Althea Medspa and Laser Center

I’ve been coming to Althea for different services including laser hair removal for the past few years after several recommendations from family and friends. During my last session, I told Cindy that I’ve tried everything to get rid of my acne (including two unsuccessful facials) and nothing has worked for me. She recommended I try the IPL laser facial, however it was recommended I get multiple treatments before I will see substantial results. It’s been two days and my acne is pretty much gone. This laser (although slightly uncomfortable) is a game changer. I cannot wait to come back for another treatment & I’m so thankful to Cindy for recommending this for me! Don’t forget to ask for her when you make an appointment!

Customer service is HORRIBLE. The primary technician is extremely rude and rushes through sessions. I would not recommend this place to anyone due to the lack of customer service.

From a medical standpoint, I didn’t feel that the laser hair removal equipment was effective. Having previously had the hair treated on my full legs, underarms, and bikini area, this set of 6 sessions was meant to be a touch up. Instead I felt that the lasers didn’t work as well as the initial time– I had much more regrowth than should be expected. Despite mentioning this to them, the results continued to be underwhelming.
From an administrative customer satisfaction standpoint, I feel this business has LOTS of room for improvement. The front desk staff tends to be a bit rude and demeaning towards customers, but the individuals who perform the laser hair removal procedures were very friendly and pleasant. However, the front desk staff tends to push their promotions rather strongly, and in mixed company (other customers in the waiting room!), sharing some information you might not wish to reveal to utter strangers!
I purchased these sessions through a Groupon, but when a weather cancellation wasn’t honored because of «their» definition of a weather event, I quite gladly forfeited my remaining sessions. Being rid of such rude staff and inefficient equipment now frees up my evenings every other month– thank goodness!

Got a LivingSocial voucher for a photofacial at the Fairfax location. Scheduled it last week — so a week in advance. I received the email confirmation, and another email a few days later with my appointment details, and asking me to reconfirm my showing up for the service — which I did. So I arrived 45min early, because I don’t like to be late and I patiently waited in front of their Fairfax premises because the door was locked and there was no one there. I thought they might be opening late although it was weird that no one was there to set up for customers. Anyway, when after 10am there was still no signs of anyone, I called the number (same one from scheduling my appt). Some guy answered, was confused, told me that the office was going to be closed for a week. I — was — fuuuurious!!! He kept repeating he didn’t know how this happened, although he did see my appointment was there with the time and location I was at! I asked to talk to the managers, owners anyone responsible but he kept saying he wasn’t sure if he’d be able to reach anyone. I was stunned!!! Horrible customer service: the guy was more talking to himself, to his chin; apart from two «I am sorry-​s», I didn’t sense any comprehension of how upset I was. I told him I had prepaid for the service, and he said I should request my refund from LivingSocial! I took off from work to go there, lost time for nothing and I wasn’t even offered to reschedule (not that I wanted to). But there was nothing offered to resolve this situation. I was speechless…
With todays pace of life, business like this should be banished! I am not writing this review because I wasn’t served coffee, or water or the place looked one way or the other; this is very simple — Althea Med Spa is embarrassing for this industry and they shouldn’t be calling themselves professionals.

I can’t say enough good things about Althea. I purchased a Groupon back when they had a DC location (probably two years ago), and now I go to their Fairfax one. Mira is so sweet and helpful, and there are always discounts for packages. Althea is super clean and thorough — not to mention the laser machines are amazing in comparison to other medspas in the DC area. I’ve gotten multiple areas done here and will continue to do so. Love love love!

I’ve been coming this for a year now for laser hair removal which started from a groupon deal and after experiencing a number of hair removal salons, I can say this is the only salon that finally got rid of my unwanted hair. They also have regular deals that provide inexpensive laser hair removal. Staff are friendly and seems knowledgable!

I have been going here for over a year… had a wonderful experience with one of the workers there. She was very accommodating and informative. The owner however has some temper issues. She yelled at me today for not coming to my treatments regularly. It would’ve been fine if I knew her but I only met her ones. I took my money back and swore never to go back.

