Just Calm Down

They are now closed. yet they didn’t bother to call me to cancel my appointment, instead I scheduled my day around a facial that I assumed was happening. Monumentally rude and unprofessional.

This review is for the Jeweliciouis Facial. I got the Groupon (I know I said I was going to stop! This is my last one I swear) and after reading the reviews I wasn’t sure what to expect. But I went in with my head held high and was pleasantly surprised. The décor was very boho/​hippie style as I call it, but very calming to the senses. The woman that checked me in was nicer than the woman who I made the appt with, so I’m guessing she is no longer there. They offer you beverages while you wait, something I think says a lot about hospitality, even if I always say no. The woman that gave me my facial was very nice, she didn’t try to sell me anything and she was honest about my skin. She actually gave me some at home advice to help my problem areas. I have not had a facial in over 2 years and this was long over due. I felt amazing when she was done. I was relaxed with healthier looking skin. None of the big red spots I previously experienced after a facial w/​extractions. I walked in make-​up free and was still able to leave make-​up free. Kudos to that!
I would definitely recommend this place to friends, and I already have. I would DEFF come back for other treatments here.
side bar — I did see the weird mani/​pedi stations, although the people getting their nails done did not look uncomfortable. not something I would try though, as I am really cheap when it comes to my nails.
Also they gave me no problems using my Groupon certificate and were extremely nice throughout. The bathroom is really cute also!

Over price like a mother.
If the prices were a little lower I would give them 4 stars at least, since they do a OK job. Nothing out of this world. Nah, if their prices were lower they will still get 3 stars.
Mani’s ($ 45) Pedi’s ($ 85) Facials ($ 110+) Massages+) prices are fierce here.
They do a good job but not worth the money they charge, you can go else where for the same kind of treatment.

I came here to treat myself after taking a grueling standardized test known as the GMAT. I took the entire day off work, so I was able to come at a slow time in the early afternoon. Literally, I was the only person there — which was odd, considering I had called 3 weeks in advance and had to be «squeezed in» to their supposedly fully booked schedule to accommodate my test day.
Regardless, I can hardly say that finagling my foot into my pedicurist’s lap for the pedicure qualifies as «treating myself.» They don’t have real pedicure stations — it’s just a wicker armchair and the lady brings out a basin of warm water for your feet.
When you’re done soaking, she’ll pull out your feet one by one and place them on a towel in her lap, then lift them even higher to scrub the soles, etc. You know that part of a Brazilian wax when they pull both your legs up to do the «unmentionable» area? It’s like that, but with pants on. I’m a fairly flexible person, so whatever, but I could never imagine my mom doing that (actually, I could, but it would be hilarious).
As others have said, they only have one brand, and the color selection is meh — lots of reds and corals but nothing modern or funky. On the plus side, the manicurist was really sweet and she did a thorough job. I used a LivingSocial deal so I can’t complain, but the full price — $ 70 for a mani/​pedi — seems absurd given the haphazard facilities. Wicker and pretty pillows only go so far, ladies.

Now I understand how this spa gets it’s name. It’s all my friend could tell me to do after we left our mani/​pedi appointments. After we reluctantly chose colors from a selection of non-​name brand polishes, we were seated in big wicker chairs, feet in basins for what seemed like it would be a relaxing, unique experience. The pedicure wasn’t all that bad, albeit a little awkward without actual spa chairs and balancing your feet in the technician’s lap.
The manicure – which is done at one of their little café tables – was so terrible I had to remove my polish the very next day. I chose a neutral color and it was splotchy and went over my cuticles, creating that unfortunate thick line at the bottom of each nail. Even the file job was uneven and it seriously looked like I let a child paint my nails for fun. I’ve had manicures in the city which have run the gamut, but none was so bad it needed to be removed immediately.
My friend was finished 15 minutes earlier than me and I might have complained or asked for a re-​do on a couple nails but both of our technicians disappeared upon finishing the polish. No offers to help us put our shoes on, or to apply oil or wrap to protect our toes on the way home. Not even a «thank you for coming, you can settle up at front desk.»
I should have known this wouldn’t be a good experience when it was so hard to even book our appointments. We had actually chosen this spa through a social coupon/​deal site and had to schedule a MONTH in advance. When asked why it was so hard to schedule, the receptionist flippantly informed me that they’re not your «average spa with a hundred chairs». Not your average spa is right. They should concentrate less on being gimmicky and more on just providing quality service.
All in all a bizarre and disappointing experience.”

