1Massage Store Blog - Archive for the ‘Massage & Spa Supplies’ Category

How to Use a Hot Towel Cabinet

Hot towel cabinet

Moisten the towels before placing them in the towel cabinet.

Whether you work in a massage therapy office or a spa, using a hot towel cabinet will increase the value of a massage in the client’s mind. Hot towels can warm up the muscles, help the client relax, add a sense of luxury, and remove excess massage oil when the session is complete.

Types of Hot Towel Cabis

Hot towel cabinets are available in different sizes to fit your treatment room and the size of your practice. The smallest cabinets work well in small treatment rooms and for therapists who only see a few clients per day. Larger cabinets are best for multiple clients per day and for use in spas.

Using a Hot Towel Warmer

Once you get your hot towel cabinet ready for the day, you can leave it on until the end of the day, grabbing hot towels as you need them and replacing them with fresh, slightly dampened towels for later use.

Preparation

Get your hot towels ready far enough in advance so that they will be ready when your first client arrives. Start by moistening the number of clean towels that you will need. They should be damp but not dripping wet. Use smaller towels (fingertip or washcloth) if you want to fit more towels in the cabinet. Roll the towels tightly, and line them up in the tray(s) inside the cabinet.

Close the cabinet door. Make sure the door is tightly sealed, with the condensation tray in place underneath the door.

Plug the hot towel cabinet into an outlet and turn on the power. The UV indicator light (if your cabinet includes one) should light up to indicate that the sterilization cycle is starting. The UV light will cycle on and off while the cabinet is in use.

End of Day Instructions

Once the cabinet reaches the correct temperature, it will sustain that temperature throughout the day. When your day is over, make sure you remember to remove any remaining towels from the unit and unplug the towel warmer. Leave the door open to allow moisture to evaporate.

Hot Towel Cabinets

Single door and double door UV towel warmer cabinets are available from OneTouch Massage. Give your clients the luxury they deserve! Free shipping on all orders to the lower 48 U.S.

3 Spa Add-Ons to Enhance Your Massage Therapy Business

Paraffin wax treatment

Paraffin wax treatment soothes sore, dry skin.

Does your massage business need a little more variety? Do you want to offer your clients more services? Adding a few simple spa treatments to your menu can help you pay the bills with fewer clients, save your hands from too many massages per day, and enhance the healing and nurturing effects of massage therapy.

1. Paraffin Wax Treatment

Dry skin is a common complaint from clients, especially in the wintertime. Paraffin wax can relieve dryness, promote circulation, and make the skin soft and supple. It’s especially helpful for clients with arthritis and joint pain. It’s also good for self-care—give your hands a treat after a long day of massages.

Paraffin wax takes a few hours to melt, so turn on the wax warmer well before your first client arrives. You can either dip the client’s hand or foot into the paraffin bath or use a brush to apply the wax. Using a brush is sanitary and saves you money on paraffin, since you don’t need to empty out the wax after every use.

2. Aromatherapy Oils

Engaging all of the senses should be one of your goals in offering top-notch service to your clients. Aromatherapy is one of the best ways to engage the sense of smell. Plus it offers health benefits, such as increased energy, calmer mood, and stress relief.

Take a few classes in aromatherapy before introducing it to your clients. Make sure you know the contraindications for the oils that you use and study up on new essential oils before you offer them to clients.

3. Hot Towel Treatment

Especially if you live in a cold climate, hot towel treatment is an excellent way to pamper your clients and warm up their muscles. Hot towel cabinets are small enough to fit in most treatment rooms, and they keep towels hot and sanitized all day. Just turn on the cabinet in the morning and fill it with damp towels, and clean out the cabinet at the end of the day.

To introduce hot towel treatment into your practice, first offer it to clients as a freebie for one session. Then give them the option to include hot towels as an add-on to their regular massage treatments.

Using Bolsters to Support Your Massage Clients

Bolster pillow

Use a bolster pillow to make your clients more comfortable.

When it comes to massage, the comfort of the client comes first. Massage bolsters are just one more way you can make sure your clients are comfortable on the massage table.

When to Use Bolsters

A tool is only as good as the person using it. The way that you use your bolster pillows (or don’t use them) should support and enhance the massage experience. If bolstering gets in the way of your technique or makes the client uncomfortable, don’t use them.

Some of your clients might prefer bolsters; others won’t. Tailor your style to fit the client’s needs. Ask your client what he or she prefers, and be flexible to their needs.