I’m going to agree with another reviewer in that this review has NOTHING to do with their friendliness & personalities: they are super nice people.
I was a customer to them about two years ago when I purchased a Groupon deal for 6 laser treatments. After completing 4 of them (on my chin), I saw ZERO results. I understand to get the BEST results 6 treatments are recommended, but I saw NO results whatsoever.
Anyways…mid treatment (after 2 or 3 sessions) the girl convinced me to purchase 2 IPLs, 2 microderms, and 2 Pixels for my acne/​acne scaring. I’m extremely gullible and easy to persuade, so I spend just over $ 300 for the service because she insisted the treatments would help.
After 3 treatments (one each), again, NO RESULTS.
Next issue, we got immediate orders that my husband was being relocated to another state for business, so I needed to get a refund on my 3 facials I had NOT YET RECEIVED. I was going to just take the loss on the 2 remaining laser hair removals I had left… When I called to get a refund, they would not do so. I’ve NEVER dealt with a business who would offer NO refund on anything: whether an item was purchased or not. They wanted to give me a credit towards «products»…umm, if I wanted to buy your moisturizer or face wash in the first place, I would have done so. I’m especially not buying $ 150 worth of face wash (give me a break). The service they provided me was ridiculous.
Anyways…eventually I got my refund (after complaining enough). Wouldn’t recommend this business (not based on their kindness, but because of MY results and MY experiences.
Good Luck!

I’ve been coming to Althea Medspa for laser hair removal for about a year now, starting with a Groupon.
The staff is very thorough and caring, and always took care of me. From do’s and don’ts to giving the correct sunblock for my post laser hair removal skin, Althea Medspa is great.
Next, their prices… They’re always running some promotion or other. Befriending them in Facebook will enable you to hear about their promotions. During my last trip there I saw their $ 59/​session for Brazilian area. I peruse Groupon and Living Social constantly and you simply cannot beat that!
The facility is clean, the staff is trained and thorough, and the prices are great. Althea Medspa– surely my favorite.

I bought their Groupon deal for my underarms and bikini area, my sister did as well. It was a complete waste of time and money for both of us.
I had a great experience with a reputable spa in Boston for laser hair removal in my bikini area, it worked beautifully. It has been a few years since then, so it was time for a touch up, which is why I bought the Groupon.
I know how quality lasers feel and am familiar with good results, you will not get that here. The treatments from Althea Medspa were ineffective — I have not seen any reduction in hair in either area.
I called to discuss the issue and to request the areas be re-​treated, but was told there is nothing they can do. They basically said, «Sorry, it’s different for everyone.» Um, yes, it is different for evryone, which is why you need to adjust the laser according to the individual. If it didn’t work, then you should do everything you can to fix that for the client. It’s not my fault the laser level wasn’t high enough to actually do the job I paid for. No Refunds + No Re-​Treatment if it doesn’t work = No Guarantee you will get results. In addition, it is very difficult to schedule appointments, even during week days.

I would search elsewhere ladies. Trust me, it is worth spending a little bit more money at a quality salon where you will get the results you’re paying for.

This has nothing to do with how this spa is run. The people are incredibly friendly and helpful.
It’s the laser hair removing machine that I wasted $ 400 on for 6 treatments. 0% hair reduction on my black hair/​light brown skin. It seemed like it was working while I was in between treatments. But a few weeks after the last treatment everything grew back, and grew thicker because all the shaving I was doing in between, and now have to keep doing. I told them my concerns during the last treatment and the lady tried to sell me another package of treatments instead.
It’s definitely the machines they use. It’s ‘cool touch’ and relatively painless, but that’s why it didn’t work. I’m with another salon that uses lasers that do hurt, and results are much better.

Mira is the owner. My first visit for laser hair removal was with her. This one went amazing. Above expectations actually. She was very knowledgeable and very caring… over caring. She made sure I went home with as little worry as possible.
After my first visit, things just went down hill. I had a different technician each visit, and ended up rotating through everyone that worked that at the time. I found this a bit odd, i kinda of wish i could have the same person each time, so they could be aware of my personal treatment status.
The biggest problem was that half the techs there were from completely different industries, were given 2 weeks training and then certified to put a laser to your body. Everyone there seemed new and none seemed to have more then a few months of experience. There were techs who were HR or dental hygienists. This place did not seem professional to me, and there were times I came out with skin burns.
Every time I went, the area that i paid for changed. Each tech had there own idea of what a certain area included and didn’t include. Because of this i would have areas that had more or less treatments then others.
After 6 treatments, my hair is thinner, but it is ALL still there and slowing growing back. I feel like I wasted money for treatments that don’t work. Not sure if this is a technology issue or spa issue, but there should be some sort of refund if the treatments don’t work.

