06/07/08

good but not great and very PRICEY!

by usana1105

got a Brazilian Bikini and it was nice using the blue wax...i guess as painless as it gets with a brazillian...but my tech was not as thorough as my tech at the body klinic. i only left b/c the lady who usually did my brazillian for the past 3 years left so i had to search out a new waxer, otherwise i probably would have never left (plus, they always had a coupon at the body klinic to offset the expensive price of getting a brazillian). anyway, like i said, blue wax was a little less painless than traditional wax, but my tech didn't get all the hair around the more "private" parts down there and i'm used to walking out with literally NO hair left at all...maybe she thought going into this area would be too much of an invasion of privacy, but i would have appreciated a cleaner job. so, all in all, it is a nice change but is it worth it? no, i think i'll pass and find someone else who can do a cleaner and cheaper job. be realistic, you're getting the hair ripped out from a very sensitive area...blue wax or not, it's still ganna hurt! question is, how much more you want to spend?

• Pros: blue wax was cool, staff was very pleasant
• Cons: pricey and waxer was not as thorough

10/14/09

best bang for your buck

by Luvpeace

In doing a mini-holiday for Columbus Day weekend, my friend and I came to Philly. I made an appointment with for the two of us to receive the Afterglow package. Tina made us feel welcomed immediately. We each had massages, a facial, and a body scrub. We never had the same person twice for each treatment. Each person who worked on me was great. My friend had a little difficulty after sharing with her masseuse that she could be a lot firmer but the pressure remained too light for her taste. She continued to have that issue throughout her experience but all in all we were both happy about our overall experience. I have recommended this place to friends who live in Philly. I wouldn't mind going back there again. And it is relatively inexpensive where three hours worth of work was around $230.

• Pros: excellent service
• Cons: your needs may not be met by your attendant

08/11/09

brazilian wax

by kellykellykellysmith

i have used body restoration for bakini waxes. i have many wonderful things to say about them... the blue wax was great (kept things relatively pain free) and i have to say the results last much longer than i have experienced from other waxes. my only concern is that i believe they redipped the tongue depressor with the hot wax back into the vat and reapplied -- doesnt seem totally hygienic to me. i hope that they dont -- because i would love to continue to go back there...

• Pros: relatively pain free, AWESOME results
• Cons: expensive, health standard

06/29/09

A place that is unfair to the workers

by charolett

I am writing to all my repeat clients at Body Restoration. I was wrongfully terminated today June 27, 2009 from bodyrestoration. All of you (my repeat clients) know the dedication, energy, and hard work that I put into your treatment to make it worth for you to come back. Although it's not exactly clear why Cara Solomon (owner) has let me go. I do thank you all of you fro being my clients. In case you are wondering what has happened or how to contact me I can be reached at charoletts@gmailcom. I am willing to travel to you or let you know where I am currently working for you to continue in receiving the kind of treatments that you so deserve. I wish Body Restoration all the best and in hopes that Cara will see the gem in her workers and know how to appreciate her team.

• Pros: Best therapists
• Cons: Revolving Door

Response from this business

ipitydafool– July 01, 2009 at 10:29:30 PDT

Clearly Charolett is upset. However, I don't feel that a public forum is the appropriate way to discuss her termination from the spa. I wish Charolett the best of luck. -Cara

04/10/09

Not so bad!!!!

by bdahsmom

I went to Body Restoration today for my first Brazillian Bikini wax and it was not as bad as thought it would be. I wouldn't say painless, but totally worth it. I had Cara, the owner, and she was quick and meticulous! I would definitely return!

• Pros: fast, friendly, comfortable
• Cons: expensive

04/10/09

I Survived the Brazilian!! YAY ME!!

by drtondalia79

So yeah this was my first time getting the Brazilian wax and I researched it forever before I got up the nerve to actually do. I read that this was the only place in Philly that uses the blue wax which is better that the other kind because it only sticks to the hair and not your skin. Meaning when the wax is pulled off ONLY hair goes with it, not the first layer of your skin as with the other wax. The atmosphere was clean and serene. Soft music played in the background. I went right after work as I only work a few blocks away. I got Jen and she was wonderful. She really made me feel relaxed and comfortable during my first time. She used a new stick each and every time she applied wax (I watched everything closely). She explained everything to me and gave me verbal praise which helped a lot. lol I’m going to request her when I go back. Surprisingly enough it didn't hurt as much as I had anticipated. It actually hurts more when I get my eyebrows done. I'm ecstatic about the results. No more razors for me. In my opinion this is the best of Philly!!

• Pros: friendly, professional staff..neat, relaxing and peaceful
• Cons: none

03/06/09

Great Staff & Space

by Philly123

I had a Brazilian done here today. It was great. I made a last minute lunch appointment. I was in an out in 30 minutes, but kinda bummed I didn't have time to really hang out. The space was gorgeous. Very homey relaxing and spacious. Other reviews that say its hard to find are probably not from the city. Its a standard front elevator to the 3rd floor setup. It is less traditional in philly to have spaces on different floors and not street level but by no means strange. The door is clearly labeled as 1611 and 3rd floor Body Restoration as well as the buttons in the elevator.

