Shirley Dillaman, the owner of Mint Spa RVA, started her journey in the beauty industry by working for a small spa in Richmond. After two years, she ventured out independently and rented rooms to grow her clientele. At the same time, she was asked by American Spirit Institute, a School of Esthetics, to join them as an instructor, teaching students the ins and outs of Esthetics. After accepting the offer and teaching for four years, Shirley became too busy to maintain her position at the school and her growing business. She decided to focus on her business and opened a lavish spa far from the ones typically seen in strip malls and office buildings. Shirley’s spa is a destination spot and an escape to serenity. “I named my spa ‘mint’ because it felt refreshing, uplifting, and a mint of a find,” says Shirley.
Mint Spa is a boutique spa where guests can have all their beauty needs completed in one spot. In addition to esthetic benefits like facials, waxing, and body treatments, Mint Spa provides massages and hair and nail services. “Our clients regularly mention that they love coming to us because it is a one-and-done place to have all their services performed,” Shirley says. “The ladies and gentlemen that work at Mint Spa love what they do, which shows in their performance. I believe our clients feel pampered and cared for when they walk out our door.” Shirley feels it is important for a spa owner to create a place of serenity. It should feel like a hideaway from our world and a place that provides comfort, convenience, and enjoyment.
Spa services are essential for women. Shirley opened her spa because she recognized the daily stressors of women who tend to put themselves last. “Women will almost always take care of everyone else in the family and be the last to meet their own needs,” Shirley explains. “One day, my husband saw how stressed I was and insisted I get a facial from a friend who had just started her skincare business. That experience made me realize what I wanted to do with the rest of my life: to care for women in a way that made them feel beautiful and special.” Everyone, especially women, needs time to disconnect from the outside world, fill that desire to escape, and make time for self-care.
In mentioning self-care, Mint Spa offers a total body exfoliation called the Vichey Shower. This unique treatment is only available through a few select spas in Central Virginia, and Mint Spa is proud to be one of them! A salt scrub is applied and massaged into the entire body to remove dead skin cells. Next, a seven-head shower bar washes away the impurities with warm water. Shirley recommends a massage after the Vichey Shower for the ultimate experience. “A massage reduces stress and increases relaxation along with reducing pain and muscle soreness. We live in a very high-paced, performative world, and almost everyone is stressed,” Shirley explains. “It is important to take care of your well-being by lowering your blood pressure and improving your immune function; a good massage is a way to get started.”
The facials offered at Mint Spa are just as fantastic and beneficial as the massages. They help renew skin cells by circulating the blood flow under the skin, reducing puffiness and fluid buildup. “When you have good circulation from renewing the skin, then that brings oxygen, proteins, and nutrition to the skin and at the same time rids it from toxins,” Shirley says. The boost in cell regeneration supports collagen production, which helps create youthful-looking skin. In addition to offering massages and facials, Mint Spa has a Nurse Practitioner that performs Restorative Medicine like IV therapy, bio-identical hormones, and hair transplants. Whatever your esthetic desires may be, Mint Spa will certainly have a service for everyone. To see a complete list of services or to schedule an appointment, visit mintsparva.com.
“When women take time to care for their needs, they become better mothers, wives, and all-around individuals.” – Shirley Dillaman