Amanda Marsden Salon and Spa

I've not had the best couple of weeks, so my lovely mum offered to treat me to a massage/beauty treatment to help me feel a bit more human. She has been going to the Amanda Marsden Salon in Totnes, South Devon, for a while now for pretty much all of her beauty needs. So when I noticed that the vacant beautiful sandstone building near RAMM had recently been taken over by Amanda Marsden's Exeter branch I thought I'd use this opportunity to check it out. 

Amanda brands her venture as a 'Lifestyle salon & spa' and as soon as you walk in you don't really feel like you're in a salon, more like a hub of wellness and calm with an urban edge.  Near the entrance there is a table with newspapers and books where you can sit and read with a cup of tea or coffee. The whole place is decked out in bare wood, earthy tones with an industrial twist but it still feels welcoming. The beautiful carved windows let in light-a-plenty making it feel spacious and open.

The table at the entrance of the salon

Lots of lovely Aveda products to peruse...

 There is lots of space walking in between the hair counters so you don't have people's blow dried locks flying into your face as you make your way past. 

View from the front of the salon

Towards the back of the salon there is a relaxation area with tables, chairs, a sofa, and again ample reading material where you can sit as your colour is taking or after your beauty treatment. There's also a lovely private outdoor patio area which I didn't brave given the recent crackers weather, but you can imagine in Spring/Summer it would be a little oasis of tranquility. 

After being given time to enjoy a lovely cup of tea presented beautifully on a contemporary little wooden tray with some scrummy biscuits, I was met by Leanne, my beauty therapist who took me through to their therapy room. This is a temporary space as they are building a full dry spa on site, due to be completed by Autumn 2014, however they've still decorated it to feel like a little candlelit cocoon of relaxing loveliness. 

Surrounded by music from the orient, Leanne talked me through my 'Aqua Polish' treatment. This involved vigorous exfolitaion of the arms, legs and back, washed off with beautifully warm cloths and then finished off with a light massage using a blend of essential oils to soften the skin. At £35 for 1 hr 15 minutes I think it was fabulous value for money. I felt truly relaxed yet at the same time like I was embarking on some serious bodily maintenance! Afterwards I was brought a glass of iced water with lemon (none of that plastic cup nonsense!) and given time to gather myself, get dressed and meet Leanne back in the relaxation area. 

View of the salon from the relaxation area

Given how fabulous the experience was and finding out that Leanne's gorgeous hair had actually been done at the salon, I booked myself in for a cut and colour later in the afternoon! Karma must have been smiling on me as there was 30% off colouring until the end of February so I even saved a few pennies! Jade did an amazing job at giving me a shining mane of red locks, done up to the nines with bounce from a blow dry and heated rollers (no automatic straightening with irons without asking which I HATE). £51 for colour and cut- not a bad deal at all!

All of the staff were courteous, chatty, generally lovely and they hugely enhanced the experience. Special shout out to Leanne and Jade who are real ambassadors for this high quality outfit.

I will definitely be back very soon!

Lots of love
Mrs T
xxx