New day Dubai spa offers ‘self-service’ treatments

The fast idea: turbo-speed beauty treatments at BCS in Dubai’s Sheikh Zayed Road, the region's biggest spa at 30,000 square feet.

Beauty Connection Spa's nail spa at Eiffel Tower 2 on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai. Courtesy Beauty Connection Spa

The days of desperately ringing round salons in search of a last-minute hair or beauty appointment might just be a thing of the past with the launch of Beauty Connection Spa in Dubai, the largest of its kind in the region. We find out why the future of beauty salons may rest with the vision of one forward-thinking Emirati ­entrepreneur.
First impressions
BCS has an urban, unfussy feel. There's not a hint of chintz, no panpipes playing and far less vanilla-scented candles. Almost the size of an airport hangar, the spa, which merges two former venues into one gargantuan, 30,000 square foot space opposite the Gold & Diamond Souk on Sheikh Zayed Road, is most definitely built for speed and function. That's not to say it scrimps on comfort, given its high-tech massage chairs and fabulous flat bed, neck-friendly, hair-washing stations which should be adopted as the industry standard. As spartan as the space is, with its concrete brushed walls and floors, communal areas are dotted with brightly coloured tables and chairs and treatment rooms have feature walls splashed in primary colours.
Self-service
Instead of booking an appointment for hair, nails, massage or even hammam, at BCS you just show up any time you like. Japanese-style vending machines line the walls of rooms for mani-pedis and hair treatments. You pick the pampering you desire, complete the transaction and soon, up to four attendants are fussing over you. There are no hidden costs and in addition to fresh tools being used for each client, the brushes and accoutrements are yours to take home if you so wish.
The treatments
As one who is sceptical about new therapists tending to my unruly locks, I received the best colour, cut and blow-dry in years. The service moved at warp speed and helping things along was the genuine, friendly banter from the experienced staff. Many told me they had been with the company since it opened its first branch 12 years ago – and it showed. They care about the brand and they know how to handle the demanding expatriate and national customers who flocked there on the day I visited. When it came to the mani-pedi, the prospect of an army of attendants seemed claustrophobic, bordering on stressful. The opposite was true, given the fact I could choose from either a closed-off VIP room or one of 53 chairs. The cleaning was thorough, the finish was superb and, yet again, the service incredibly quick without feeling pressurised.
Heads-up
Absolutely everything has been engineered with efficiency in mind – there's even plenty of parking out front – and vending machines are on hand if you require water, coffee or food. This is not your average salon and you'll soon adjust to not being fawned over or given the hard-sell of add-on services. Should you forget to bring cash, there's an ATM downstairs. The winning formula of this salon is that you feel like it's on your terms: you rock up when you choose, spend what you can afford and never feel the therapists are rushing you because another appointment is waiting.
• BCS is located in Eiffel Tower 2 along Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai. Visit www.beauty-­connectionspa.com
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