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THE VICHY SHOWER
In recent years beauty therapy is moving more towards the holistic approach to treatment options with spa treatments gaining popularity offering you the opportunity to ‘escape’ from the world of stress for a few moments or hours of sheer luxury and relaxation. Many of these wonderful spa treatments are now available through APAA salons, which are often performed in a conventional beauty room otherwise known as a 'dry room'.

However there are other treatments, such as the Vichy Shower, which are part of hydrotherapy and therefore require the provision of a 'wet room' in order to perform this treatment. Here is some background information on what is a Vichy Shower and what you can expect as a treatment.

The Wet Room
Most wet rooms are usually completely tiled, both the floor as well as walls, similar to a bathroom but with the addition of floor drains. In order for this to be effective the floor must be constructed with a slight slope near the drains to facilitate the quick and complete drainage of the water. Because this room will be exposed to constant water often even the ceiling is constructed in waterproof material.

For floor and wall tiles, it is important that the grouting is mildew and mould-resistant. Appropriately positioned lighting and ventilation are usually installed to help prevent the extra humidity from developing mildew.

The Vichy Shower
The Vichy shower offers a very pleasant and beneficial treatment option for the Day Spa salon. It can be used as a rinsing device but it is usually much more. The Vichy Shower is designed to alternate and pulsate hot and cold water which offer excellent health benefits, such as improving blood circulation, as well as improving the vitality and elasticity of the skin. The water pressure is adjusted to that the client experiences a comfortable raining effect. The therapist from a control panel controls the water flow, temperature and pulsation. This panel is normally at the end of the bed where the pole emanates. As the volume of water is substantial, the therapist is required to dress appropriately to do Vichy Shower treatments as she will to a certain degree, get wet as well.

From a structural point of view, the Vichy Shower is a horizontal rod with holes to allow water raining or cascading over the client who is lying on the bed. It is situated about 4 feet above the treatment bed. As the bed will also become wet when it is in use, it must be made from appropriate rust-proof material to accommodate the constant use of water. Some spas use a tiled table, but this can be uncomfortable. Others use special water foam pads over rust proof metals or plastic tables.

Create a relaxing atmosphere
Once the controls are set and the treatment is taking affect the therapist will adjust the lighting to induce relaxation. The use of appropriate soft music and relaxing essential oils burning nearby may be used to

assist you to relax and enjoy the wonderful therapeutics benefits of the raining effect, which obviously go well beyond just applying water on the body. As with all hydrotherapy treatments, once the controls are set and the client is undergoing treatment the client is never be left alone.

Although this treatment can be booked as a stand-alone treatment, it is advisable to purchase it as part of a treatment package. Once your body reaches a high degree of relaxation, the benefits from additional body treatments will be accelerated. As a rule, spa packages are excellent value for money giving you a substantial saving as well as a synergy of quality treatments for longer lasting benefits. For example, a salt glow, a mud treatment or a seaweed wrap are excellent options which can be performed in the wet room while the Vichy shower could be used to rinse them off, making the Vichy shower the end to a wonderful experience.

When used in conjunction with other body treatments the Vichy Shower can be used several times during the treatment. For example, if you are having a salt glow treatment the Vichy Shower can be used for 2-3 minutes to remove the salt from the body. You then roll over and the shower is used once more. At this point the Vichy Shower hose is used to completely rinse off any bits still clinging to the body, particularly with the seaweed wraps.

Vichy Shower (alone)
Treatment time is usually 45mins. 15 minutes is usually allocated for the pre-treatment orientation so that you are totally aware of what to expect. This is an example of a typical treatment. The Vichy Shower should be turned on and ajusted to disburse a pleasant "rain"on your body for approximately 20 mins. An appropriate body lotion is usually applied on the body at the end of the treatment by the therapist and the treatment should be finished within 30 minutes. A 15 minute period is usually allowed for you to dress and enjoy a quite herbal drink or mineral water.

