Jolie The Day Spa & Hair Design
Julie Register visited this day spa in Atlanta, Georgia in October 2002

How employees perceive they are treated by their employer affects the client's spa experience.  Happy employees send positive energy through their fingertips.  It radiates around them and is freely given to their clients.  Unhappy employees just go through the motions.  A negative energy exchange may even take place, leaving the client feeling drained.  I think that Jolie in Atlanta, GA has some pretty happy employees.  Let me tell you what gives me that impression. 

I was passing through Atlanta recently - in at 9am out at 2pm.  I had arranged to meet a friend for brunch and suggested we go to a spa afterwards - a great treat after being on a plane.  She was coming off the night shift at a nearby hospital but was willing to give it a try.  I chose Jolie because I wanted to try a Thai Massage, and they had just added it to their service offerings.  In the past, I had massages that incorporated some bits and pieces of Thai Massage in them and looked forward to Jolie's 90 minute treatment.  I scheduled Linda for her first facial, the Jolie Signature. 

As we waited for our therapists, we noticed a large notebook sitting among the magazines.  It was Jolie's Staff Book.  A family album proudly on display, it offered a page of information on each employee complete with their pictures (as children!), training and work history.  The first thing that struck me was that most of the employees were very experienced and had been at Jolie a pretty long time.  That's a good sign and a bit unusual in an area where new spas are opening all the time and a field that is pretty transient.  I looked up my therapist, Aba Bailey.  She has been a massage therapist for 22 years and worked at Jolie since 1987 (Jolie opened in 1986 under the name Noelle. They changed the name to Jolie after 2 years.  They are Atlanta's original premier day spa.).  Aba is the department manager of massage therapy.  Linda checked out her therapist, Tuan Huynh.  He has worked in aesthetics for 10 years and been a Certified Massage Therapist (CMT) for 5 years.  He specializes in facials and waxing.  We felt like we were in good hands.

Tuan came for Linda first and Aba appeared shortly thereafter.  She explained that she had to set up the room for the massage by moving the massage table out of the way and placing a large mat on the floor.  Aba invited me to lay down on the mat. I removed my shoes and stretched out fully clothed. I knew in advance that I should wear loose clothing and that no oils would be used.  Aba had warmed a buckwheat neck pillow for me to put under my head.  The warmth was pleasant as was the fragrance of the essential oil that had been applied to it.  As she started to work, Aba briefly explained the philosophy of Metta - love, joy, and kindness.  These were her intentions as she performed the massage.  My intentions were to be completely in the moment, completely relaxed, and completely receptive.  As she worked on my body, Aba used not only her hands, but feet, knees and elbows to apply the appropriate pressure for the rhythmic acupressure and assisted stretches. She used reflexology on my feet, hands, face, and ears. Some of the pressure was a bit uncomfortable, especially along my shins and in the kidney area, but overall, the experience was deeply relaxing yet invigorating.  It seemed to be a form of assisted yoga.  Aba stretched my body in ways that it hadn't been stretched for a very long time. This was one of the best massages I have ever had.  I am not exaggerating.  My only regret is that I don't live close enough to visit Aba regularly.  You know that positive energy exchange I mentioned earlier?  It just flowed.

Linda's facial lasted an hour, so she was waiting for me as I came out to the reception area.  She gushed about the facial. The Decleor products used were gentle.  Her face felt great.  She didn't realize that Tuan would  massage her neck, shoulder, and hands as part of a facial.  She thought it was heavenly.   I haven't seen her smile like that for a long time.  She practically floated out to the car.  More of that positive energy.

Jolie is a full service spa providing a hair salon, makeup, waxing, nail care, and body treatments in addition to facials and massage.  It offers packages and days of beauty including bridal parties. The cozy Relaxation Room is set aside for these and the vegetarian spa lunches they serve for them. Jolie's 6,000 square foot facility contains a reception and retail area (selling Decleor, MD Formulations, Redken, Essential Elements, among other brands), five massage rooms, one room for body treatments, six facial rooms, five private pedicure rooms with reclining chairs and whirlpools foot tubs, six manicure stations, and a large central, yet separate, hair salon.  Here is where I found my final confirmation of a good employee-employer relationship at Jolie. I was introduced to Steven Clementi, the Artistic Director, who has developed E.T.C. (Educated, Trained, and Cultivated), an education program for talented new hair care professionals where they work side by side and under the direction of experienced professionals. Steven was obviously very proud of the program and its success.  Positive energy was bouncing off the walls.