross contamination.”
On the sustainability front, Lahr reports that with each pedicure service, the spa saves about 15 gallons of water. “We can wash the number of towels used in four pedicures with 15 gallons rather than using 15 gallons in the bowl for just one pedicure,” she says.
As for performance, Lahr says that she is better able to see calluses and rough skin when a customer’s feet aren’t soaked, allowing her to address their issues more efficiently. “There is also much better polish retention. The nails expand when saturated with water, and the nail plate contracts when you apply the polish on top, causing the lacquer to prematurely chip,” she adds.
Plus, clients at Ethos Day Spa receive their waterless pedis while sitting in a zero gravity chair, which relieves pressure on the spine for added comfort and relaxation.
Waterless Bodywork
There are a few body treatments that work well without water. Salt Foot Sanctuary at Hotel Roanoke in Roanoke, Virginia, offers waterless body scrubs. Chelsea Williams, lead licensed massage therapist and esthetician, notes that one advantage of going waterless is that it’s better for the skin. “From a skin care point of view, water is the incorrect pH balance. When we apply water to our skin, it doesn’t give us benefits other than cleansing,” she says.
Instead, the spa uses boiled, dehydrated seaweed to remove the body scrub. Seaweed was a deliberate choice, as it’s sustainably grown, renewable and easily harvested. “Our scrub is pink Himalayan salt, minerals and seaweed. We then take the seaweed gel and apply it to dissolve the scrub, and use a hot towel to remove the seaweed scrub mixture,” explains Williams. “Last, we do an application of undaria algae body oil, which is also seaweed-based with a light citrus scent. It helps brighten and even skin tone, hydrates and helps with collagen production.”
Meanwhile, Pevonia International has been on the cutting edge of environmentally friendly spa products for 30 years. The company created two no-water-required body wraps for professional use as part of a partnership with Charity: Water, a nonprofit with the mission of providing clean drinking water to citizens of underdeveloped countries. “We wanted to develop body wraps that were waterless to go along with that initiative and to be greener and more friendly to Mother Nature,” says Melissa Morris, director of East Coast education.
The wraps are removed using a dry brush, and anything left over can be massaged in until it is completely absorbed. This also makes the treatments much less labor intensive, as the therapist doesn’t need to do as much setup, cleaning and sanitizing as they would with a traditional wrap.
“My favorite is the Crepe-No-More De-Aging Body Wrap. One of the main ingredients is longan fruit seed extract, which helps strengthen, smooth and firm the skin; it is an awesome antioxidant. We also use collagen and hyaluronic acid,” explains Morris. “The second option for a no-rinse body wrap is our Cactus Agave Vita Repair Body Wrap. The prickly pear and agave provide healing and anti-inflammatory benefits. This is your wellness-oriented, therapeutic wrap.”
More Than a Trend
Wellness is increasingly becoming tied to the movement toward sustainability: Treat the body well, treat the earth well. “It is a growing movement within the spa industry, with more attention on it in the last four years for sure,” says Joanna Roche, executive director of GSN Planet, a platform that provides education to spa and wellness companies looking to become more sustainable. Roche adds that although some environmentally conscious business practices may seem expensive, they actually save money over time.
Regarding waterless treatments in spas, Roche has seen some spas getting rid of their wet rooms and wet tables altogether. “When I was in operations, I always saw it as a wasted space. The two most profitable treatments in a spa are massages and facials, neither of which use a lot of water,” she says. Still, she sees waterless treatments primarily being used more for express services. “It makes sense. In a luxury setting, it’s hard to get away from treatments that use water, although there is a place for this,” says Roche.
Going green is gaining more traction among consumers, including spa-goers. In fact, sustainability initiatives are likely to draw in more guests than not. Lahr believes this is especially true for waterless pedicures. “Experiencing it for the first time is the initial ‘start up’ for people. They don’t miss the bowl, and they have that peace of mind,” she says. “It will be a trend; it’s just a matter of spreading the knowledge.”
Indeed, offering such distinctive, environmentally friendly services can keep you competitive. “There are a multitude of spas that offer the same services that we do. In order to stand out, we try to give a new spin on standard services,” says Williams. She thinks this is important not only from an environmentally conscious standpoint but a creative one as well, with the goal of drawing in new clientele and keeping them coming back.
If you’re considering offering waterless treatments to clients, be aware that there could be a learning curve in administering waterless pedicures or working with seaweed or other such products for body wraps. Williams advises that staff practice on each other. “There’s a lot of trial and error; it’s hard to account for things that could go wrong. It’s good to have everyone, including the front desk staff, experience it; it’s easier to explain if you’ve had a treatment,” she says.
Morris suggests checking in with vendors to see what waterless options they may offer, and Lahr advises researching all of the benefits of waterless treatments. “Once you educate yourself, the answer will be really clear,” she says.
Hilary Daninhirsch is an award-winning writer who lives in Pittsburgh.
