Spa Habitat — Local services in Dallas

First and foremost, I am no hater. I went here because I know that an extremely capable massage therapist has or still does work here. It is a reputable Dallas business and an established presence in the spa community. Having typed my disclaimer, here is my experience.

The front desk person who greeted and set me in the waiting area was lovely. It is a beautiful facility and the neck wraps/tea are such a warming touch!

I must admit that I am a massage therapist (a fact I never reveal when getting a service) and I have worked in the spa industry which may be why I was so bothered by my upcoming experience. I had woken up with a sharp pain on my right side that needed attention before I started my workweek.

I also have a bit of anxiety with confrontation in service settings. I know I'm not the only one so here it is for all of us "sometimes introverts who only are quiet when it comes to standing up for ourselves."

I was picked up 15 min late (which is really not an issue if someone would've acknowledged it and if everything else would've been okay. People run late, I get it). I was about to go to the front desk to make sure I had the appointment time right when my therapist picked me up and didn't mention or apologize for the late start. This took me from a 4:30 end time to a 4:50 end time when traffic was heck. Once again, it wouldn't have even bothered me if something was mentioned. I understand being booked back to back and trying to deliver the best service, sometimes you're just doing your best but please respect their time enough to mention it.

I had purchased an 80 minute, deep tissue (which is extra at this facility). When she asked (one question) during the consult about my needs, I pointed at the muscle and said it's name aloud," right side levator scap." I also asked if we could only do upper body. She told me that 80 min was too long for upper body (pardon?) and that she would spend 45-50 min on upper body. I shrugged and told her that she was the expert, expecting that maybe her technique was specific and could solve my issues.

It was not deep tissue. She never asked about how the pressure was so I guess it didn't matter. It was long effluerage strokes...like a relaxing massage that never once touch the origin of the muscle I had mentioned. Totally phoned in or maybe she didn't know the name of the muscle or how to release it maybe she couldn't deliver deeper pressure and was afraid to inquire and know she would have to give more ...., I'll never know. I was just annoyed and more than a little burned out about the money I was spending for it.

Just to compound matters, I could feel her nails which is a mega industry no-no and she left halfway through to go get water (which is something you do before the massage starts and put it in your room).

At the end of the massage, I was encouraged to buy products even after telling her that I use a specific brand of CBD creme. Of course I tipped 20% because I'm not a monster, it's still income and I don't know what therapists there are being compensated with. There is never an excuse to not tip well, EVER.

Afterwards, I walked to The Joint to see my chiropractor (because traffic was going to be a nightmare anyway) and he told me that my neck muscles were tight so it was difficult to adjust my cervical vertebrae. UGH.

If you're going, just call ahead and ask the front desk specific questions about therapists to have your needs met. It's not the establishment, it's the specific therapists who work there that make the experience for you.

Some therapists are NOT deep tissue therapists and that's okay but it needs to be aligned with their clientele. Some therapists ONLY deliver deep tissue and if you're in the mood for a relaxing massage then you don't want them working on you either!

EDIT: It doesn't absolve my concerns but they don't have hydraulic tables at this spa. Hydraulic tables SIGNIFICANTLY aid LMT's with their job. Without them, therapists get injured. Period. It's 2019. No spa that cares for their employees should be...

Going to this spa was literally a nightmare experience. Brianna is a terrible esthetician. It was the worst facial of my life. It is now over 2 months since I had the facial with her that caused scarring on my skin. Her extractions are hard and aggressive to the point it scarred my skin. The scars can’t even be covered with makeup.

This spa is unclean and unsanitary. Brianna massaged my hair then massaged my face while my pores were open after a warm compress. This caused an infection underneath my skin. She never washed her hands or used gloves. After the scalp massage she immediately touched my face with dirty hands and did extractions. This unsanitary practice caused bumps underneath my skin that lasted for over two months. One of the bumps can still be felt underneath my skin.

On top of this, if it couldn’t get any worse-I faced racial discrimination at this spa. I am Middle Eastern. When I walked into the spa I wasn’t greeted appropriately and I was not offered water. The White person who walked in immediately behind me was treated differently and was offered water.

I contacted the owner regarding what happened and he called me a liar. I couldn’t believe it. How insulting and offensive when I am dealing with real, legitimate issues. He threatened me and told me I was forbidden to post my experience on social networking sites. Apparently he is afraid of the truth being exposed, so I am sharing my experience with the community because this happened to me. It is a true story and it is in your best interest to never go to this spa or have a facial by Brianna because she will damage your skin. Also, their own employees Brianna and Annie said their products cause allergic...

1. I LOVE the lady who does the eyebrow wax! After a very harsh experience with Nordstrom's Spa (talk about a painful "extraction process"! She also unfortunately ripped off part of my skin with the wax! Aye yi yi... so I came to Spa Habitat, where they helped me figure out that I need a sugar-based substitute! Go figure! lol :)) I think her name is Annie. She has been AMAZING and I've followed her off and on now for a few years, through a chronic illness.

2. I'm sorry but I must be truthful here -- the only reason I'm giving y'all 3 instead of 4 stars, is because when I had a massage done, I must say --- it was one of the worst I'd ever had. :-/ I hate to say that!!! But she seemed SO rushed, not too "eager", and I just didn't feel treated as one should when visiting a well-known Spa for a massage. That said... I've had a lot of massages! lol I'll give her the benefit of the doubt that I was her last client of the day, but still - she RUSHED out of the building AS I was paying for my service, without so much as a response to my goodbyes.... Hmmm.. Not sure, as I said, I'll give her the benefit of the doubt - maybe she was having an "off" day... still.. not a great representation, as I've had a gift cert for a spa massage from Spa Habitat for a long time now (from my ex husband! lol), and still haven't gone back to use it!!! I may just have use it on Annie, and in the Gift Shop (love the gift shop, btw!!!! :o)).

3. Again, LOVE the gift shop :) I usually spend a good 20 mins just tinkering around in there....