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The Still Point
Rating Details »
7009 Carroll Ave
Lower Level
Takoma Park, MD 20912
(301) 920-0801
Lower Level
Takoma Park, MD 20912
(301) 920-0801
- Nearest Transit:
-
Takoma (Red)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri. 8:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Sat-Sun. 10:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
- By Appointment Only:
- Yes
6 reviews for The Still Point
I had an appointment for an Express Facial (30 minutes) with Sarah on a Friday afternoon. I purchased a Groupon for $25 and upgraded it to a full 60-minute facial when I called to make my appointment. It was my first visit to Still Point and I was pleasantly surprised when I was greeted upon entering the small store room and offered a cup of tea. I was running a little late (10 minutes) which worked out because Sarah's last appointment ran over. The associate that greeted me apologized for the wait and explained that Sarah sometimes ran over with her clients (which would be a benefit for me if she gave me a few extra minutes during my appointment).
The associate (I think her name was Beth) brought me upstairs to meet Sarah who was very nice. She offered me a seat while she took her previous client downstairs. I thought that this personal service was very nice. The shop is located in an older building. I liked the mix of modern and traditional style. When Sarah returned, she showed me into a room when I got more comfortable for my facial.
The entire experience was lovely. Sarah asked about my skin and explained what products she was using on my face. She gave me a $30 mask for free (an apology for being late) and also threw in a neck and shoulder massage. She only left me alone for about 5 minutes (I think that was to let the mask dry) but at all other times was completely attentive. In fact, even though I was extremely relaxed and enjoyed my refreshing facial, the time flew by during my treatment; I almost did not want to get up and leave. My skin felt rejuvenated when I was done. Sarah walked me downstairs and gave me recommendations on what skin products to use for my skin. She was not pushy at all but offered me a few organic products that they sold at the shop. I bought a few and was given an additional 10% off. I will definitely treat myself to another facial in another 6-8 weeks, especially if they have promotions (I am a law student and times are tough).
The Lowdown:
- 4 massage rooms. No couples' suite.
- 1 facial room, located upstairs.
- Manicure/pedicure studio located upstairs.
- Online booking available. 24-hour cancellation policy to avoid 100% charge. Credit card required at time of booking.
- Metro accessible (Takoma)
- Specials available on website, Twitter, and newsletter
- Accepts http://Spafinder.com gift certificates
- Uses toxin-free Zoya nail lacquers for mani/pedis
- Uses Glo Professionals Lycon Wax (one of my fave waxes)
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I visited The Still Point three times in the past two weeks. It's a place that I have been meaning to visit since Daily Candy touted their Acupuncture Happy Hour a few years back. Booking an appointment online was fairly easy. Their website has a slight bug in that it wouldn't allow me to add a credit card to my profile, so I had to call with a credit card to secure my booking. It's walking distance from the Takoma Metro Station. After having lunch at Mark's Kitchen, I crossed the street to The Still Point.
Upon arrival, I checked in, and a spa coordinator showed me the waiting area, otherwise described as the tea lounge. The tea lounge is about the size of a walk-in closet, and has a couple of chairs, a sofa, and a variety of magazines and books for clients to read while they wait for their therapists. I was told to fill out a consultation form. They usually offer one variety of tea in the lounge and it is tasty (they also sell it in the store).
After a couple of minutes, my therapist Nawal came and introduced herself. She led me to a room that was painted a serene blue with a Chinese lantern in the corner. She gave me some privacy as I disrobed and got on the table. This is strictly a place where you go and get services, but they don't offer amenities like locker rooms and bath robes. I had booked a 90-minute Swedish and Nawal was great. I did appreciate that she was more about the massage versus the chit chat, though working in the industry, I do love me some spa gossips. Also, I have never had my glutes worked on before and that hurt! Apparently that's what happens when you stand at your job all day. I left feel totally relaxed and ready to tackle on Spa Week at work. The price for the massage was $115, and I had a $50 SpaFinder gift certificate that I've been hoarding for like two years. (To all spa guests: please please always tip your therapist based on the original treatment price even if you are getting a discount on services!) Their retail area had a lot of bath and body items that I had been meaning to buy, so I bought a lot of stuff, too.
The following week I scheduled a facial with Adua. I had a Groupon that was $25 for an Express Facial (valued at $50), which I used to upgrade to a 60-minute Deep Cleansing Facial ($110). Adua was fantastic. It was during my second visit that I realized that they had a bathroom, and also that the decor/theme of the treatment rooms are inspired by countries like Bali. The facial and nail rooms are located upstairs. To access this area, Adua led me back outside, around the corner and through the front of the building. Now, this spa is located in an old building and when the winds are 10-20mph, the whole place shakes. And Norah Jones doesn't drown out the truck outside.
