When in ROME.....: Salon Palazzo Day Spa

One would be hard pressed to find something that is not rejuvenating inside the walls of Salon Palazzo Day Spa. Located in Shelby in Cleveland County, Salon Palazzo reflects owner and Spa Director Susan Brown's vision of combining the best of the hair styling and spa worlds into one magnificent day spa. Brown was inspired when she noticed a rambling 83-year-old structure, once home to the Suttle family, for sale in downtown Shelby. It was an arch detail on top of a double walkway that inspired Brown's vision.

While working as a hair stylist and massage therapist at another spa, Brown realized her ultimate goal was to operate her own day spa. "I waited until the right thing came along, she said. Her patience paid off. In 1996, she began renovating the old house; in October 2000 Salon Palazzo Day Spa became two concepts in one -- hair and nail services upon entry and a quiet spa area on the second level.

From the spa's entrance, Boticelli's "Birth of Venus" greets visitors overhead, an intricate painting replicated by local artist Phil Philbeck. The main level includes hair and nail stations, along with products and a living room turned waiting room, complete with a renovated fireplace for added ambiance. With a Renaissance-like theme, subtle hints of neutral colors, columns, and portraits of lounging women from days past provide a tranquil atmosphere. Restored hardwood from the original structure helps preserve the charm of this house-turned-haven. In addition, the archway design that first inspired Brown has been refurbished as a symbol of what helped create the relaxing environment.

Hardwood stairs beckon you upstairs to the spa area. Sheer drapes adorn the ceiling only to break for a moment to reveal a painted purple sky with golden stars. Wood flooring blends into heated tiles, forming a path that leads to the body treatment, massage and facial rooms. Chairs stationed throughout encourage passersby to relax. To help keep the upstairs a serene sanctum, French doors add a buffer while enhancing style. A smaller waiting room invites relaxation while waiting and soft music from nature pours into every room -- allowing your mind to drift away from every day stresses.

"I just wanted to feel like its been here for while. Old things feel better - new things seem sterile," Brown said about her décor. The facial room features a quote by Walt Whitman painted on the walls: "If anything is sacred, the human body is sacred." Just a subtle reminder of why you are here.

Salon Palazzo offers a variety of treatments and packages, including hot stone, pre- and post-natal and headache session massage therapies, gentleman's facials, mango peel, microdermabrasion and rosacea treatments. Specialty body treatments include salt glow, detox - thalasso wrap, desert heat cocoon, aromatic moor wrap, and buff and tan bronzing.

In addition to total pampering, Palazzo is most definitely a salon. A long list of hair care services include cut, style, color, highlighting, perms, scalp massage and the latest in hair styling -- the bio-ionic hair straightening technique. After spoiling your hair, face and body, you cannot forget the parts of the body that work the hardest: your hands and feet. Traditional, spa, and even gentlemen's manicures will thank the digits that get the most exposure, and traditional, spa, and paraffin treatments and pedicures will remind your tootsies that all their support is not in vain.

Still don't feel complete? Why not try a waxing service for those pesky spots. Once your unwanted hair is history, have your lashes and eyebrows tinted to highlight your features.
The Palazzo's newest service is the Light Emitting Diode (LED) treatment for reviving the skin. This process sends waves of red light deep into the connective tissue, stimulating a protein called cytochromes as it responds to light and color. LED helps to invigorate the skin by producing collagen and elastin, needed for creating supple, younger skin with no healing time or thermal damage.

In addition, Salon Palazzo Day Spa sells hair care and skin products by Pevonia® and Aveda©. For more information on services or products, please visit www.salonpalazzodayspa.com, or call 704.482.0333 to make an appointment.

by Suzanne T. Jackson