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Hela Spa
Rating Details »
Category: Day Spas
Neighborhood: Georgetown3209 M St NW
Second Level
(between N Wisconsin Ave & N Potomac St)
Washington, DC 20007
(202) 333-4445
- Hours:
Mon-Fri. 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Sat. 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Validated
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
- By Appointment Only:
- Yes
25 reviews for Hela Spa
I have combination skin that is aggravated by winter weather, outdoor runs, and swimming in chlorinated pools. Not always a pretty picture, but I've found that a good facial can really help.
Kelly was my esthetician. After a basic, 1 hour facial-- the "Greta Garbo"-- my skin was glowing and hydrated. I'm still happy with the way my skin looks a week later.
The facility is clean and amazingly quiet for M Street. They've created an oasis in Georgetown. I wish I had found this place sooner!! I'll be back.
terrific service. i went there when i had a major acne breakout. Amber is the best -- she's extremely attentive and when she says "email me with any questions" she means it. she'll answer all your questions and provide thoughtful advice, based on your skin regimen and ingredients used in your products.
hard to get an appointment with Amber because she's so popular but it's worth the trip.
By the way, I realized that I should add that MARY is the best therapist ever. She is great at getting that spot on my shoulder that always seems sore after schelping my briefcase across the country. I totally recommend her.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/31/2009
Hela Spa is an amazing oasis from the bustle of Georgetown. The space is immacuately clean and… Read more »
Today when I walked into Hela for my Lena Ohlin facial w/Brianne Atkins, my skin was its usual irritable, ruddy, too-Irish self. You know, the kind that is sensitive to even the wind changing direction...Anyway, when I walked out an hour later, it looked better than it ever has. Brianne really knows what she's doing (she trained in a dermatologist's office in her hometown of Annapolis), and one learns all kinds of things from her like the way exercise, sleep, and diet (of course!!) affect skin...She is professional, gentle and generous with the samples of the products which you can take home afterwards to try out on your own. I don't get regular facials, but I've decided to now that I've met Brianne.
Mondays are good days to visit Hela, I really appreciated all the time and care paid to me during my visit (I didn't see any other clients in the waiting room before or after my treatment, must remember to always come on a monday!) and the receptionist was very helpful as well. Both Hela and the Ted Gibson salon, in Chevy Chase, apparently have some great specials these days (look into Recessionista Wednesdays!) to entice you even when your'e watching your pennies.
Hela carries a number of skincare lines including Skinceuticals, Skin Medica, and M.D.Forte and one I had never heard before called Neova. Good to know since some of these are difficult to find...
In general, my skin is pretty well behaved, but requires some general maintenance to stay glowing, smooth and blemish free. As I age (and granted I'm still in my twenties) my fears of wrinkles, sun damage and the like increases.
Yesterday I had my first experience at Hela in Georgetown and I have hope for being a hot looking old lady with the skin of a twenty year old. Tiffany was GREAT! She was very knowledgeable, thorough and I left with glowing, clear skin. My boyfriend was even surprised- apparently he didn't realize that facials could show immediate results...now he wants one, too!!!
If the results of a facial can make a low-maintenance man change his tune, you should take notice. Also Tiffany recommended some products to help with trouble areas and gave me lots of samples. I will definitely be going back!
Also, the decor is an oasis in the middle of crazy, crazy weekend M street traffic. White, clean, minimal, very nice. I felt immediately relaxed when I arrived.
I was fortunate enough to be given a gift certificate to Hela so I could get a massage after I ran the Marine Corps Marathon (my friends rock!). I made an appointment about 2 days after and they knew exactly which muscles to target. I wasn't as sore as I thought I would be, but I think my masseuse did a lot to prevent future aches.
I have trouble relaxing during massages, but this was probably the most relaxed I have ever been (probably because I just run 26.2 miles a few days before). The masseuse was never to forceful, she used just the right amount of pressure, and the staff was super friendly. They had said they had a lot of people come in for sports massages after the marathon.
I would definitely go back if I can ever afford to buy a massage myself!
I have been to see Brianne for chemical peel and laser hair removal of the bikini line.
I've just started my treatments and so far so good! The staff is very friendly and my esthetician Brianne is super sweet and very detail oriented in her work.
