Spa Week, Take Me Away!

Few commercial promotions offer as much appeal to overworked, underpaid Washingtonians than Spa Week, a little-known annual ritual starting Monday through April 20 that gives patrons the chance to indulge in massages, facials and other beauty treatments for a fraction of their regular price.

Three-and-a-half years ago, event founder Cheryl Reid launched the idea of "bringing the spa experience to the masses" in New York. Next week, 21 cities will boast salons offering two or three treatments for $50 each, including more than 40 spas in Washington, Maryland and Virginia.

"There's a lot of stress in this city," says Piaf Salon and Day Spa owner Lisette Attias, whose downtown establishment is offering a massage, facial and organic hair coloring at a discount during Spa Week. "It's something that's good for people. And the price is great."

Think Restaurant Week but more chill. Piaf's massage therapist will mix an aromatherapy blend based on your preferences by drawing from such scents as lavender, eucalyptus, sage and chamomile. The salon's Vitamin C facial includes an enzyme peel as well as a hydrating mask and liquid vitamin capsules massaged in using ultrasound, and its organic coloring process lacks the painful chemical smell and stinging sensation that accompany usual dye treatments. Each of the featured treatments usually costs $75, so the savings is a de-stressor as well. But appointments are required.

Many local spas are offering more eco-friendly treatments this year, in keeping with Spa Week's "green" theme. Roxsan Day Spa in the White Flint mall is offering a salt-glow body treatment, seaweed facial and hot lava mud pedicure; Masters Touch Salon & Spa in Falls Church is touting a coconut and walnut manicure and pedicure, an organic honey and cucumber facial and a haircut and styling. Plus, a portion of the week's profits go to Cancerandcareers.org, a charity for working women with cancer, so the entire exercise isn't totally self-indulgent.

SPA WEEK Monday-April 20. To find a participating salon near you, visithttp://www.spaweek.org.