Spa Noir — Local services in Seattle

Got a massage from a roughly middle aged man here. Gave pretty detailed instructions on what I wanted on the intake form, as well as had a conversation with him before the massage.

Not only were my instructions ignored in their entirety, but my boundaries were violated, my bones (yes my bones, one of the only things that should never be touched) were bruised, and my trust in the entire industry was shaken.

There were some clues that it wasn't going to be the best massage in the world, the main offender that should have been a red flag was the therapists lack of personal hygiene. I could smell his underarms from several feet away and during the entire massage.

These are most of the actual problems I had with the massage aside from ignoring me completely in the intake phase- there were a lot of 'techniques' used that weren't techniques at all. In fact, one of them was the playground attack unfortunately referred to as an 'Indian burn,' which while a juvenile act, still is very much uncomfortable to have happen. He didn't use enough oil/gel on the hairy parts of my body, leading to burning and discomfort. He also did not use any hand sanitizer before or after trying to massage my feet. He pressed his thumbs deeply into the bones where my lower back and hips meet over and over and over, pressed hard into the sides of my hips on those bones as well, dug his elbow into my scapula, not the muscle, but the actual outer part of the bone plate, rubbed his hands through my hair, squeezed my feet together (like what even is that? most people need there feet stretched not compressed), did this weird move where he interlocked his fingers with mine then squeezed really hard and pulled releasing my fingers at once in a painful manner, and did a lot of rubbing of my chest where I specified I didn't want anything like that done to me. During the massage I verbally said "ouch", tensed up several times while in pain, pulled away at times and even readjusted myself when it felt like he couldn't figure out where to actually touch, as if he had forgotten the anatomy of a person mid stroke.

I can't speak on the other therapists or services, but the man I ended up with as my therapist not only ensured I would never go back to this spa, if that is a person they're willing to have on staff, but I will probably never go to an establishment in this area again. If this is what passes for nearly 5 stars then I don't even want to know what's happening at other locations with lower ratings. So apologies to anyone who works here that is actually competent at their job, but I would easily trust the cheap student massages at a massage school building than ever risk paying someone to physically hurt me, ignore me, and violate my boundaries like...

Very rude front desk!

Edit:

This is my first 1 star rating on Google.

Being a small business owner does not give one the right to disrespect customers.

The owner contacted me through email, text message, voice call, voice mail after this review. She did not ask the reason for my review but rather just started blaming me. I clearly mentioned the timings I made a call to inform I am running late, the time I arrived, the cancellation fee (full price) I agreed to pay and paid. My question and concern to her was regarding the way the front desk received me for which she never had an answer. I had an appointment at 5:15, after being stuck in heavy post office traffic in Seattle downtown I called the reception at 5:17 and informed I am running late. The receptionist said they can see me if I can come in within 3 minutes but cannot if I come later. The receptionist also mentioned that I would still be charged full price for my appointment if I come in late for which I agreed. I told him it can be challenging to be there within 3 minutes but I will try my best. I parked my car and ran to the place to realize I was 4 minutes late. I wasn’t expecting a service from them but since I was anyways at the place I wanted to book another appointment in person so I went in anyway. Conversation: Receptionist: Hi, Are you Rachel? Me: Nope I am Vijaya Receptionist: “I asked you not to come”

Further, the owner dropped me an email next day saying I was 12 minutes late (to which I asked her proof and she never responded to that question). She also mentioned I was “quite late” for my previous appointment and that disrupted the schedule for entire day. I was late by 3 minutes (I remember very well because I looked at the watch at the reception and apologized for being 3 minutes late). It’s surprising the owner reaches out to customer saying their schedule was disturbed by one customer who arrived 3 minutes late. I have text messages with the owner clarifying that I have no concerns regarding the cancellation fee I had to pay or denial of service. I very clearly mentioned in multiple texts that my concern was regarding the impolite behavior of receptionist to which she never responded (even in...

I've been visiting Spa Noir for a handful of years now. I really liked Amira, who provided esthetician services, but unfortunately moved away a few years ago. I've since had other service providers who were various levels of "OK"; however, I find myself being drawn to Spa Noir because the prices are reasonable, I really love Eminence products, and I particularly like the owner, Jessica. I scheduled an appt (for today) for the first time in a long time. Unfortunately, our day care had an outbreak of a vicious stomach flu the preceding Friday and everyone in my family ended up falling victim over the weekend; I had to cancel my appt the same morning within the 24-hr cancelation window (likely still contagious myself and needed to take care of family members). I left a message explaining the situation, that I would like to reschedule, and I left my phone number. I hadn't received a call back from them by around the time of my appt, so I called again. Deborah (sp?) answered the phone. She confirmed they had received my message. I asked if I would be charged for the appt, and she said, "Yeah, it's a 24hr cancelation policy. Did you want to reschedule?" - I declined. I understand the cancelation policy exists for a reason, but I felt that Deborah's response to the situation was completely lacking in grace. There was obviously no intent to call me back, and there was nothing apologetic in her response. Had I come in for my appt, I might have gotten many staff members sick, which would have lost them much more business than just my own. So now I'm out a $100 because I did what I felt was the right thing for all parties. Sigh very...