For chemical peels, they use Skin Medica which is the best line as far as I am aware. Dr Matarasso of NYC (top of the top and plastic surgeon of supermodels) has his esthetician use this line as well. I had the Vitalize Peel last Saturday and so far my skin texture has already imporved quite a bit and it really does have a glow now. I'll let you know what happens after the treatments have been completed.
As you all know, waxing and hair removal of that nature in most areas, particularly certain areas, can be ridiculously painful. Anyways, I highly recommend the numbing creme they offer you. I had the laser hair removal 2 weeks ago, and the treatment was definatley much less painful than any others I've had. The bumps (from zapping the hairs) went away the next day!
**** IMPORTANT UPDATE:
Brianne Atkins is a goddess. She has helped bring my skin to a smooth textured, gorgeous glow! My skin looks just about as good as it did in high school!! (I started breaking out after high school) with the exceptioon of a couple pimples that pop up here and there during my monthly curse. Not only is Brianne top notch in her expertise, but she is a sweet as can be, and very genuine! She is not only well versed in the exterior, but from experience with naturopaths and readings and other methods, I have also learned some of these other reasons behind why I may be breaking out. I am so glad I met her and recommend her to anyone intersted in this stuff.
**** IMPORTANT UPDATE:
Melanie is a true amazing artist .. There is no one better than she in her field of expertise. I highly recommend her to anyone
My friend and I wanted to come here for Spa Week but they were out of appointment spots. What was awesome was that they sold us gift certificates for the 45 minute massage (usually $140) at the $50 spa week price. It worked out perfectly as we were able to come back on our own schedule, so picked it as a post-finals treat.
Everyone at Hela was really nice and Jessica gave a great full-body massage. The environment was very sleek and relaxing. And as a huge ABBA fan, I appreciate any place that has treatments named after the group.
Finally, while I was waiting for a friend, a woman came in to pick up a gift certificate and inquire about an antioxident skin treatment she tested out on her last visit. When she found out that it was $130 for a bottle, she said she would think about it. The worker at Hela offered her sample bottles that would last her a few months. I thought that was really nice. Between that and them extending spa week prices, they have the kind of service that is 5 stars for me.
I've been to Hela in Georgetown three times. Twice for a facial (with TIffany! She is fantastic! I highly recommend her and I don't recommend people for facials unless they are really really REALLY excellent...I've had a lot of facials and she is one of the best)...
The third time I went I was bound and determined to try out Botox. (Did I just admit that out loud???? LOL.) I had never had it before (no, really, I hadn't!!) and the Doctor... who by the way... OMG ... SO HOT (but just got married) and so nice, told me that I didn't need it. But, I was determined to see if it was all it was chalked up to be... to the tune of $350... It IS preventative y'know!
Turns out I really DIDN'T need it...it didn't make much difference or perhaps I need it elsewhere... like in the brain for when I make stupid decisions to waste $350 on Botox that I don't need.
BUT, I love Hela and I will always go back to Tiffany when I am in town, and when I finally get moved to DC, I will see her as often as the budget allows.
PS. They run specials a lot...so get on their mailing list.
-No longer going back to HELA after several tries. The massage therapist I went there for left for a job at the Four Seasons. Services are very basic in general.
+You can easily get an appointment here and the owners are responsive to your comments and feedback. The spa is very cute, small/boutique feel. Staff is very sweet and prices are reasonable until you realize you don't get much in the way of services.
In preparation of my sister's upcoming wedding, my skin has decided to FREAK out on me. Maybe it's the stress, maybe it's hormones, I don't know: but it can't be like this on June 7th. After various at-home treatments masks and throwing insane amounts of acid on my face (ok, acids in very small and diluted doses, but still, ACID!) I decided to call the professionals.
If you haven't had a facial before I'll tell you this now-- they aren't the most relaxing things around. Facials include these things called extractions, and well, they're as bad as they sound. Scraping, poking, pinching, it's not fun. Still, for those of us with bad skin, they're often the only way to truly clear things up. A necessary evil.
For me the sign of a good facial is how much you remember the pain of the extractions. At Hela, I don't remember too much! Brianne gave me the ABBA Facial, and even though it's a silly name, it was a great service. A clearing peel along with lots of steam, extractions, and then some quiet time. I nearly fell asleep on the super comfy heated bed.