Vichy Shower combined with Salt Glow
Now here is a Vichy Shower combined with a Salt Glow treatment. Traditionally the time required should be 1 hour. You can expect to receive an appropriate mineral salt exfoliation, which is combined with quality massage oil or a moisturising lubricating agent to enable comfortable application. Usually you can expect this treatment to take between 20-30mins for a thorough enjoyable and invigorating exfoliation of the front and back of the body. Then 10 minutes for the Vichy Shower and 10 minutes to apply the appropriate moisturiser by the therapist. Total treatment time is 45 mins with 15 minutes for you to dress and rest with an appropriate drink in the rest room.

Vichy Shower combined with Mud and Seaweed treatments
These two treatments can be performed as separate. Why the two? Mud has a deep drawing effect and is traditionally used for deep deeper cleansing, followed by the seaweed (rich in oligoelements, minerals and vitamins, for re-mineralising the body. Another popular way to have this treatment is to use mud for the kidney, stomach and back, hands and feet and seaweed for the rest of the body. Time will vary depending on what options you will choose but you should estimate at lease 30 minutes. For removal you can expect 5mins for the Vichy Shower after the mud treatment and 5-10 minutes after the seaweed treatment, followed by 10 minutes for the body lotion and 10-15 for your dressing and orientation back to the real world with a cuppa. Total 1 hour.

The Vichy de-luxe TreatmentNow this is the ultimate! Combining salt, mud, seaweed and Vichy is the super de-luxe option. After the salt exfoliation and a Vichy shower, the whole body is usually wrapped mud to draw out toxicity from the skin leaving it brighter and cleaner. This is then showered off with the Vichy and followed by a nutritive (rich in natural vitamins and minerals) seaweed pack and cocooned for at least 20-30mins. The body is then rinsed once again followed by a 10-minute rest with a drink. Time allowed, approximately 1 hour 35mins but well worth every minute.

There are numerous treatment combinations, which can be inter-disbursed with the Vichy Shower experience. Combined together they provide a synergy of a deliciously relaxing and reviving experience you will never forget.



