The award winning spa and salon at the Imperial Delhi is a little escape- an oasis away from the craziness we call our lives in Delhi. Nestled away on a quiet wing is the spa and salon where the former is offered exclusively to residents while the salon is open to guests. Haylie Louise Dack, head of spa operations at the hotel keeps herself abreast of the latest changes in the wellness world and keeps curating different experiences to allow the guests to leave feeling invigorated, refreshed and recharged.

I went on a weekday to try the signature Gold Ritual for dry and damaged tresses and the Natura Bisse Facial for oil balance and pore reduction. I waited patiently for my appointment as I arrived a few minutes early. I was greeted by the warm and ebullient staff who brought me some herbal tea and magazines to keep me busy.

Gold Hair Ritual
This Kerastase ritual is great for dry, brittle and damaged hair because it helps bring back the lustre and shine. This 24-Carat ritual is performed by skilled therapists who use a strict protocol to ensure long lasting results. This treatment starts with a personalised hair and scalp analysis with a camera where I learnt that my ends were prone to breakage, split ends and sun damage.
The therapist then guides you with a home care routine and recommends products that will help soothe your scalp and undo some of that damage. Heavily styled and colour treated hair respond very well to the 24 carat treatment because the serums penetrate the hair shaft to repair and work on lustre, improving texture and cell renewal. This is done only after the therapist washes your hair to get rid of any product build up, sweat and grime. They start massaging the serum into different sections of the hair as they go from root to tip to ensure that the product is being assimilated. It was a long drawn process that included an incredible head massage to promote blood circulation, improve hair growth and facilitate relaxation. I nearly fell asleep during the head massage but I was too excited to see what my hair was going to look like post treatment. The serum- ‘Complexe’ is an amalgamation of maize oil (nourishment), camellia (anti frizz and smoothening) and argan oil (heat protection). After the product has been assimilated, you have to rinse your hair to remove the product followed by normal drying or a blow dry.

Results- well, I had spent the last few months swimming, walking in the sun for work and with no time for hair spas so I had a long way to go. The 24 carat gold ritual definitely made my tresses seem softer to touch and with more radiance and shine than before. I decided not to neglect my hair anymore and I promptly booked another appointment for better results.

For the facial, we retreated into the spa rooms with an experienced facial therapist. Natura Bissé’s research is focused on blending and combining the best selection of active ingredients to control and correct the imperfections of combination and oily skin. I have highly sensitive skin that is prone to allergies and breakouts so I only trust hypo allergenic brands like Natura Bisse. The treatment begins with an aroma nectar inhalation for a few breaths to relax the mind and calm the body. This is followed by a deep cleansing milk to remove traces of make up, grime, sweat and other impurities. The facial therapist then uses gentle strokes to exfoliate the face, forehead and neck and prepare it for the product. The exfoliant sloughs away dead skin leaving behind softer, radiant baby soft skin. The massage is an effective lymph drainage massage that is suitable for puffy eyelids, water retention and a tired face. The massage also works to help minimise visible pores, hydrating the skin and removing excess oil and sebum production that can make your face look less than your best.

Results-
I was a little apprehensive of a little redness post the treatment but my face responded beautifully to the treatment. My beach tan and uneven complexion looked like it had improved and it was unbelievably soft to touch. I don’t put make up on a regular day but felt exceptional walking out without kohl or mascara because my skin looked nourished from the inside out. This treatment isn’t frightfully expensive like other facials in Delhi and so I promise to look after my skin and opt for one treatment every month or two. I can’t stress how important it is to look after your skin in your 20’s with regular trips for face cleaning, a healthy diet, regular workouts and to keep yourself hydrated. I try and incorporate all of these but skimp on my sunscreen usage because I am always in a hurry but the facial therapist insist that I use some on my face 3-4 times – even on days when its cloudy outside to prevent ageing due to sun damage. I asked her a few questions about night care for my face and to recommend home remedies for acne and oil control before I walked out.

Verdict-These treatments are competitively priced and offer great value for money especially since you are in very experienced hands. Natura Bisse products are great for allergy prone skin and because it doesn’t contain any chemicals, abrasives – you can leave all your worries at the door. The Signature Gold Ritual is a real treat for tresses that have been styled mercilessly with tongs, curling irons and heat. It works very well but you need two or three sessions a few weeks apart to see long lasting results. Thank you to the team at the Salon and everyone for making this possible. I will definitely apply sunscreen every single day and make it a point to pamper my tresses at least once a month.

Quick Notes-

Signature Gold Ritual in Salon is 3200 INR + TAXES
Oil Balancer facial from Natura Bisse is 5800 INR + TAXES

Address:
The Imperial
Janpath Lane, Connaught Place,
New Delhi, 110001 ‎
011 23341234,
011 41501234.
Email: [email protected].
Visit us at: www.theimperialindia.com
http://www.theimperialindia.com/spa-menu/imperial-salon/