The Bougie Brunette’s Guide to the Perfect Spa Day
Savor Every Amenity & Elevate Every Moment
Your step-by-step ritual for maximizing every luxurious moment.
Recently a dear friend asked what to expect at the spa and how to actually make the most of it — and I realized we needed this post. We don’t gatekeep here, mes chères. There’s a way to do a spa day… and then there’s the Bougie Brunette way to do a spa day. If you’re already treating yourself to luxury, you deserve to savor every ounce of what your spa has to offer.
Think of this as me — your quietly glamorous best friend — walking you through the experience from a distance, guiding you like someone who has done this many, many times.
Here’s exactly how to move through the spa like a woman who not only belongs there… but might very well own the place.
Arrive Early — Truly Early
Give yourself 45–60 minutes before your service begins. If it’s a day spa, call ahead to confirm how early you’re welcome to arrive (usually 30–60 minutes). This isn’t about filling time — it’s about transitioning from the outside world into your sanctuary.
Check in, get your locker assignment, tuck your phone away (let it sleep), and slip into the moment. Your spa valet will give you a tour of the sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, showers, lounge, and refreshment stations. Pay attention — this is your playground.
What follows is the exact ritual I used recently while vacationing. Take notes. Adopt it. Modify it. Make it yours.
Step 1: Change + Settle In
Slip into your swimsuit for modesty (I always do), wrap yourself in the plush robe, slide into the slippers provided, and head toward the sauna.
Take a towel to sit on — trust me — and if chilled eucalyptus or cucumber towels are offered, take one. It’s a tiny luxury with transcendent results.
Step 2: Sauna (10 minutes or as long as comfortable)
Hang your robe neatly outside, place your slippers beneath it, and step inside.
Let the dry heat soften you: your muscles, your mind, your edges.
This is where you begin to let go.
Step 3: Steam Room (5–10 minutes)
Move from dry heat into fragrant mist. Stay as long as your body says yes.
If you get claustrophobic — breathe slow, close your eyes, and imagine floating.
You’re not here to endure; you’re here to dissolve.
Step 4: Quick Rinse Shower
Just a simple rinse — cool or chilly water preferred.
This resets your body before the jacuzzi. No products yet.
Step 5: Jacuzzi Soak (10–15 minutes)
Ease in. Let the bubbles revive, restore, and coax you out of your own head.
This phase deepens everything your sauna and steam work just began.
Step 6: The Luxurious Shower
Now we indulge. Use the spa’s high-end products — shampoo, conditioner, body wash, the whole ritual.
Take your time. Pretend you’re filming your own commercial.
If you’re done with the amenities loop, remove your swimsuit, rinse it, and tuck it into the bag provided. Slip into your robe for the rest of your spa journey.
Step 7: Mask + Quiet Lounge Time (15–20 minutes)
Back at your locker, pull out the sheet mask you brought from home. If you’re getting a facial, choose a mask for hands, feet, or lips instead — never mask what’s about to be professionally pampered.
Apply your mask, robe up, and head to the relaxation lounge. Honor the silence here. It’s sacred.
Sip tea, infused water, or champagne if offered. Recline. Melt. Float. Let the sheet mask sit 10–20 minutes, then remove and pat in the remaining serum.
Step 8: Your Service Begins
Your pampering professional (your service provider) will come find you. Let them carry you the rest of the way.
Massage, facial, nails — whatever you booked — always works better when your body is already relaxed and receptive. You prepared beautifully.
Step 9: Don’t Rush — Transition Gently
After your service, move slowly. Return to your locker and choose a little post-treatment indulgence — under-eye patches, a lip mask, or simply your book or Kindle.
Then glide back into the lounge with your robe wrapped around you. Sip your champagne or rehydrate with infused water.
This is where your nervous system finishes unwinding. This is the grace note of your spa day.
Step 10: The Vanity Ritual
When your mask has done its magic and you feel ready to re-enter the world, head to the vanity area.
Take your time:
• blow dry or curl your hair (most spas provide tools)
• refresh your skincare — bonus points if you brought your usual routine (shoutout @FlourishAesthetics)
• apply your favorite lip balm
• breathe deeply before stepping back into real life
Luxury ends when you decide it ends!
Gracious Tipping Is Always in Style
Tip your pampering professional (your service provider) at checkout.
Leave $5–$20 cash for your spa valet or attendant — the angel who offered champagne, tidied your towels, or guided you through the facilities.
It’s gracious, elegant, and the mark of a woman who knows how to spa properly.
A spa day isn’t something you merely “attend.” It’s something you curate, savor, and stretch into memory. When you step out — soft, restored, glowing, and fully composed — you won’t just feel pampered… you’ll know you mastered the experience the Bougie Brunette way!!