Special Circumstances

Clients with low back pain, pregnant women (pre- or post-pregnancy), and clients who are recovering from injury or surgery may require bolstering to feel comfortable on the massage table.

Without proper bolstering, these clients will find it difficult to relax and enjoy the massage.

Types of Bolsters

Here are some of the options you have for bolstering:

  • Pillows – Pillows are soft, comfortable, and easy to find in different thicknesses. You can fold them in half for extra lift. Another added bonus is that you can show your clients ways to use pillows at home for more comfortable sleeping positions.
  • BolstersMassage bolsters come with a vinyl cover for sanitary use. They provide firmer support than pillows and keep their shape easily. They are also made to be wider than a pillow. Bolsters are available in all shapes and sizes.
  • Rolled Towels – Rolling up a towel makes a good bolster in a pinch. Rolled towels are versatile and good for adding minimal support.

Reviews for Massage Accessories

Massage table case

"This bag holds it all. I stuffed it with linens, bolsters, holsters, foam pads (along with my table) and it still had room!" - Ann H.

Deluxe Massage Table Carry Case

“Very awesome deal! This bag holds it all. I stuffed it with linens, bolsters, holsters, foam pads (along with my table) and it still had room! Seems very durable. Made with thick canvas fabric and has padding for the shoulder strap. Overall I think I paid a very good price for a product that will hopefully serve me well for years!”
- Ann H.

“The bag is great! Very sturdy and good construction. Padded shoulder-strap is included and nice too! The zippers are a little stiff getting started, but I am sure they will ease up with use. Very Nice Product and I appreciate it, Thank You.”
- Leslie M.

Disposable Face Cradle Covers

“Very soft and comfortable. Hard to believe they are disposable. They don’t stick to the client’s face like other face covers.”
- Lastensia S.

“The face cradle covers arrived quickly and in good condition. They are super soft and work really well.”
- Laura D.

Massage Product Holster

“It’s gonna take me a while to get used to this double holster. But I’m happy with the product. It arrived sealed with the two bottles! Thank you!”
- Erica R.

“It was a really great deal. Perfect holster. I would suggest this to anyone looking for a holster.”
- Wendi B.

Massage Bolster Pillow Reviews

Massage bolster

"This bolster is larger than it appears and is very comfy behind knees." - Kimberly

Sometimes it’s the little things that count—like the hint of aromatherapy oil on a face cradle cover or a comfy bolster that takes the pressure off the client’s knees. Below are a few customer reviews for the OneTouch massage bolsters, available in half round and full round styles.

“Delivered on time and packaged well. This bolster is larger than it appears and is very comfy behind knees. Seems to be made very well too.”
- Kimberly B.

“Very pleased with purchase. This is a sturdy bolster pillow. It works wonders for easing stress on the back when placed under the knees.”
- Cindy D.

“Very good quality and the cover is sturdy, but the matte finish makes it even more comfortable than other vinyl covers.”
- Melissa B.

“Great price! Very helpful with making clients comfortable through their therapy massage session. Happy I purchased this item. Excellent price!”
- Ms. C.

“Love my bolster. So comfy!”
- Malinda A.

“This bolster is perfect for behind the knees. Very satisfied.”
- Lindsay A.

“The product is as I expected. Very comfortable and the dimensions are as described in the website. I like that there is a cover that you can remove to wash.”
- Juliana M.

Sugar Scrub and Salt Scrub Treatment Instructions

Sugar Scrub and Salt Scrub

Use a sugar scrub to exfoliate your skin.

Sugar and salt scrubs help to exfoliate dead cells and leave your skin glowing and healthy. Use them once or twice a week as part of your skin care routine.

To use a sugar scrub or salt scrub, follow these instructions:

  1. Cleanse the skin before using the exfoliating scrub.
  2. While your skin is still wet, use your fingers to massage a small amount of the scrub into your skin. Add more of the scrub product as you move to other areas of the body. Concentrate on areas with rough patches of skin, like elbows, knees, and feet. Avoid sensitive areas of the body or broken skin.
  3. Massage the exfoliating scrub into your body with a circular motion.
  4. Rinse off the scrub under running water.
  5. For a quick “manicure,” massage a tablespoon of the scrub into your nails for about a minute. This will gently polish the surface of your nails.
  6. After drying off your skin, apply more moisturizer if needed.

