Emerge Spa and Salon

Attended an open house here and
discovered a beautiful rooftop deck!

There's three floors and lots of high end,
latest greatest products and procedures going on.

The staff seems super friendly...
I definitely have to come back here
to get the spoiled someday Soon. .
Smile.

The deal: when they have the next open house,
gather your girlfriend and have a girls night out!
They'll treat you well and you'll want to come back too.

This actually hovers between 3.5 / 4. Strong sense of interior decor, tech staff cares about clients, in a scenic, accessible location. Spa is spread out over 4 floors with a roof relaxation area and a fireside lounge and cafe inside on the top floor. Treatment rooms are on the 2nd floor, changing area is on the 3rd (I may have mixed that up).

There is a 20+ person VIP suite and a couple's VIP suite. Latter has a whirlpool hydrotherapy tub, private toilet, mini kitchen, and treatment rooms. I booked the couples suite, which is on the top floor.

These are booked through Christine, who was very professional, on her game, helpful, thoughtful, and made sure everything ran smoothly for me. Although the VIP suite is supposedly private, you end up moving up and down between the locker room floor and the suite floor. You basically pay to rent an area for your treatment separate from where others are, but if you're moving between floors you might as well just get a typical treatment room.

I preferred the suite whirlpool tub to the separate hydrotherapy tub they offer. The suite treatment rooms are not well sound-proofed, particularly the one street-side. I could hear street noise very clearly during my treatments.

Hydrotherapy - this option is rare on the east coast and was my main reason for picking this place. The room is Japanese-inspired with a nice looped "beach scene" projection on the wall - the video was a little short and the tub wasn't as powerful as it could have been.

Facial was VERY good - Tricia, the technician, was charming, friendly, well-versed in her techniques, and made me feel well-taken care of. I think she even left the room at one point to tell a person loudly cleaning in the next room to quiet down (I didn't ask her to!).

I had a mix up with my massage - I ordered a deep tissue and got a Swedish. I prompted my masseur to feel free to go deeper, which he did not, so I asked as I checked out and learned what happened. It was a pleasant enough massage, just not what my body needed.

The spa likes a particular brand of beauty/body care line that is, compared to other lines I've used and had used on me, fairly mediocre, but they swear by it and use heaps of it, especially the lotion.

The spa's changing area has automatic locking doors (no key required!), average amenities, and two private showers. Showers are aesthetically clever, with imbedded rocks in the floor for you to stand on. They also (big plus) have quality plus size robes.

There is only one restroom (that I know of) on this floor, and that's in the changing area. It has no sink of its own and the door's lock was broken, with a sign to knock before entering.

The waiting room has coffee/tea, and a few magazines. It's very small and has no clock, which may prove confusing if you have more than one treatment.

I was left forgotten for 20 minutes in the waiting room although I was told to arrive 15 minutes early to start my day. The technician who fetched me apologized and made an effort to fix this.

One major kink is the front desk service. Run your spa like a fine hotel - the front desk is the first and last thing people see and engage with. The best spas emulate the finest - Four Seasons, etc.

First call to set up the VIP Suite, I got a guy who put me on hold for long periods (not knowing how to arrange this), then a woman who said "Um" a lot. After I finally got set up, the night before one called me and left me a complex message about needing to change treatments and times. When I called back, I got more "Ums," no real interest in being sure and solving things, and a few "you should be fine" comments. Are we in high school? Then I got a follow-up call from Christine, which resolved everything (go Christine!).

When I showed up and they saw I was black, they would have let me wander unattended if Christine hadn't shown up to grab me. She didn't bat an eye (class!). When I got left for 20 min waiting upstairs and called down for help, I got more "Ums" and "Christina is off doing her VIP concierge thing."

At the end of the night, they stared openly while I set about arranging tips for all the technicians like they'd never seen such a thing. Their ignorance boggled. Maybe they ought to come to California, where plenty of other brown people have Ivy League educations and can afford to travel the world. Not only do we have class and manners - we tip. The 4th star here is only because of Christine and Tricia's quality of service. Christine even made me a gift baggy with some neat products and samples.

I hate writing bad reviews. I really do. But if I could give Emerge zero stars, I would.

A few weeks ago, my fiancé and I were having some professional photos taken in advance of our wedding. In preparation, I had an appointment elsewhere to have my hair and makeup done. Like a lot of guys I know, my fiancé wasn't too excited to be in front of the camera, so I made him an appointment for a legitimate shave at Emerge for the morning of our photos. The male equivalent of my hair/makeup pampering. They called the day before to confirm the appointment. Great.

Hours before his appointment, Emerge called him to say they wouldn't be able to fit him in after all. My fiancé explained it was kind of important, engagement and wedding photos are really a one-shot deal, and the representative from the salon said "Oh I didn't realize - let me check with Chris."

Returns after putting us on hold to say, sorry, he doesn't have time for you today, something else came up, and it's "really up to the stylist's discretion" in situations of double booking.

It was really disappointing, and an inappropriate way to treat a client. Clearly Chris was in the salon, and just chose not to honor the appointment. I don't get it, and no further explanation was given. Just a warning friends, they really don't seem to need your business.

If you're going to charge the highest price for a massage in Boston, your service better deliver & Emerge fell waaaay flat on service.

The building is gorgeous & they've created a physical environment of elegance & indulgence. But the customer service is terrible from start to finish. The front desk staff is horribly rude & I'm a really friendly person! I was dressed nicely & had a designer bag, & didn't exactly look like some tart who got a gift certificate from her boss & would never come back.

The massage was very average, and the locker room was underwhelming. I'm spending my spa dollars elsewhere.

