Are you in need of some relaxation and pampering? If so, indulge yourself at Dolce Salon & Spa where you can transform your look with a new hairstyle from one of their talented stylists, dazzle your hands with a stylish manicure and don’t forget that it’s sandal-wearing season, so you might want to get a pedicure, too. And when you’re done on the salon side, I encourage you to waltz on over to the spa side from some relaxation and rejuvenation.
Dolce Salon & Spa is a fast-growing salon and spa in Chandler, Arizona, which is 15 miles southeast of Phoenix. It opened for business in February of 2002, and has 40 hair stations, 10 pedicure stations, 12 manicure stations, 17 spa treatment rooms, 1 Vichy room, a café, a retail store, bridal suite and a relaxation room, all totaling more than 12,000 square feet. According to Dolce, it’s the largest salon & day spa in the southwestern United States.
I recently spent an afternoon at Dolce Salon & Spa getting a fabulous anti-aging facial and a relaxing aromatherapy body massage. The experience was delightful.
As I entered the building, I walked through Dolce’s retail section and on over to the check-in station, which is located just past the retail section. I was greeted by a Dolce team member at the check-in desk who checked me in and walked me over to the spa, at which point I was greeted by a member of the spa team who walked me into the relaxation room and then to the changing area as she explained the process.
After changing into a robe and slippers I met her back in the relaxation room where she asked me if I wanted something to drink, which I asked for water. She brought me a glass of citrus water, which I sipped while filling out a client consultation questionnaire/form.
The relaxation room is a peaceful room that has comfortable couches and chairs. One of the walls is nearly all glass and has water gently streaming down over the glass. It’s quite beautiful and creates a very tranquil environment.
Upon completing the client consultation form, my massage therapist entered the relaxation suite and called out my name. She greeted me and walked me into the treatment room. We went over my consultation card; she asked me a few questions about my wants, needs and concerns. We agreed on a treatment and then she stepped out so I could disrobe. A few minutes later she re-entered the room and began the service.
I’m very particular about my massage treatments, and I must admit, she was fabulous. It’s been quite some time since I have had a massage that good. The last couple of massages that I have received were very run of the mill, so I really appreciated the service I received at Dolce and will definitely go back to this particular massage therapist.
After my massage, I met my massage therapist in the hallway. She walked me back to the relaxation suite and gave me some water while I waited for the esthetician. After a few minutes, the esthetician called out my name, greeted me, and I followed her back to the treatment room.
Once in the treatment room, we discussed my client consultation form, my skin concerns, needs and wants, and agreed on a treatment – an anti-aging facial treatment. During the treatment, she did a thorough skin analysis and was good about explaining what she was seeing in my skin and how she was going to treat it. She also did extractions. The treatment included a relaxing massage and a great mask that had cayenne pepper in it so it had some heat to it, which was a nice touch. The entire facial treatment was very relaxing, and following the treatment my skin felt rejuvenated and youthful.
Upon completion, the esthetician asked if I had any questions, which I didn’t. She then walked me back to the relaxation suite, brought me some water and explained that I could stay for a bit in the relaxation room or head to the changing area and then check out. I opted to relax for a bit and read a magazine before heading out.
After changing, I headed to the check-out counter, which is in the retail area. Before checking out, I walked around and looked at the products. Dolce carries hair, nail and skin care products. The skin care lines that they carry are Dermalogica, Eminence, Jan Marini and a few other specialty skin care products. Since I didn’t need any staple products such as cleansers, moisturizers or shampoos and conditioners, I purchased a delicious brown sugar body scrub and lotion, which the massage therapist used during my treatment and recommended afterwards.
I had already planned on returning to the massage therapist simply because she gave such a wonderful treatment, but she really won me over when a week following my service at Dolce, I received a hand-written thank you card from her that was personalized. She had remembered our conversation and included a little something that I had shared with her about my daughter. I thought the personalized touch was priceless. You just don’t see that type of customer service these days. It really was a nice touch and she will definitely see me again and can count on me to be a return client.
As for the esthetician, the service was very good and thorough, but she didn’t follow up and I didn’t feel that personalized touch. If I were to return for a facial at Dolce, I wouldn’t request her by name, simply because she didn’t give me her card and I don’t know her name, but would be happy to have her again or another one of their estheticians.
Overall, my visit to Dolce Salon & Spa was a great experience and I will definitely return and recommend it to others. I can see why this company is growing so quickly. They not only have a great facility that’s stylish and has great energy, but their team members/employees are wonderful.
I’m looking forward to visiting their new facilities once they open. Dolce & Companies Corporation; currently expanding and opening a Dolce Salon & Spa in the Borgata in Scottsdale, which will be 13,000 square feet; and in Arrowhead they plan to open all three Dolce concepts: Salon & Spa, Barber & Spa, and a Med-Spa all housed in a three-story 29,000 square foot space. Once these two locations are complete, the company plans to expand to Gilbert, along the San Tan Freeway, which is the fastest-growing area of the southeast valley; and another location in the growing Desert Ridge area in the north valley.
In addition, to further support the industry and its employees, according to Dolce & Companies Corporation, it plans to open Dolce University, a school housing all industry trades including cosmetology, nails, esthetics, massage therapy, salon/spa management and more. That’s an ambitious endeavor, which I wish them the best of luck with. The beauty and spa industry is rapidly growing and demand is high for leading-edge education, so Dolce’s timing couldn’t be better.
Dolce Salon & Spa is worth a visit, and its parent company Dolce & Companies Corporation is a company to watch. Its owner, Brandi Nuttall, opened Dolce Salon & Spa at the age of 19 with a $1 million loan at 12% interest from her father. In her second year in business, she repaid the entire loan and now five years since launching the company, she is bringing in more than $6 million in annual revenue.
Whether you live in the Greater Phoenix area or are just visiting, the next time you’re in need of some relaxation and pampering, head on over to Dolce Salon & Spa. And who knows, maybe while you’re sitting in the relaxation room, you’ll pick up a future copy of Forbes magazine and Brandi Nuttall, now 24, will be in one of those “30 under 30” hottest entrepreneurs to watch-type articles.
Every time we get on the Internet, turn on a television or read a magazine, we are bombarded with advertising for anti-aging skin care products to help us look younger or a new hair product that will give us more volume or shine. Much of it is marketing hype, but some of it is worthy of our time and dollars. 