When you first walk into here, you feel like you’re transported out of New York with the cozy atmosphere. You’re immediately welcomed by a warm and friendly staff and was offered water. I went in for a Brazilian because of a deal I got online and I waited for less than 5 minutes until my esthetician took me to the back which was a long low-​lit (dark would be too creepy) hallway (which looked very unlike a typical NYC hallway and more of a residential home…) then down the stairs to the basement and down another longish hallway.
FINALLY get to the room and it was warm and surprisingly inviting. My esthetician made conversation and was really sweet. but also used her bare hands. They use hard wax… and DOUBLE DIP!!! I was really grossed out by that since every where else I’ve gone to doesn’t do that CLEARLY for sanitary reasons. So SUPER GROSS!
She did a good job of getting everything out. which SURPRISE (!!) grew back two days later.
Would I come back? No, probably not. For such a cute atmosphere, I’d wish they’d have sanitary practices as well.
One star just for the atmosphere.

I am such a baby with Brazilian waxes that is not unheard of to find me weeping in the bosom of a consoling Russian technician. Saved face this time.
Luisa did a thorough job on my sensitive skin, positioning my skin taut to spare me that ripping sensation. Consistent technique & communication make for a relaxed customer. For the people commenting it felt hot – well, hot wax inside your labia will do that for ya!

OKay, I just had the best mani/​pedi I’ve ever had. The focus was on the massage and the scrub was amazing! It smelled like maple syrup and it was heavenly. Just when I thought it couldn’t get better, my nails turned out to be phenomenal. Hands down, the best.
It was definitely not your quick polish change kind of place. This is a step away from the hustle and bustle, a treat for yourself and it’s really quite special. I am a huge fan. Thank you Groupon for introducing me to this gem. I will be back w/​my mom for sure!

Let’s start with the good stuff. the front desk woman was wonderful, friendly and welcoming. They also use a hypoallergenic nail polish which can be useful to some. The only reason why its not getting one star is because of these two things.
Other than that I found a number of issues.
1) The prices are OUTRAGEOUS. I used a Groupon, so I can’t complain, but a pedicure is $ 85 and a manicure is $ 45. Other than using high end products (I am assuming, but I don’t know for sure) there was no obvious value. Seriously $ 130 dollars for a mani/​pedi?
2) The chairs are incredibly uncomfortable. The pedicure chairs are wicker and you have a big bowl in front of your feet. You then need to place your feet on the pedicurists lap to have them done — when you are 5’10, this is very uncomfortable. The manicure chairs are equally uncomfortable.
Given the number of great nail places in the City where you can get a meni/​pedi for less than a third or event half the cost of this one, I am shocked that they have had to improve things.

This review is for Friday’s appointment for the Signature Swedish massage for myself & my husband. I entered into a zone of tranquility & serenity… absolute bliss after a long week! A bubbly, bright-​eyed & red head beauty (I think her name was Katrina) escorted me to the seating lounge with quilted couches/​chairs. A tray contained a few mugs/​tea bags/​pitcher of water. I declined so I won’t interrupt my massage with a trip to the restroom. Katrina asked if we would like to upgrade to a couple massage. We stick with the signature massage. After we filled out the paperwork, we were introduced to our individual masseur, Patrick and Danny or Dan.
We were led to a staircase downstairs that opened into separate rooms. Danny or Dan turn on the soothing sounds of spa music and began a full body massage. He completely relieved the discomfort and stiffness of my neck and shoulder. At some point, I have to admit the pressure was too firm and painful since it is a deep tissue massage. And mind you, Danny or Dan appear to be more of a trainer than a masseur. He was approx. 200 lbs. at 5’10. Another uncomfortable factor was the loud, heavy breathing for the duration of the massage. Once the music stopped, it almost unbearable to continue our session. Be forewarned, the Swedish massage is not for those who cannot withstand any pain. Between the friction and kneading, it can either hurt like hell or feel a slight discomfort depending on your skin’s sensitivity. Despite the pain, it did get rid of all of my muscle tension. My husband didn’t enjoy it as much. His masseur, Patrick put too much pressure on his back. It end up hurting his back than prior to the appt.
Luckily, our appointment was a gift from a friend! The signature massage is priced at $ 110/​ea. We end up tipping our masseur separately at 30% since we don’t plan on returning. The full price would had been totally worth it elsewhere. It’s great as a gift/​deal for the experience but not at the full cost!

