Hydrotherapy: From Salon To Spa

Hydrotherapy—the therapeutic use of water—has made a name for itself in the tanning salon setting because it’s a simple service to add. Space-saving units do all the work, which means you are able to provide clients with fast and affordable spa treatments without the headache of extra personnel and training.

And, as more and more salon owners choose to operate under a “tanning spa” business model to maximize revenue, these units continue to become increasingly popular. The spa-feel is further impacted by the developments in equipment—units have gone high-tech by incorporating aromatherapy, soothing music and monitors that allow the customer to view an array of visual images or even surf the Internet.

The main thing you need to decide if you choose to add hydrotherapy services to your salon is what type of service you prefer to offer: massage or steam treatments.

Despite its name, hydromassage is a dry process during which the customer lies in a bed and has heated water (contained in rubber and plastic liners) applied to the body by therapeutic jets. Because it is dry, users can stay fully clothed, which makes many customers feel more comfortable. Also, there is no need for a massage therapist, so the client is in complete control of the massage as far as pressure, temperature and length of time is concerned. The options in hydromassage equipment range from tabletop units—where the user simply lies on top of the enclosed water jets—to units that fully encapsulate the user. In addition, you can find units that offer the ability to target specific parts of the body with the water jets.

Hydrosteam units, on the other hand, allow a tanning salon to offer a service similar to a steam room or sauna—minus the actual room. Instead, these units provide a personal-size steam bath option for clients; they simply undress or put on a bathing suit and slip into the unit, and relax while the humidity exfoliates and hydrates the skin.

Regardless of the type of equipment you choose to provide, hydrotherapy is an easy service to market—primarily because each offers cross-selling opportunities for your current tanning clientele in regard to UV and UV-free tanning. Hydromassage stimulates blood circulation, which primes the customer for increased melanin production during a subsequent UV tanning session; hydrosteam ensures the skin has an ideal level of moisture prior to UV or sunless tanning. In addition, steam treatments promote smart skincare practices—exactly what the tanning industry is focused on. Because of this, many salons have chosen to package their hydrotherapy offerings with tanning sessions in addition to selling single treatments as a way to promote the beneficial effects of hydrotherapy on tanning.

Similarly, salons are finding success by offering specials like free teaser sessions to get clients hooked on hydro, and by putting promotional signs and brochures in their salon. Check with the manufacturer of your hydrotherapy equipment—most will provide you with marketing and promotional tools to help you learn how to best market the machine and maximize revenue.

For hydromassage, specifically, one unique advertising tactic is gaining popularity: placing the unit “on display” in the salon. Since the user isn’t disrobing, a separate room isn’t necessary, so some salon owners choose to situate the equipment out in the open—where it can generate lots of attention as tanning clients walk past.

Hydrotherapy offers owners a unique opportunity to incorporate traditional spa treatments into the salon in a compact, automated way. And, because the units are easy-to-use, client-controlled, and only require general cleaning and maintenance, they are a simple addition to a salon’s service offerings.

Related Content:

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