I purchased a Groupon for 6 hair removal treatments because it was the best deal I had seen (and I’d been looking for several months).
Initially I went to the DC location, but now that it has unfortunately closed (due to noncompliance with DC laws regarding who may perform laser hair removal treatments), I transferred to the Sterling location. Sterling is really not close for me at all and I even had to rent a Zipcar to get there, but I figured for the great deal I got with the Groupon, I didn’t want to give up the rest of my treatments and request a refund (which was offered for any inconvenience the closing of the DC location may have caused clients).
Even if they are not «master estheticians» as are legally required in DC to perform laser hair removal, the two technicians I have been treated by have both been incredibly nice and extremely professional. They really care about their clients and do everything they can to ensure the highest and best results from each treatment.
I am giving this business 4 stars instead of 5 because I was inconvenienced by the closing of the DC location, but not enough to stop going to the one in Sterling. The treatments have been very effective for me and the staff has been a pleasure to deal with.

Friendly staff & reasonable prices.
Mira and Cindy are my favorite technicians, they are very friendly and meticulous on their work.
Minimum of 6 treatments (dark hair on light skin) required before you start seeing results.
You can buy packages of 3 treatments at a time. Prices vary depending on the treatment areas.

I had such a great experience here. I am on my 6^th treatment for my underarms and I am almost completely hair free. Love it!
Mira is very kind and very helpful. I started off with the groupon deal of $ 99 for 3 sessions but now I’ve continued for 3 more sessions. I would totally recommend Althea Med Spa!

I had been wanting laser hair removal for years. I started here with the groupon but have kept going. Even without the special, a small area is only $ 99 for 3 sessions, which is way less than most spas in the area.
I have had my upper lip, under arm, and I will start another set this month. 3 sessions might not be enough to get rid of all of the hair, but it is a good start.
The drive is a little ways outside the city, and I live in Arlington. But it is so worth the trip! Love the owner, she is the sweetest woman, so friendly and makes you really comfortable. Their hours are great cuz they are open until 9 at least most nights, which is perfect so I can avoid rush hour.
When they switched buildings, their calendar had a few issues but they always fit me in.
They are very clear about the benefits and risk of laser hair removal, which is good.
Yes, it’s no frills. But for an appointment that really takes all of 8 minutes, I don’t need frills, I need it to work. And I always leave in a good mood because the woman is so cheerful.
I highly recommend this place!

This isn’t your typical fancy spa. don’t expect to get cheese, wine and a pedicure here. This is a small, family-​run business that gets the job done.
With that in mind, if you want friendly service, your procedure done with none of the extra fluff and at a great price, this place is for you. Mira definitely knows what she is doing and will answer any questions you have.

I’ve been to Althea for 2 treatments and so far, so good! This weekend will be my third treatment. They recommend 6 treatments for complete removal of hair but I’ve already noticed a great reduction in growth, which is really nice. As I’ve mentioned before, the process is totally painless, the people are SO friendly and, though it’s a hike from DC, the drive isn’t bad and the prices are worth it.