The decor at Hela is what you'd expect from the Swedes... pretty much white everywhere. It's shocking to walk in to the completely white staircase off of the hustle and bustle of M Street, but the space itself is incredibly relaxing. They require lots of information from the start, which I appreciated: medical history, skin sensitivity, etc. They also offer packages for regular facial clients to help save a bit and keep it green with paperless transactions (they'll email you your receipt).
Facials are too much of a splurge for me to be a regular, but when I'm in need, I would definitely go back to Hela. The price wasn't too bad ($110 for 50 minutes), the location was convenient, and they seem to really know what they're doing.
Update on my recent non-review of Hela:
Last Thursday, the manager of Hela called to apologize about the booking error and offered me a complimentary visit (yay!). And, she was able to get me an appointment for Saturday, which was welcomed since I had developed a serious stress knot in my upper back that had traveled to my neck. It was so painfully that I could barely turn my neck to the left and pretty much all movement caused terrible pain along my entire back. So, needless to say I was very much looking forward to a massage.
Massage (with Charlottea) was very good. I wouldn't call it relaxing as she spent the bulk of time working out the knot in said shoulder blade but the end result was very much appreciated! Apparently my entire back was "very tight and in need of stretching"...first week back to work after being out for 2 weeks, imagine that ;) The facial was relaxing and pleasant and Brianne was very nice. All of the staff are pleasant and friendly.
Overall the visit was quite nice, but I wasn't terribly overwhelmed with the experience. The Red Door Spa (Tyson's Corner) hot stone massage and 5 layer facial are by far much more worth the money (though I didn't have to actually pay at Hela). One another note, if your just looking for a great massage check out Healing Hanz on the Hill (http://www.healinghanz...). Raquel is fabulous and I'll be providing a separate review soon.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/25/2008
I'd love to provide a review of the spa services...unfortunately, when I showed up for my scheduled… Read more »
How much do I love Hela's aesthetician Amber, let me count the ways... In a word, f-a-b-u-l-o-u-s! I have the world's most sensitive skin but am neurotic about getting regular bikini and eyebrow waxes.
Let me start by saying that I used to be a regular customer at the Skin Beauty Lounge but got tired of the monthly trek to Eastern Market and was eventually priced out (I have yet to understand why waxing services are so much more expensive in DC than the rest of the country...but alas, I digress). I was looking for a salon closer to my own neighborhood and decided to give Hela a try. I cannot being to tell you how happy I am that I did.
Hela's aesthetic is, well, Scandinavian. The waiting area is pretty minimalistic (think: lots of white on white and birch), but surprisingly relaxing given its proximity to M Street. The staff is friendly and laid back. And, as an extra bonus, some of the staff actually speaks Swedish (a nice selling point for those working at the Swedish Embassy just down the road).
When I first saw that Hela does not use waxing strips, I was a little nervous (chalk that up to a very unfortunate waxing experience a good five years ago). But, this turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The wax is incredibly gentle and Hela is one of the few places I can get a wax and not look like (and please forgive the description) a plucked chicken the next day. First bikini wax or one-thousandth, I cannot begin to recommend Hela enough.
Amber is very attentive to detail and I've never left looking uneven or with stray hairs. In the eight months I have been her customer, she has never ran late or canceled an appointment on me. I've sent friends to Amber for facials, waxing services, and laser treatments, and all have come back with the same rave reviews.
Basically, she's my waxing guru and she should be your's, too.
Summary: 3 stars for the massage, 5 for the facial.
Detail: got the 'silver package' which was 1 hr swedish massage, skin analysis with a machine that shows youall the damage, etc that is not visible to the eye (scaarrry), plus facial with eye treatment.
Jessica, the masseuse was nice, but I can't say the massage ever exceeded 'pleasant,' although that is perhaps because I prefer deep tissue and this just felt like a light rub, never really did anything to help my sore muscles. Also, the room was really cold and even with a blanket I never got toasty, which makes it hard to enjoy the massage.
Brianne, the facialist, was terrific. We looked at the results of my skin analysis, discussed the issues and kinds of treatment. She gave me a terrific facial, threw in a free pumpkin peel to see what it might do. I left feeling clean and clean but without the red marks that aestheticians usually leave during extractions (she is gentle). SHe gave me samples of everything I should be using, but didn't push me to buy anything.
bottom line: I'm going back for facials, but will probably get massage elsewhere (i'm a fan of soma fit).
