“Jiva” the Spa at the Taj and Vivanta properties needs no introduction. Their impeccable service, dedication to work and the use of top of the line products makes it a real treat for their clients to get pampered and treated by them. The Vivanta by Taj salon at the President Hotel is situated in the elite Cuffe parade area of Mumbai. After the hustle and bustle of the lobby level, I reached the first floor and was greeted at the quiet and cozy reception area, with the salon on one side and the spa on the other. The salon has a modern look and is stylishly designed giving it a chic, neat appearance. With mirrors and reflecting partitions, the salon looks spacious and gives the feeling of space. The products are neatly stacked up and colour coded for easy reference.
Each of the adjustable chairs, facing the mirror has a cabinet on wheels close to it with all the equipment required, from hair dryers, to clips, to combs and scissors, to tissue and water-spray. The three enclosed rooms serve the purpose for facials and other treatments.
The Jiva Spa and Salon are extremely particular about the products they use and have tied up with a German company to procure their products. Well known for their signature facials and peels for pigmented skin, the Vivanta salon has their set of fixed clientele who swear by them. The highly skilled and experienced stylists are able to guide the clients to the best treatment for them and the chiropodists (pedicurist) are particularly skilled in treating ingrowth in nails, and corns. In keeping with the changing trends and styles they offer the gel nail polish which seems to be the new rage right now.
The staff at the salon is adept at working within a time frame, doing multiple treatments at a time. People on the go, can be assured of a treatment to suit their timings provided they book an appointment in advance. They offer an express manicure and pedicure that would take approximately 20 minutes and 30 minutes respectively. So if you have just half an hour you can be assured to leave the salon with beautifully painted nails !
The head hair stylist is quite a favourite with the kids as he indulges them with funky haircuts during the holidays and then with a sedate, serious cut just before school reopens! Another treatment which you absolutely cannot leave the salon without is the head, neck and shoulder massage by one of the therapists. With a firm hand she can massage all the knots and tension out of those stiff and tight muscles leaving you feeling lighter and loosened.
I visited the salon on a Tuesday morning to find it bustling with activity. It is quite normal to see ladies in the salon mid morning after finishing morning chores and packing off the kids and husband, but what really surprised me was to find quite a few men at the parlour for a quick shave or haircut.
I was treated to a hair spa treatment which involved applying a hair mask with Argan oil all through the length of the hair and then leaving it on for about half an hour before washing it off. This mask helps to deep condition and nourish the hair. A hair wash followed by a blow dry that left my hair feeling enriched with soft curls bouncing at the ends. Due to my hair being straight and silky a blow dry never really lasts too long. The stylist told me to tie up the hair in a loose band for the curls to last. I did what I was asked to and to my pleasant surprise I had the curls on for 3 days ! Clearly the stylist are very skilled and know their art well. A treatment like the one I was treated to would cost approximately Rs 3500 – 4500 depending on the length of the hair.
It was truly a lovely experience with the Taj touch of hospitality and treatment. The USP of the Vivanta by Taj salon and spa at the President is definitely their super efficient and capable staff that sets it apart from other spas.
Address : Vivanta by Taj – President,
90, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400005