Spas usually price their facials two ways: usually the more expensive it is, the more pampering you get (scalp massage, neck/shoulder massage with hot stones, hand/foot massage, etc). If it's fairly inexpensive, the facial is only focused on the face area, and they will get you with add-ons (enzyme peel, hand/foot massage, glycolic mask, etc will all cost extra). Unless you get the Luxe Facial, your facial here will only on the face and neck. I received a facial cleansing, steam/extractions, Manuka honey mask, and hand blended (local) yogurt mask with a blend of mixed greens superfood powder. There is also a little bit of high frequency therapy, which is interesting. It crackles and pops like Rice Krispies and feels like each zit you have gets a jolt of static shock. The currents zap the bacteria on the surface of the skin and is supposed to help with acne. Aside from a bit of discomfort from the high frequency treatment, this was a very relaxing facial. Loved the vigorous facial massage at the end, too. Adua was very engaging and informative about ingredients and skincare, and we did a bit of spa talk. Apparently the person who trained her on nails developed the nail program at my spa years ago. It's like six degrees of Kevin Bacon, spa style.
Later on, I went to Whole Foods to buy Manuka honey to do my own mask at home and was shocked to discover that a jar cost FIDDY DOLLARS! Now I definitely appreciate the thought that goes into the facials at The Still Point. Will definitely be back.
3.5 UPDATE: I returned to The Still Point for a manicure and pedicure. Pleasant, but not as delightful as my facial experience. The nail room (The Sole Door) is spacious and bright, and I got a heated pillow to put around my neck for each service. I almost slept through the pedi, I was so relaxed. Gabby, my aesthetician, got my hands and feet looking good. Why the drop to 3 stars? My toes look amazing and adorable, but she cut the cuticles on my hands so that a few days later, they look ragged and there are a few spots where she nicked me a little deep. I'm usually reluctant to get manicures at a spa because I feel like I can do them myself, and in this case I think I could have done as well on my own. But my feet look awesome, and my pedicure was totally relaxing.
I'd definitely return to The Still Point for skin care services, and I may try their massage or acupuncture services at some point, and maybe for another pedicure, but I could take or leave the manicure services.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
8/30/2009
4.5
What a lovely place! I'd been meaning to get here for a long time, and finally bit the bullet… Read more »
I'm a junkie for natural products but never made it! The directions on their website are WRONG! When coming from VA you taking 31B not 31A. When I called 30 min prior to my appointment no one picked up. Finally, they called me back almost an hour later.
I won't try this place again.
Comment from Tori P. of
The Still Point
10/29/2009
The website directions are correct and we're so sorry…
More »
3.5
The appointment setting on line was great. I was so intrigued when my coworker told me about this spa. I couldn't wait to go. I made my appointment online and decided that I really needed to get to this place ASAP. What do you know? November is spa month so most services were $50. Facial for $50 hells yeah. I made an appointment online for a faical, mani and pedi.
When I checked in, I really loved all of the natural products you could buy. Nothing seemed clinical in nature like you see at many spas in the area. I checked in and I was given a clip board to fill out information about my medical conditions before the mani and pedi. I was escorted to a waiting room just off of the check-in area. I was offered tea and they had an assortment of books to read while you waited.
Then we had to go outside to get to the facial room. Well it was damn freaking cold that day and I couldn't belive that you have to walk around the corner to get to any of the rooms. There has to be some way to fix this. I don't want to go outside once I enter your doors. It's a cold cold world out there in Takoma Park.
My facial was with Adua and it was fantastic. She assessed me, steamed me, extracted me, exfoliated me, massaged me and scrubbed me arms. She says I have really good skin but I just want to go back to her. I have to see if she does massages. The only thing about the facial that was bad is that I could hear people talking so it wasn't as serene as it could be.
Then I went next door to the Sole Door. Now this place felt like the tropics. It's hard to describe but the walls are ocean blue and the pedicure couch has natural white padded seating. Then they have covered the fluorescent lights with billowy sheets of muslin attached to bamboo sticks. No massage chairs here but there were plenty of pillows so you could slump down and get comfy. Now the pedicure itself was run of the mill. Vicky's does a better job. If I could combine the decor of the Sole Door with the service of Vicky's it would be great. I did however notice that the woman who was there before me got a much more thorough pedicure. Maybe she got something special.
What excites most about the still point is that they have personal coaching, tai chi and nutrition counseling. I really like that it's about the mind, body and spirit at this place.
It isn't their fault but spafinder says they take their gift certificates but they don't anymore. I'm lucky I had the cash on hand.
Comment from Tori P. of
The Still Point
9/28/2009
We take Spa Week gift certificates! Hope to see you soon!
More »
went on a whim after a bad and taxing week at work.
walked in and they had an appointment available in an hour for a pedicure. i walked around the downtown area while i waited, a bunch of cute stores to see. grabbed lunch, and then headed back for my appointment.
adua was phenomenal, and a sweet person all around. the atmosphere was perfect, as were my toes when i left! definitely planning to go back, and very interested to try out one of their massages as well!