There’s a reason you can get Groupons, etc., to this place: IT SUCKS.
We had two appointments that were canceled by Just Calm Down (less than 24 hours before our appointments) because «a wedding party needs to come in earlier and is adding people.» WTF? Seriously?! Didn’t we have appointments, which would mean that you couldn’t accomodate others in the same time frame? NO?! Lame. SERIOUSLY LAME.
Yes, the almighty dollar is, well, almighty, but the customer brings it in and this establishment obviously misses that point. They opted to grab a few quick bucks instead of a couple of new clients and they lost our interest (and business) in the process. We wouldn’t have even considered this place (given their poor ratings) had we not found a discount for their services, so no love lost. Regardless, the horrid, non-​professional ‘customer service’ should keep you away too.
Bottom-​line: AVOID. The customer does not come first here so spend your hard-​earned $$ where they (and you) will be equally appreciated.

I booked a body scrub through lifebooker, called «Diamond in the Buff» and was thoroughly pleased. Desiree was my therapist — we had a lovely conversation and she is great with her hands. The scrub leaves you feeling totally delicious. I highly recommend it. I also would like to go back for one of their mani-​pedis, they look good.
The only reason I gave the spa 4 out of 5 stars is because I think they need some new towels, sheets, etc. They were a little old for a salon that charges those rates. Also, the shower facilities could definitely use a cleaning/​declogging.
Cash only for tips!

WORST customer service EVER!!! The receptionist is horrid and terrible to deal with. I had booked a facial with a group coupon I had purchased and due to unforeseen circumstances I missed my appointment. I tried to explain my extenuating situation to the receptionist/​spa manager as well as to the owner and they weren’t empathetic whatsoever. In fact, they even charged me a $ 45 cancellation fee.
The owner and spa manager kept giving me this song and dance about how the technician still had to be paid even though I missed my appointment. I completely acknowledge that running a small business can be difficult, but there should allows be allowances for situations that are outside the realm of control for the consumer.
I was appalled by the fact that the owner and spa manager were unwilling to help me. It just seems like such bad business. I would NEVER visit this spa even if given the opportunity and after reading about the reviews that others have posted I can see I’m not the only one that has trouble with them.
They seriously need to get their act together…

Went here for my first ever Brazilian wax, booked on Lifebooker, and it was terrible! Luisa repeated that she was having difficulty with certain spots and proceeded to tweeze with my permission, but I thought she meant small, minor, unnoticeable spots. 10 minutes of tweezing later, there was very little difference. She repeatedly told me to come back in two weeks and not use a razor in the meantime, and then the wax would be easy. She said the hair was difficult because I had used a razor up until this point, but if that was the case I wish she would have told me before she had «finished»! She ran out of the room immediately after saying she was done.
As I was putting my clothing back on I noticed that the bikini line looked untouched and she had missed tons of random hairs, but since she had already disappeared I couldn’t ask her to take care of it. Examining more when I got home, I realized it looked like she’d done absolutely no waxing. Sure, the hair was a bit more sparse, but I was not even close to smooth anywhere! And stupid me, I paid full price without saying anything because surely, I thought, the rest could not be as bad at the top bit I’d seen while getting dressed. How wrong I was.
In terms of the decoration, it was kind of craftsy, which I didn’t mind, but the room itself had a gross-​looking ceiling with leaks. The towels I laid on, as another reviewer mentioned, looked kind of dirty, but I tried not to think about that.
It was cheap with the Lifebooker discount, but definitely NOT worth it. Terrible experience. I’ll definitely try somewhere else if I even bother to get another Brazilian after this awful experience.