	UPDATE ON BODY TREATMENT Spa Specialty Equipment & Treatments THE VICHY SHOWER In recent years beauty therapy is moving more towards the holistic approach to treatment options with spa treatments gaining popularity offering you the opportunity to ‘escape’ from the world of stress for a few moments or hours of sheer luxury and relaxation. Many of these wonderful spa treatments are now available through APAA salons, which are often performed in a conventional beauty room otherwise known as a 'dry room'. However there are other treatments, such as the Vichy Shower, which are part of hydrotherapy and therefore require the provision of a 'wet room' in order to perform this treatment. Here is some background information on what is a Vichy Shower and what you can expect as a treatment. The Wet Room Most wet rooms are usually completely tiled, both the floor as well as walls, similar to a bathroom but with the addition of floor drains. In order for this to be effective the floor must be constructed with a slight slope near the drains to facilitate the quick and complete drainage of the water. Because this room will be exposed to constant water often even the ceiling is constructed in waterproof material. For floor and wall tiles, it is important that the grouting is mildew and mould-resistant. Appropriately positioned lighting and ventilation are usually installed to help prevent the extra humidity from developing mildew. The Vichy Shower The Vichy shower offers a very pleasant and beneficial treatment option for the Day Spa salon. It can be used as a rinsing device but it is usually much more. The Vichy Shower is designed to alternate and pulsate hot and cold water which offer excellent health benefits, such as improving blood circulation, as well as improving the vitality and elasticity of the skin. The water pressure is adjusted to that the client experiences a comfortable raining effect. The therapist from a control panel controls the water flow, temperature and pulsation. This panel is normally at the end of the bed where the pole emanates. As the volume of water is substantial, the therapist is required to dress appropriately to do Vichy Shower treatments as she will to a certain degree, get wet as well. From a structural point of view, the Vichy Shower is a horizontal rod with holes to allow water raining or cascading over the client who is lying on the bed. It is situated about 4 feet above the treatment bed. As the bed will also become wet when it is in use, it must be made from appropriate rust-proof material to accommodate the constant use of water. Some spas use a tiled table, but this can be uncomfortable. Others use special water foam pads over rust proof metals or plastic tables. Create a relaxing atmosphere Once the controls are set and the treatment is taking affect the therapist will adjust the lighting to induce relaxation. The use of appropriate soft music and relaxing essential oils burning nearby may be used to assist you to relax and enjoy the wonderful therapeutics benefits of the raining effect, which obviously go well beyond just applying water on the body. As with all hydrotherapy treatments, once the controls are set and the client is undergoing treatment the client is never be left alone. Although this treatment can be booked as a stand-alone treatment, it is advisable to purchase it as part of a treatment package. Once your body reaches a high degree of relaxation, the benefits from additional body treatments will be accelerated. As a rule, spa packages are excellent value for money giving you a substantial saving as well as a synergy of quality treatments for longer lasting benefits. For example, a salt glow, a mud treatment or a seaweed wrap are excellent options which can be performed in the wet room while the Vichy shower could be used to rinse them off, making the Vichy shower the end to a wonderful experience. When used in conjunction with other body treatments the Vichy Shower can be used several times during the treatment. For example, if you are having a salt glow treatment the Vichy Shower can be used for 2-3 minutes to remove the salt from the body. You then roll over and the shower is used once more. At this point the Vichy Shower hose is used to completely rinse off any bits still clinging to the body, particularly with the seaweed wraps. Vichy Shower Treatment Combinations Vichy Shower (alone) Treatment time is usually 45mins. 15 minutes is usually allocated for the pre-treatment orientation so that you are totally aware of what to expect. This is an example of a typical treatment. The Vichy Shower should be turned on and ajusted to disburse a pleasant "rain"on your body for approximately 20 mins. An appropriate body lotion is usually applied on the body at the end of the treatment by the therapist and the treatment should be finished within 30 minutes. A 15 minute period is usually allowed for you to dress and enjoy a quite herbal drink or mineral water. Vichy Shower combined with Salt Glow Now here is a Vichy Shower combined with a Salt Glow treatment. Traditionally the time required should be 1 hour. You can expect to receive an appropriate mineral salt exfoliation, which is combined with quality massage oil or a moisturising lubricating agent to enable comfortable application. Usually you can expect this treatment to take between 20-30mins for a thorough enjoyable and invigorating exfoliation of the front and back of the body. Then 10 minutes for the Vichy Shower and 10 minutes to apply the appropriate moisturiser by the therapist. Total treatment time is 45 mins with 15 minutes for you to dress and rest with an appropriate drink in the rest room. Vichy Shower combined with Mud and Seaweed treatments These two treatments can be performed as separate. Why the two? Mud has a deep drawing effect and is traditionally used for deep deeper cleansing, followed by the seaweed (rich in oligoelements, minerals and vitamins, for re-mineralising the body. Another popular way to have this treatment is to use mud for the kidney, stomach and back, hands and feet and seaweed for the rest of the body. Time will vary depending on what options you will choose but you should estimate at lease 30 minutes. For removal you can expect 5mins for the Vichy Shower after the mud treatment and 5-10 minutes after the seaweed treatment, followed by 10 minutes for the body lotion and 10-15 for your dressing and orientation back to the real world with a cuppa. Total 1 hour. The Vichy de-luxe TreatmentNow this is the ultimate! Combining salt, mud, seaweed and Vichy is the super de-luxe option. After the salt exfoliation and a Vichy shower, the whole body is usually wrapped mud to draw out toxicity from the skin leaving it brighter and cleaner. This is then showered off with the Vichy and followed by a nutritive (rich in natural vitamins and minerals) seaweed pack and cocooned for at least 20-30mins. The body is then rinsed once again followed by a 10-minute rest with a drink. Time allowed, approximately 1 hour 35mins but well worth every minute. There are numerous treatment combinations, which can be inter-disbursed with the Vichy Shower experience. Combined together they provide a synergy of a deliciously relaxing and reviving experience you will never forget. Ref. Milady Salon Ovantions' DAY SPA Techniques by Erika Miller. Images used by permission