Chakras Spa is a Delight for the Senses and a Business with Heart

Chakras Spa is located in downtown Greensboro at 229 S. Elm Street ( across from Triad Stage, near the intersection with Washington Street). Hours: 8:30am – 5pm Monday, 8:30am – 8pm Tuesday through Friday, and 8:30a - 5pm Saturday; Currently, extended holiday hours for Saturday and Sunday are 8:30am – 8pm Saturday and 12pm – 5pm Sunday.

Simply walking into Chakras Spa is an amazing sensory experience. The eyes are drawn immediately to the striking, twenty-plus-foot sculptured waterfall fountain that dominates the main floor, but casting a look around, there are plenty of other visual delights to take in, from attractive product displays, stylish furnishings, and colorful, yet tasteful, Christmas decorations to the building itself, a beautiful old Greensboro classic that has been painstakingly appointed under the aegis of owner Timothy Smith. The soaring ceilings, hardwood floors and artfully-exposed brick lend an air of elegance and style.

But the treats are not all for your eyes: The ears delight at the burbling splash of the fountain and perk up at the kicky, alterna-pop music playing (think She Wants Revenge, Passion Pit, The Bird and the Bee). Delicious fragrances waft through the air, spicy and redolent of green florals; definitely not the chemical smells that permeate some salons. But Chakras Spa is so much more than a hair and nail salon. Chakras is a full-service spa, offering massage therapy, facials, wraps, and other skin treatment, hydrotherapy, and aromatherapy, as well as a full range of beauty treatments, from hair and nails to waxing and professional makeup consultation and application. Chakras doesn't limit these beauty treatments just to women, either; it is the only spa to offer a Brazilian wax for men, and men are also welcome to visit for a makeup consultation, whether they be transgendered and in transition to female, or just want to learn how to enhance their appearance with cosmetics, either for play or for daily wear.


I spoke with Operations Manager David Simthong and owner Timothy Smith about the products and services available at Chakras, as well as a bit of the history and the community relationships that the spa has built (the other Operations Manager, who was off at the time, is Rachel Harvell). Chakras has been at its current location since 2000, but was born of a salon on State Street named Panache. When the original owner of that salon passed away, it was inherited by then-manager Sheila Paquette, who moved it to the Elm Street location. In 2011, she sold it to Timothy Smith. Timothy, who went to school in Paris, brings insider knowledge of the top-quality European products that many Americans have yet to discover—until they step into Chakras, that is. In addition, Chakras has a generous charitable spirit, working with organizations like earlier.org to raise awareness and promote early testing; Chakras also works with cancer patients to help them cope with the skin and hair changes brought on by chemotherapy, and the salon donates complementary haircuts to the women of Delancey Street every year. Timothy mentioned that he is open to the idea of hosting a cancer support group at Chakras, so if you are an organizer of such a group, you should touch base, and you should find him quite receptive.

I was treated to a full tour of Chakras, and it's truly an enjoyable place, from the large, airy salon on the first floor to the more hushed, tranquil atmosphere of the second floor, which is lushly furnished with antiques and currently hosting myriad beautiful holiday decorations. The second floor features the spa services, and I was particularly impressed with the hydrotherapy room, the couples massage area, and “The Nest”, a comfy window seat piled with pillows where clients fresh from their massages or skin treatments can curl up in a fluffy robe, sip some tea and read a magazine or gaze out over Elm Street. There is also a parking lot for the spa located behind the building (off Davie Street), so it's not necessary to fight the crowds for a primo spot on Elm Street.

The most popular service at Chakras Spa is the “Go Deep” massage, a deep-tissue massage that relaxes and refreshes, but another service that  is recommended highly is the Rossiter stretching technique, a two-person stretching session conducted by senior massage therapist Scott Hunt. David and Timothy both offered testimonials to its effectiveness in alleviating long-term discomfort and giving a feeling of rejuvenation. All of the massage therapists at Chakras Spa are fully licensed and have many years of experience—a minimum of ten years' experience is required before Chakras will even consider accepting an application for a massage therapist position. The hair stylists at the salon are highly trained, as well, studying with master stylist Oribé in New York, as well as training with House of Bumble. The Oribé and Bumble+Bumble product lines are carried at Chakras, as well as the popular Aveda line.

In light of all this luxury and pampering, you might think that getting a salon or spa service at Chakras is only for the wealthy few, but there are some services that are very affordable. Hair services start as low as $30 for a cut or $55 for color, and there are options for 30-minute massages as well as for hour-long sessions. There are new lower prices on manicures and pedicures, including an “express service”. Of course, spa treatments are always a welcome gift for those special loved ones who could use a bit of pampering, and with the holiday season upon us, it's nice to have an oasis of relaxation to step into. Timothy says to look for some special developments coming soon in the new year, and keep Chakras in mind after the holidays, as well—when First Fridays start back up again in the spring, join your friends at Chakras for live music, food and wine. Sounds divine!

You can also find What's Good in Greensbroro? on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Whats-Good-in-Greensboro-848569635208317/ . See you there!