Sorry to read about all the negative experiences of others. I can imagine a bad bikini wax can leave long-​term trauma. Fortunately I had a great experience. Quick, as painless as one can imagine when someone is putting hot wax on your hoo ha, efficient. I made my appointment via Life Booker, so inexpensive.
Minus one star for the hygiene of the room. Looked like there were old towels lining the place where you lay down. Because I am not a germaphobe & generally don’t care about these things, I was able to observe, compartmentalize & move on with my wax. I can imagine someone else might be really unhappy with that.
I also went here a few years ago for a manicure & pedicure. Do not recommend. Remember they squeezed 3 of us onto one love seat for pedicures & I was practically sitting on my neighbor’s lap. There were barely any colors of some no-​name nail polish to choose from & my manicure did not last.

The massage was good as was their use of aromatherapy (menthol for my allergies). BUT, they don’t have any shower facilities. They grease you up like a chicken about to be roasted and then you can’t take a shower and rinse the oil off. BTW they put the oil in your hair!
I looked like a completely lunatic on the subway ride home. It was the middle of the winter and I was a big grease ball with seemingly wet hair. Even the crazies thought I looked crazy.

«Wham, bam, thank-you-ma’am» should be the name of the bikini wax (though «Rio De JeBARE, Oh!» is very cute, too) at Just Calm Down.
While the name of this place is a bit odd, there’s a definite aura of calm as soon as you step through the door. With quilted cushions, brightly colored walls, hand painted tiles and curly-​Q chairs it feels like you’ve been transported straight out of the city and into a quiet house in the burbs. In a good way. The space is surprisingly large, with a comfortable (and quilted) nail lounge, two floors of treatment rooms and a front lounge with comfy armchairs. The service list is HUGE and boasts some great day spa services with cute names like The Movie Star (detox heat thereapy), The Marriage of FIGaro (Chocolate and fig Moist Heat Massage), etc at typical Manhattan prices ($ 135-​$ 200+)
While all of this was tempting, I had to get down to (my) business and booked a 50% off Brazilian (reg $ 65) with Ida (?). In less than 2 minutes, no small talk and a few rips and then I was shuffling around on the floor looking for my pants. This was the fastest, least painful and easiest wax I’ve had in a while. I’ll certainly return to try other treatments and of course, that quickie below-​the-​belt beautifying.

Do not go here unless you feel like being violated by your massage therapist.
I should not be able to smell your breath, cologne or deodorant.
Your cheek should not brush mine in the course of the massage.
My boobs should not be exposed at any point in time, let alone repeatedly.
I should not feel grateful that I wore underwear.
You should not say how you’d like to go over the allotted time for my massage.
You should not make heavy breathing noises or grunt during my massage.
You should not tell me how good I smell after finishing the massage.
CREEPY.
My therapist was male and I’ve never had this problem before with anyone… my friend who had a massage simultaneously for the same amount of scheduled time with a female therapist? She had a similarly uncomfortable experience, but mine lasted about 20 excruciating minutes longer than hers.

I’m very, very, very, very, very, very, very picky about my eyebrows. They’re thick, dark, and no matter what I do, pretty much the focal point of my face. Therefore, I’m placing a lot of trust in whoever I have touch them.
I had the most wonderful waxer in Boston, who I went to for five years even after moving away. She knew my brows inside and out and we got to a point where I didn’t even bother looking in the mirror when she was finished– I knew they would be perfect. Ultimately, though, it’s really not feasible to travel to Boston every few weeks.
After about a month of resembling Groucho Marks a little too much, I booked a brow waxing at Just Calm Down with Gina on Lifebooker for 50% off and arrived terrified of how I would leave. The wax, however, turned out to be fantastic. I was almost speechless– in a good way– when I looked in the mirror. The spa was also very sanitary (no double dipping here).
Unfortunately, $ 35 is a little steep for me, so I’ll only be returning if I can get more deals.
ETA: Looks like I was lucky getting such a good experience. I still recommend them for brows and will update my review if I go back. Hopefully this wasn’t just a fluke.

Dirty. They double dip. When mentioned it, the waxer literally said «no, I’m not double dipping, I use one new stick with each person…»
Also the waxer didn’t swap out table towels, neither before nor after my service. Soooo, basically I laid on a towel another person has laid on. When I asked the manager/​owner, I was told I was wrong and that that would never happen. I mean, I know what a fresh, clean towel looks like. For the managerx/​waxers, clean towels do not have the following:
1. sticky streams of wax from previous customers
2. indentation of the previous person’s body
3. awkward wrinkles… from another person
** My stupidity for not speaking up. But when I did, the waxer all of a sudden didn’t speak English