I had allison do the wax, she was great. She talked to me the whole time, it was not super painful, yeah pulling hair from that region will hurt, but it wasn't terrible and hurt less than the traditional wax. Especially since there was no wax residue all over her gloves. I was also happy with the lack of wax residue that the blue wax left afterward, unlike the strips and hot wax that leaves wax everywhere and sticky. There is no way i could have returned to work after a regular wax. I also liked that the blue wax meant she wasn't reusing a strip that already had been used on me, like some places in the city do. That is a big peeve of mine when they don't use fresh strips. Its just gross.

I will be returning here, and will ask for allison.

• Pros: location, atmosphere, staff
• Cons: What are the drawbacks?

03/06/09

Great Service, Location, People

by kmh33philadelphia

I had a Brazilian done here today. It was great. I made a last minute lunch appointment. I was in an out in 30 minutes, but kinda bummed I didn't have time to really hang out. The space was gorgeous. Very homey relaxing and spacious. Other reviews that say its hard to find are probably not from the city. Its a standard front elevator to the 3rd floor setup. It is less traditional in philly to have spaces on different floors and not street level but by no means strange. The door is clearly labeled as 1611 and 3rd floor Body Restoration as well as the buttons in the elevator.

I had allison do the wax, she was great. She talked to me the whole time, it was not super painful, yeah pulling hair from that region will hurt, but it wasn't terrible and hurt less than the traditional wax. Especially since there was no wax residue all over her gloves. I was also happy with the lack of wax residue that the blue wax left afterward, unlike the strips and hot wax that leaves wax everywhere and sticky. There is no way i could have returned to work after a regular wax. I also liked that the blue wax meant she wasn't reusing a strip that already had been used on me, like some places in the city do. That is a big peeve of mine when they don't use fresh strips. Its just gross.

I will be returning here, and will ask for allison.

• Pros: atmosphere, staff, and service
• Cons: none

02/23/09

Best facial!!!

by foxy1985

I usually don't write reviews but I felt compelled to comment on the facial I received from Alyson at this spa last week (especially since I found out about Body Restoration from this web site.) I have had quite a few facials due to a fun combination of acne and sensitive skin that I've been battling since puberty, and my experiences have definitely ranged from amazing to horrible. But this facial was definitely the best I have ever gotten. Alyson really knows her ingredients, and I felt so relieved that she answered my questions but didn't turn the whole thing into a hard sell, which can really ruin a relaxing experience. Anyway, the extractions were thorough but not too painful, and throughout the rest of the facial I was incredibly relaxed. I loved that she explained what she was going to use and why at the beginning, and then let me relax for the duration of the facial. The only sad thing is that I'm moving out of state in May and won't get to keep coming back for much longer.

• Pros: Facialists that know what they're doing, location, price
• Cons: A little hard to find, but not really a bad thing

01/15/09

A+ Grade Brazilian Wax

by Fiona141

I rang up at 4:30 on a Thursday afternoon and was lucky enough to get an appointment for 6 that night. The lady I spoke to on the phone was very friendly and answered my questions regarding pricing in a polite manner.

Upon arrival at the salon I was warmly welcomed and offered a range of herbals teas, water and snacks whilst I waited until my appointment (I was 10 minutes early, they were not running late). I was then ushered into a room and received an extremely speedy and relatively painless brazilian wax. I have been getting brazilians for over 2 years now and would have to say that this was definitely one of the best I've had. The wax they used for the brazilian was top of the range, as was the strip was they used on the legs (thicker than usual and definitely more effective).

I would highly recommend this salon and plan to re-visit it regularly during my 3 month stay in Philadelphia.

• Pros: Highly competant technicians, top quality wax, welcoming atmosphere

01/08/09

Unbelievable spa experience

by acparks

The massage and facial experiences at Body Restoration are divine! First of all, the atmosphere is so fantastic! Every time I go there, it's like I've stepped out of my crazy life and into this peaceful little oasis. From the soft robes and comfortable slippers to the calm waiting room with water, tea, light snacks, and relaxing music, the ambiance is unbeatable. During massages and facials, I always feel completely taken care of and like I can let go of whatever is stressing me. I only wish that I could afford to go more often. I would love the 20% discount you get from buying 6 massages at once, but I rarely have that large of a lump sum to spend. Note that although waxing is also a great experience, it is much more "no-nonsense" (which is what I want when I am getting waxed). You're in, you get a great, efficient wax, and then you're out. There's not much time to enjoy the sitting area or the ambiance unless you show up early (which I highly recommend doing, especially if you are having a massage; it's nice to have a few minutes to make a cup of tea and unwind before heading to the table). They are always on time with appointments. Some people have mentioned trouble getting an appointment, but I've never had that problem. I can usually get something same week if my schedule is flexible (which it usually is). In particular, my experiences with Cara have been exquisite -- she really knows what she's doing and is happy to explain it all to you if you're interested. She gives a killer hot stone massage. Highly recommended!

• Pros: Great ambience, always on time, gift certificates available
• Cons: None