Just got back from getting my Reykjavik massage at Hela for Spa Week. The whole experience was very nice, and I would certainly go back to Hela for either more massage, or to try some of their other treatments.
The interior at Hela is very nice and, well, Scandinavian. Soothing smells and sounds and colors. Too bad the Georgetown traffic and street construction is so damn loud. Thankfully, the smart folks at Hela made sure that their treatment rooms are in the back of the building, away from M Street.
My massage therapist was a petite lady, and I had doubts as to whether she'd be able to make an impression on my super-tense back, but wow, she had some really strong hands. She did deep-tissue work on my back, and Swedish massage everywhere else, which was perfectly reasonable given the time period.
The Spa Week special was a 45-minute massage for $50. The regular price is $100 for 60 minutes, so that's a pretty good discount. In 45-minutes Jessica was able to give me a pretty thorough full-body massage, and spend a little extra time on my back, just like I had requested.
As others have said, the staff here is very friendly. I left feeling much more relaxed and calm than I did when I first went in.
I've been to spas in pretty much all the big cities, and my usual treatment of choice is a facial- so I would consider myself to be a connoisseur of sorts. After searching around DC for a few months when I first moved here to find the perfect facial, alas I found Amber at Hela.
The staff is super friendly, the atmosphere is very laid back, and you can often get an appointment the same week you call which is very convenient. It's a quintessential urban spa, hidden right off of M street in Georgetown. The decor is nice and minimalist, the place is extremely clean, and the environment is luxe. The prices are right on target with most spas in the area. Make and appt with Amber and you will not be disappointed!
I visited Hela for a Lappland (hot stone massage) and an ABBA facial.
I was impressed that I was able to get a weekend appointment when calling only a week in advance. My appointment was for a sunday and I found the environment quite peaceful and quiet.
As expected with a spa of this caliber, the masseuse took the time to ask me what areas I would like to focus on. As I've experienced lumbar disc injuries in the past, the masseuse was careful to take precautions to protect these areas (pillow under the knees, etc.).
The facial was alright, with no pain or discomfort experienced during the extractions (although I would have preferred a bit more time spent on this process). I appreciate the esthetician's efforts to create a calm and relaxing atmosphere, and to not push product, but a simple explanation of what she was doing would have been appreciated. I expected to walk out with glowing skin though, and I looked the same walking out as I did going in.
I would also have appreciated a robe meant for a woman with curves, for use between procedures. Hela's robes are suitable for twiggy, but not a real woman.
Thanks to the other great reviews on here I decided to check this place out. I saw Tiffany for a facial and Bikini wax. I have been getting both done for years - having lived in Boston, NYC and now in DC - and this was by far the BEST service I have ever gotten. Tiffany totally took her time - she is really passionate about what she does and it shows. She is really knowledgeable about skin, products (and not just what they sell in the salon), hair products that may affect your skin, and diet/nutrition. The wax did not hurt at all - I was amazed - and the facial was just amazing. Since it was my first time there she gave me an extra glycolic treatment ($30) at the end at no charge - she wanted to see how my skin would tolerate it - and gave me a bunch of samples to take home. And when I asked what the full price of these products were in case I really liked them, my jaw almost dropped at how cheap they were, relatively speaking, compared to other "salon" products I have bought - and even the products I buy from Sephora. From the front staff back to the estheticians - hands down this is one of the best little spas I have been to and I will definitely be back!
I went to the Hela Spa in Georgetown for a SpaWeek facial appointment. I received the Greta Garbo Facial which lasts about an hour. The esthetician was wonderful. After she left me in the room to begin relaxing she reviewed all my paperwork. When she came back she asked questions and was able to intelligently discuss what I had written. I think she did an amazing job. The place was relatively calm and peaceful. I went on a weekday evening and found it really nice. The staff is very professional. I also liked the amount of products that are hard to find sold in the waiting area.
Okay. I'm really big on spas and visit a spa everywhere i go. (i travel frequently for work and leisure). I just moved back to DC and i was in DESPERATE need of a facial (especially after spending 14+ hours flying!)
