Students suffering from a splitting headache or an awful hangover now have a quick fix. They can head to an oxygen bar, strap on nasal tubes, relax and enjoy the almost 100 percent pure oxygen. Mango, lavender, watermelon and eucalyptus are scents customers can add to their oxygen experience at the Eugene Heath Spa and Salon.
Normal air is typically 78 percent nitrogen and 21 percent oxygen. Proponents of oxygenation claim increased intake keeps one more focused and healthy. Manager at one Eugene spa said the oxygen bar has been a hit ever since it was installed just a few months ago. The Eugene Health Spa and
Salon, voted “Best Spa” by Eugene Weekly last year, is the only oxygen bar in the Eugene area.
Although the Health Spa and Salon has a corner on the oxygen-bar business, other Eugene spas offer pampering as well. Options include Gervais, The Pearl Day Spa and Chikara.
With all the choices, the market may seem flooded. However, the day spa business has seen steady growth since its popularity came to fruition in the U.S. in the 1990s. According to the Day Spa Association’s Web site, people are, more than ever, spending their income on indulging at day spas.
Several services are offered at most salons and spas, but competition is fierce in garnering loyal clients. This is all
part of the strategy behind offering the oxygen bar.
While the bar is a popular feature, the Heath Spa and Salon tries to set itself apart in other areas. Located on Olive Avenue, the downtown business is a full-service spa and salon and is the
largest day spa in Lane County. Manager Erik Hartman said people generally seek out the spa as a refuge to relax and recharge.
“It’s a tranquil, serene environment where people can escape,” he said. “Plus, everyone loves being spoiled like a celebrity.”
The spa has only been open two years, but Hartman said they’ve seen steady growth. He said the wide array of services has helped growth. Everything from a simple haircut to a color, from a manicure to a massage is available at the spa.
“We do so many things here, that the business really feeds off itself,” he said. “People will come in for a pedicure and get a body wrap.”
The body wraps are also a tremendous hit, said Hartman. A client can choose a honey and almond, seaweed or mud compound. Then they are covered from neck to toe in the mix and wrapped up.
“It’s basically like being a human burrito,” Hartman said. “Depending on which mixture you choose, the
effects seen can be slimming, detoxifying and regenerating.”
The spa is open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week and is open on Christmas, New Year’s and Valentine’s Day.
“We love Valentine’s,” he said. “We offer couples massages and some other really cool packages.”
Along with those packages, the Heath Spa and Salon also offers a free courtesy shuttle to pick up and drop off clients after a day of pampering. The spa is also expected to offer free limousine service with the Valentine’s Day packages.
Hartman said he likes to think of his spa as holistic and heath-conscious. No products are animal-tested. The spa offers nutrition counseling, and Hartman claims the oxygen bar helps rejuvenate the body.
“The oxygen we breathe in on a day-to-day basis has so many toxins,” Hartman said. “The oxygen bar is something everyone should do.”
The spa is currently offering a 10 percent discount for students, a free haircut with the purchase of a color package and $20 haircuts – originally $38 for women and $28 for men.
“I was a student once,” Hartman said. “I know what it’s like to balance studying and treating yourself right.”
Other Offerings
Eugene has other choices in the day spa arena. Gervais, an Aveda-Concepts salon, is another popular spa and salon. With a convenient downtown location on Fifth Avenue, the spa is an easy walk from campus.
Koki Wilson, store manger, said Gervais is proud to be part of Eugene.
“One of the biggest things that sets us apart is our pride in this community,” she said. “We just love the people and love the city.”
Wilson said Gervais stands out because it’s eco-conscious and customer oriented. The spa was voted best spa by The Register-Guard last year.
The Pearl Day Spa is another option for students looking for a respite from their busy schedules. Located at 1375 Pearl St., the spa focuses on the therapeutic aspect of massages, and bills
insurance companies directly.
Spa manager Katie St. Clair offered some advantages to her spa.
“We’re warm, relaxing and comfortable,” she said. “All of the features at the Pearl Day Spa lend to the perfect experience.”
Although the spa only has one hair stylist, bigger salons do not deter it. St. Clair said, while it’s a small salon, its facilities are top notch.
Unique offerings of the spa include an acne treatment, aromatherapy salt scrub and a pregnancy massage.
Chikara, located in the Oakway Center, is another full-service day spa and salon, which prides itself on educating its customers.
“We use the latest techniques and have a really helpful and expert staff,” she said.
The salon doesn’t offer any discounts or specials aimed at students, Courtney said.
“We really treat all of our customers like royalty. Customer service is top priority,” she said.
So whether you need a simple 20-minute haircut or a day of pampering, Eugene has a wide array of offerings for each spa-seeker’s taste. The only question is: Are you going to go with eucalyptus or watermelon for your time at the oxygen bar?
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