Okay, I have to get it off my chest but some of the comments submitted by previous reviewers sound just plain weird to me!
Just to be clear, I am not against expensive spas, and I indulge myself going to one from time to time, but I just can’t get it why some of the reviewers keep bashing this small business for being what it is!
Who cares if it’s a Mom and Pop operation and yes, Mira (the technician) has her husband together man the reception desk. So what? It is a small business, and they’re trying to get their bottom line expense down so that you could enjoy their services at a smaller price! If anything, you should rejoice at that thought! I could have understood your frustration if they were grossly overpriced, I would feel a little cheated out of my money myself in that case. But THAT IS NOT THE CASE!
Yes, the feel is that they used their own expertise and experience to decorate their office, but, again, SO WHAT!!! Go to an upscale spa where it could cost you a couple of grands to get your bikini line done. There they would have a professional designer’s fees inbuilt in your service fees.
Okay, now that I feel better…
I went there for lazer hair removal on my armpits, and a week ago I had my second session, with 4 more to go later in the summer. Mira’s husband is a really shy sweet person exuding calm friendliness. No caffeine-​induced front-​desk reception here. Just a polite and friendly guy to answer any of your questions. I don’t know why anyone would call him creepy! LOL
Mira herself is one of the most caring people I’ve ever met in the spa industry! Also, I’m not sure if it’s relevant at all, but she and her husband seem like such a cozy couple that I truly enjoyed the thought my patronage will benefit their nice family!
Now to the procedure. She used a disposable razor to help me get all of the hair I didn’t notice before the procedure (and NOT at the price of $ 28 extra, like it would cost you at most spas!).
I was understandably wary of a new person around my body, so I asked her tons of questions trying to probe whether I made the right choice coming to the spa. During the procedure she answered all of the many questions I had, covering the issues thoroughly, being super-​friendly the whole time. It is apparent that she knows a lot about the industry, but unlike some other technitians out there, she did not seem arrogant, exasperated or superficial when answering my questions.
Not for a moment did I feel she rushed the procedure, while I clearly experienced that feeling at some other spas I went to for a variety of services (not just lazer). Also, I was 20 minutes late for my second appointment, and she still accomodated me with no judgment or exasperation whatsoever even though she had other clients that day. Again, not a typical experience in the spa industry.
Finally, and yeah, go ahead and gossip about how WEIRD that was, but she never reminded me about the tip, and when I left her 20% she said if I were sure. And then when I said I was, she accepted it with a genuine sense gratitude!
To sum up, it felt exactly like what I was there for: a hair removal procedure with friendly helpful people who seemed sincerely interested in giving the best service possible in their small business operation.
Did I get a great deal? Absolutely!
Did I feel safe and taken care of? Yes!
Did I have all the effects of the procedure that I was hoping for? Completely!
Did I miss the hype of a posh spa? Not at all!
Highly recommend the business!

I don’t normally review businesses I haven’t actually been to, but after a strange & scary telephone convo with Althea MedSpa, I wanted to share.
I saw a BuyWithMe promotion for 3-​laser hair removal sessions for $ 49 at Althea MedSpa in Leesburg and figured, a hundred bucks to be hair free, awesome!!!
First, I Unilocaled the Spa & since the reviews were great, I moved on to their website and felt like something was lacking, BIG TIME – the language was very airy, fairy, we-​love-​our-​patients, we-​give-​you-​hugs– not the typical Spa pictures and very precise medical language, pics of actual patients, detailed descriptions of their training, certifications, experience, & equipment. Althea’s website had none of that.
So, I emailed questions about info not on their website, like the type of laser they use, how long the technician has been practicing, who sees the patients first for an initial assessment, etc. Every other Med Spa or Derm practice website includes this info, so it seemed a little sketchy that they didn’t.
Maybe they thought MY email was sketchy b/​c I didn’t get a response.
Feeling like I would give it one last shot, I called, hoping to get some intelligent, ready-​to-​help Spa staff who would allay my fears. Alas, alack, just the opposite. While the gentleman I spoke with was very nice, he really had NO clue – he even referenced my email, telling me he «wasn’t sure how to respond to my email because we’ve never gotten one like that before.» He was EXTREMELY hesitant give me details, didn’t know what method of laser they used, couldn’t tell me what nursing degree their tech has (as in, did she do a 6 month licensed practical nurse program at NOVA or did she get her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing, big difference, especially when you are wielding a laser beam) and generally just seemed weirded out that I wanted details like this.
When I asked who their medical director was & their board certification (so I could make sure it wasn’t some random foot doc who decided on a whim to do botox and laser hair removal), the gentleman told me they didn’t have one and then started saying they were within the state laws, their lawyer okayed it… whatever… BUT their website says they have a medical director… Oh, and since they offer Botox, who does that, a certified laser specialist with no medical training? Um, no freaking way!
Unilocalers, something doesn’t feel right. I am not saying they aren’t within their legal rights to do spa-​ish medical services, but personally, I am not comfortable getting zapped at Althea Med Spa. End of story.