My husband and i decided on hela based on their availability and online reviews. the place is easy to find in georgetown and the interior deco is clean and minimal. the reception was nice.. we were greeted by a friendly receptionist and offered water.
i received a sensitive skin facial while my husband received a massage. on the facial: mixed emotions... i was kind of surprised at the redness of my face on some areas where i had extractions done. i've had extractions done before and have experienced some redness sometimes, but it always went away by the next day. however, the redness stayed with me for about three days and i started to think that maybe the esthetician was too rough with my face! well, she also recommended a product for me to help with my skin and my skin has improved over the past two weeks. the redness went away and i'm happy with the results. i am going to give hela one more visit to see if next facial is better.
according to my husband, this was the second best massage he's ever received. we've traveled around asia a few times and always got massages every day while there. ( in koh samui and bangkok, several places in tokyo, nagoya, kyoto, seoul) and he's tried some spas around DC too. he's hooked on the massage at hela and plans on visiting again and again and again.
Update: Dec 2007. I initally gave this place four stars, but after going to Hela consistently since the summer my skin has improved. Amber is great... she really knows her stuff and (when asked) is very good at recommending products for my skin type. Also, my husband also consistently gets a massage from Mary every two-three weeks. We found out that they have a massage and facial series where you purchase five massages/facials up front at one time and get the sixth service free. The staff and the ambiance is very professional... a nice difference from some other trendy spas that are too crowded, play loud club music and have snotty receptionists.
I would say that Hela is average among the nicer spas of DC. I got a massage when I was there and it was okay, nothing special. The room I had it in wasn't very well insulated, so there was a lot of noise coming in from the hallway and the lobby--not very relaxing. Overall, I'm unconvinced that the quality of the massage combined with the noisy facility command the high prices.
okay where do i start, words can not express my gratitude for tiffany of hela day spa. she is definitely passionate about being the best aesthetician in the area. i wish i had before and after pictures to show. tiffany has done wonders for my skin and i seen drastic improvements after my first visit. if you are experiencing any problems from oily skin to blemishes and hyperpigmentation or from dry skin to large pores, whatever it is i recommend tiffany as you first stop. she is honest about what it will take to fix your problem and she really cares. she is an expert in her field and she really knows her stuff. i have visited several spa's over the years and when i say she is the best!!! she is the best!!!! trust me i know. if you are looking for a remarkable aesthetician, she is your girl! i've had previous dermatologist and aestheticians recommend costly products/chemical procedures that never worked and after just one visit i knew tiffany had the "it" factor, she asked questions to try to pin point the problem and she provided samples before i made any costly buys. several of my friends are now going to her and after one visit they also returned singing her praises, she is definitely a master in the field. seriously! oh and the massage she gives as part of the facial, omg you will be snoring! facial and a relaxing facial and shoulder massage for the price of one, and on top of it all, beautiful skin, what more can a woman ask for! thanks tiffany!
Ok so a bit of a background here, I'm a spa junkie. I mainly favor the amenity-laden spas you find out West, with saunas, steam rooms, the works. My thinking is, if I'm splurging on a $100+ facial, I want to spend some time unwinding in the latter facilities for a good while as well. Hela has none of these. In fact, many cities just don't have the real estate to provide those kinds of amenities. Even though I didn't properly research that fact, my facial was lacking. I got the ABBA, received no skin consultation, no information on which facial I choose (they could have been slathering Vaseline on me and I wouldn't have known) and a lackluster hand/scalp massage. Be demanding when it comes to your spa experience, its just too expensive otherwise. I wasn't happy with the results, could have achieved it using that in-shower spa facial product from Suave. Come here for your waxing, massaging, skip for the facials.
can't really describe what i got since mine is a natural look (wink!), but if you're into disappearing pores and smooth skin, book an appointment with amber!
Had a massage here last week and really enjoyed my therapist--Jessica. Also enjoyed the color scheme and feel of the reception/waiting area. This is not a robe and amenities kind of spa, so if that is what you are looking for then keep walking. The treatment room was very nice, though, soft sheets and good lighting, etc. The bad part, and believe me it was bad, was the noise level. I was on the table really happy with Jessica's technique and trying to relax when someone else in the spa started to walk around. It sounded like they were in my room with tap shoes on. Then someone decided to microwave something. I felt like I was in the kitchen with them while they made lunch. Then they walked around some more. The noise level was atrocious and not at all acceptable. Perhaps it was my room (the first one off the reception area), but I have a bad feeling the whole spa is that loud--laminate floors and thin walls and pocket doors and noise, oh my. I can't say enough nice things about Jessica, though, she really was fantastic.