How to Keep Hot Towels Hot

Hot towel warmer

A hot towel warmer sanitizes your towels and keeps them at a constant temperature.

Hot towels are a treat for your clients. You can use them at the beginning of a massage to warm up the muscles or at the end of a massage to wipe off excess oil. Here are some tips on keeping your hot towels hot.

One of the best ways to keep hot towels ready for use is to keep them in a hot towel cabinet. Although crockpots and roasters can work in a pinch, they make the room humid and have poor temperature control. A hot towel cabi keeps your towels at the right temperature and sanitizes them with a UV light.

Hot towel cabinets come in different sizes. The number of towels they hold depends on the size of the cabinet and the size of the towels. Most therapists use small facial towels or bar towels. The smaller size means that you can fit more towels in the cabinet.

Before placing hot towels in your cabinet, moisten the towels by soaking them under a faucet and twisting them tightly to wring them out. Roll the towels and place them in the cabinet. Shut the cabinet door (make sure the seal is tight) and let the towels heat up.

How long it takes for the towels to heat up depends on the size of the cabinet and how many towels are inside. To make sure the hot towels are ready for your clients, get the towels ready at least a half hour before your first client. You can keep the towel cabinet on throughout the day so that your hot towels are ready whenever you need them.

Which Massage and Spa Equipment Do You Use?

Hot Towel Cabi Reviews

Hot towel cabi

"The whole salon/spa is enjoying this unit." - Emily A.

If you’re looking for a way to spice up your service, consider a hot towel warmer. Moist-heated towels are the perfect accompaniment to any massage or spa treatment. They can also be used for hot yoga or pampering yourself at home.

“Very thrilled with this towel warmer. Easy to operate and clean, steamy-hot towels… The whole salon/spa is enjoying this unit.”
- Emily A.

“Excellent value and it works perfect. This is being used in my daughter’s hot yoga studio. She turns it on before her class starts and towels are nice & hot, ready to use by class end.”
- Jeff A.

“I love the warmer! This hot towel warmer works great. Have it for 1 month now; it’s perfect size for my home office where I do massage & bodywork. The clients love the hot towels and it does the job great.”
- Fernanda Santiago

“LOVE my Towel Warmer! Even better than I expected!”
- Kriss W.

“I am leery of web purchasing. I am pleased with the emails…to keep me informed of my purchase. I will buy online again. My product is great so far and my clients are well pleased. I think I should have bought two? :) Thank you…for a pleasant experience.”
- Georgia M.

“Bought for my wife for Christmas. Works great and she loves it. (I do too).”
- John J.

“Purchased two hot towel warmers. Both items work flawlessly. Items are exactly as described. Great seller, great product and quick shipping. Thanks.”
- Phuong T.

Massage Stools

Pneumatic rolling stools are available with backrests or without, in black and chrome.

Rolling stools are easy to adjust and move.

A massage stool can benefit your practice by giving your back a break and getting you on the same level as your client.

What are the different types of massage stools?

A pneumatic rolling stool comes with wheels and a lever to adjust the height up or down. With a rolling stool, you can move around the table without getting up from the chair. You can also adjust the height depending on the type of work you are performing and the height of the table. A backrest can provide extra support. Pneumatic stools are generally available in all black or black with a chrome base.

A folding stool is ultra portable and stable.

A folding stool is ultra portable and stable.

A folding massage stool provides a stable base for a stool that you know won’t roll out from under you. You can sit, kneel, or rest one foot or knee on the stool. Folding stools are easier to transport for mobile calls, and they are a better option for small treatment rooms, where space is tight. Just fold up the stool and store it in the corner when it’s not being used.

A yoga ball is a creative option for a massage stool that takes some getting used to, but it allows a greater range of motion and is good for improving balance and posture. The downside is that a yoga ball is not as stable as a traditional massage stool and takes up more space in the treatment room.

What do you use massage stools for?

Massage stools are beneficial for all forms of seated work, including reflexology, Reiki, foot massage, neck and head massage, craniosacral work, and esthetics—basically any type of work that can comfortably be done while sitting, kneeling, or resting on one foot or knee. When you are not using the massage stool, you can use it as an arm rest for the client.

Why use a massage stool?

A massage stool lets you get down on the same level as the client. Using a massage stool gives your legs and back a break and allows you to alternate between sitting and standing to reduce the risk of overuse injuries and strain from working in the same position all the time. A massage stool also gives you a place to set your supplies, and with a rolling stool, you can move them around the table easily.