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THE EXECUTIVE LIFE
BEAUTIFICATION	WOMEN'S SUMMER FASHION	YACHTING

BEAUTIFICATION

Mohamad Sagheer goes holistic

With tourist numbers dwindling daily, some hotels have sought to supplement their revenue by other means. In-hotel spas, particularly those of the ever-trendy “holistic” variety, have become the latest fashion, targeting Cairo’s indigenous rich-and-famous set rather than pyramid-seeking tourists. The JW Marriott in Kattamiya, for example, has just opened what is being touted as the second-largest health spa in the world.

There’s certainly a demand for such services. The heat and dust of Cairo inevitably affect one’s mind and body, not to mention – and here’s where the “holistic” comes in – one’s spirit.

The capital’s latest holistic beautification center comes with its own indigenous brand name: Mohamad Sagheer, the locally renowned hairstylist extraordinaire. Opened last October in Zamalek, Mohamad Sagheer’s Spa & Beauty Salon is a full-service beautification factory, boasting five floors of environment-friendly remedies.

From the moment you enter the place, you feel like you’re stepping into another world. A doorman in a snappy red uniform will open the door for you, while another will escort you to the elevator.

On the ground floor, the visitor will find an alluring, well-stocked perfumery, replete with several brands of imported beauty products, such as Clarins and Keune. The prices of these are surprisingly reasonable, despite the new dollar exchange rates. The staff, meanwhile, are both knowledgeable and – thankfully – unobtrusive.

The first floor is devoted to the uninitiated men-folk and children, where the latter and their fathers can have their hair cut. The kids will be distracted by little toy cars on which they’re perched long enough to receive the latest coif, under the watchful eyes of Mohamad Sagheer’s fashion acolytes.

Parents can have a good cup of coffee in the meantime, as Trianon café has just opened a new branch at the salon, and customers can order drinks and snacks from any of its five floors while they wait for their various treatments.

The second floor’s hair salon is reserved entirely for women. This is the inner sanctum, where you can see Mohamad Sagheer himself – like a rarely sighted bird in its native habitat – doing what he does best. The salon is exquisite, yet reasonably priced, with haircuts costing from £E 75 onwards, and dye jobs for between £E 200 and £E 300. The facility also has special facilities for veiled women and celebrities who are looking for maximum privacy (word has it that many of Cairo’s rich and famous frequent the place).

Manicures are done in private booths, but the best part is the chair, which, when sat in, massages your back and legs – well worth the £E 25. And if you’ve got an important occasion on which you want to look your best, a Lebanese make-up artist is on hand to give you a final touchup.

The health spa itself covers the entire third floor, with separate chambers for men and women. This is where you come for post-beautification relaxation, scrubbing and toning. The spa offers both facial and body treatments, using “French marine cosmetology brand Phytomer products,” which certainly sound impressive enough. Facials range from detox and lifting to anti-aging treatments, and cost between £E 75 and £E 285. All are done in comfortable private rooms.

Some of the full-body treatments on offer, meanwhile, might sound a little more obscure.
Le Cocoon, for example, is a bizarre coffin-like machine that is advertised as having a slimming effect. Lying in the oblong box, one is covered in mud, head sticking out from the top. Le Cocoon then heats the body as water is sprinkled on top, keeping the mud the right consistency. All the while, the patient receives a soothing head massage. The treatment is then followed by a massage proper, after which one is expected to leave slimmer and spiritually nourished. Sure to be a hit at the onset of bikini season.

There’s also the “Ocea-spa thalaform” treatment, where you can sit in what looks like a space-age Jacuzzi, with all kinds of – rather daunting – tubes and sprinklers sticking out in all directions. Lying in seaweed-infused water, you’ll be massaged by powerful jets of water, which are supposed to enhance your circulation. A traditional massage follows.

This reviewer also got a chance to try the special waterbed treatment, located in the men’s side of the spa. This contraption aims at relieving back stress, with the help of what look like two underwater fists, which move along your back, working out the kinks. No substitute for a licensed chiropractor, but still very relaxing.

Full body treatments cost between £E 240 and £E 275. Massages, meanwhile, go for between £E 80 and £E 110. Saunas are available post-treatment, but these cost extra.

Lush to the end, a chambermaid will wait on you in the dressing room when you’re ready to go.

She’ll fold your clothes, dress you in a bathrobe, pass you the towels and even test the water temperature in the shower for you before you step in. While you might feel a little self-conscious when she helps you get dressed, you’ll no doubt leave the spa a lot more relaxed than when you came – purified, and ready to face the big city’s toxins once more.

Sanna Negus

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