Sand & Sea Salon

Wild Dunes Resort is honestly a really nice resort. Which is why I was so disappointed with the salon. Overall the job is done and is fine.
Where I get disappointed: It’s sloppy. Several times I’ve seen people make appointments. They always get their time wrong and usually are waiting an extra half hour or having to come back later. Another thing is the employees are always late. My mother had a reservation for 9:00 am blowout and the hairdresser was late. She ended up going in at 9:49 am. Another time is when they mixed up my appointment for mani/​pedi and I had to come back 1 hour later. Due to a mistake with the scheduling and an employee not being on time.
The people are really nice but they need to get it together…

My mom is the best. She got me a massage with LaShara to kick off Black Friday!
She goes to LaShara often — particularly because her car accident several years ago really messed up her shoulder, and still playing tennis needs the «help» — and she booked me in for a special treat. Apparently, according to LaShara, who’s a doll, Mom and I have the same body type — which is almost entirely good because at 66 she’s still in super shape, but also means we get the same «kinks.»
Sand & Sea spa is a lovely, full-​service facility — they have everything from massage to waxing to gifts to a full-​service hair salon. Beautiful space and nice people.
My 50-​minute massage was a treat and I appreciated that LaShara took time to ask questions about what I wanted, where I needed attention, how much pressure, etc. She even circled the spots I mentioned (neck and shoulders, and calves) on my «chart» so she’d have it for future reference.
The shopping area was so tempting– candles, lotions, etc– but I stopped myself at just a couple of those hair bands I love at Woo! They had even more colors (I even got a pink polka dot one! so fun!) and were $ 2.50 each vs $ 3 :)
Great start to my post-​Thanksgiving day!

Wow. A day after my massage and I still feel relaxed with a silly goofy grin. It was so peaceful and calm I’m surprised I didn’t fall asleep. Absolutely wonderful!

Wow. I’ve had a lot of massages at a lot of great resorts and spas. This one was amazing. Veronica was my massage therapist and I cannot recommend her highly enough. I had a 50 minute Swedish massage and was impressed that I actually got 50 full minutes on the table (what most spas would call a 60 minutes massage). The spa itself gets high marks for being very clean, nicely decorated, friendly staff, good menu of services, and heated massage beds. Veronica gave me a massage that was just perfect. Really one of the best I have ever had. Also, I was there with a friend who saw Annette for her massage and she was equally impressed.

Last year, I had the most expensive, subpar pedi I’ve had in several years at the old Wild Dunes salon, seated a pinky’s length from the hair-​washing sink. Suffice it to say, I was thrilled when I heard that Sand and Sea Spa was opening and couldn’t wait for a much-​needed massage.
My massage therapist was nice and the spa sells Bumble and Bumble — the only two reasons I’m even letting the place squeak by with two stars.
I arrived 25 minutes early straight from an afternoon of laying out, hoping to take full advantage of a «spa» by getting changed, rinsing off the sunscreen and relaxing prior to the massage. I was greeted by two receptionists, one friendly and one ice cold who said, «Well, you’re really early, so you can have a seat there,» gesturing carelessly to an uncomfortable looking wicker chair next to the leave-​in conditioners. When I asked to use the restroom, I was informed that there is in fact no restroom IN THE SPA. I had to go outside in the 100 degree heat and walk across the courtyard to a restroom there. I was never offered a beverage, not even water, but happened to notice a water cooler in the corner. Hardly the beginning of a relaxing experience.
When coming out of my massage, I noticed a fairly cute «living room» set with a couch in the back, but was never offered the chance to have a seat, so I assume it was the spa’s attempt at interior decoration in the very sterile environment. I was escorted right back out to the wicker chair area, again with no offer for water.
I would recommend skipping Sand and Sea during your Wild Dunes vacay unless you’re into unrelaxing and bathroomless spas.

Mani-​pedi: lame.
Massage: I essentially paid someone to rub lotion on me. There was no «massaging» anywhere in there.
The space for the spa is not conducive to relaxation, there is no sound barrier when seated in the spa chairs to keep the voices from the check-​in/​out area. The spa on the whole — though in a brand new building — seems like more of an after thought.
The other traditional spa facilities — steam, showers, etc. — are in another building across a parking lot.
Women visiting Wild Dunes should only visit the spa out of sheer desperation. If it’s relaxation and outstanding service you want, you’re better off finding a proper spa in Charleston proper than attempting to relax in this pretty and clean but make-​shift spa.