I had a gift card to G2O/Emerge. I saw that they offer a tooth whitening service called "BRIGHTSPA," decided to try it. Came out with whiter teeth and burned gums. Have yet to decide whether these balance each other out.

I called to make sure that I could use my gift card for this, and the woman who answered simply didn't know what "BRIGHTSPA" was. I explained that it's the teeth whitening service listed on the G2O/Emerge sites. She then confirmed that yes, using my gift card would be fine, so I booked the appointment.

The rep did not say there was anything I needed to do to prepare, so I called a week before to make sure. They said I should not eat before the treatment, and if I had to eat (really?), to brush my teeth before the appt. I also made double-sure to check that I could use my gift card. She said yes (keep this in mind).

Jane Weatherby is the clinician who does the whitening. She is very positive, very sweet, almost whimsical in her words and actions, just a doll.

I went up three shades, which brings my teeth (in theory) to the highest level of brightness possible without getting veneers. I say "in theory" because that's just what Jane said she found on her shade scale (a bunch of plastic teeth of different shades that she compares your teeth to in order to gauge your whitening progress). She was careful NOT to show the shade scale at the same time as the hand mirror. She'd hold a bright light to my mouth, hold the scale to my teeth, make a decision as to their shade, show me that shade on the scale, put the scale down, and then hand me the mirror. The room is so dim that I could not see the result which, a few days later, is definitely whiter than before.

She mentioned the color would blend so that teeth that were different shades would even out; my incisors are darker than my front teeth, and remain so. So I don't see the blending she speaks of.

Side effects:

1) Jane DID NOT USE A LIGHT BARRIER! My gums are purple and peeling. I have since read that dentists will paint your gums with a "barrier" to prevent this; I wasn't so fortunate, and am paying the price. I have a chemical burn on my lower front gums. NOT attractive!!!

2) It hurts. They call it "tingling." It feels more like... if you brush your teeth too hard and then use Listerine, only for 15 straight minutes.

3) My bottom front gums were white afterward (really freaky). She said it would go away in 20 minutes. It's two days later, and they're certainly not normal yet, but bleeding and peeling and gross looking.

3) The inside of my lower lip (visible if I pout) is also burned.

4) Jane did call me after I attempted to contact her, and told me it was all very normal, and that I have sensitive gums. But according to things I've since read online, I have second degree burns that are a direct result of lack of protection before exposing the soft tissue to UV rays and hydrogen peroxide.

Now, the spa. The rep on my way in said she would check me out when I was done. Jane said pay upstairs. But when I said I had a gift card, she sent me to the desk, who said the gift card cannot be used to cover this treatment. I explained that I made sure it would twice before I got there. She asked whether I knew who I talked to (no). She then called up to Jane, then called G2O, then the manager, then had ME on the phone with the manager. At first told me I would have to basically eat the cost and hold onto my gift card for a "different service." Really?

I calmly explained that this was my first experience with Emerge, and that I wouldn't have booked the service if I couldn't use the card. He put me on hold, came back, said he still couldn't help me. I said, "so, you're going to cost me an extra $120 dollars." He legit said "yes." Then he questioned whether I was making it up (direct quote: "I *want* to believe you!"), because I couldn't name anyone I talked to, and his desk people are "well versed" in their policies.

This isn't Bank of America, it's a spa.

He called the owner, came back on the phone, and suddenly was able to accommodate my initial request to charge a gift card. He wanted my experience at Emerge to be "human" (I suspect this is his boss' language).

Would I recommend BRIGHTSPA to others? Nope. Unless they graduate to giving a crap about gum tissue. This is scary stuff. But to be fair, it did whiten my teeth! And for under $200. I might go back if she'd agree to incorporate some protective film to prevent the burning from really screwing with my gums.

Would I recommend Emerge? Like many reviews, and as evidenced by this post, the customer service is more like that of, say, the returns desk at TJMaxx than even a mid-level spa. The fact that they tried to make me foot the bill for what was essentially (according to the manager) a "bookkeeping issue" and, from my experience, a quite dangerously flawed procedure, well. This is just not something I saw coming from a salon on Newbury Street that has its own elevator in it.

For the price that I paid, I think i'd be happier with better services. The decor of the place is so-so..the waiting room is quite small and one could easily feel claustrophobic in there.

My deep-tissue massage was very nice. Deb was very professional and her massage was heavenly.

I also tried the hydro-shower-steam thingy and I didn't like it. It was too confusing and too much water were coming out from every directions. I thought i'd drown in that 15 minutes of what was supposed to be pure sensation and bliss or whatever that they advertised it to be.

Overall, I think that the place could use more work and a better customer service. Everything was overpriced for the advertised level of service and facility.

The front desk is ridiculously rude.

My friend and I were strolling down Newberry Street after a long week of working our butts off. We're 3000 miles away from home and just looking for a good haircut!

We came across this place, squealed a little, and went inside. Having forgotten decent shampoo on this trip, I had been using hotel shampoo and it was ripping apart my hair. The front desk ended up being extremely rude to me and I was not happy. I made an appointment anyway.. i needed the therapy.

I came back for my appointment that afternoon and I waited for almost 45 minutes before they took me in. WTH? The front desk did not tell the stylist that he had an appointment.

They finally took me upstairs and here is where they earned 4 stars. They took me in, listened to me vent, and got infuriated with the front desk. They told the manager about what happened and took care of it for me (I think). Thank you for listening Greg & team! :)

I walked out with silky hair, repaired and vibrant chocolate color and a new big $220 hole in my wallet (cut, conditioning and color).

I wish I had come little earlier so I could have enjoyed the fireplace and the roof-top sun deck. I am sure I could have spent all day here.

Come for the service in the salon, not the front desk.

I have been going to Emerge for a couple of years, and love all of their services. In the summer, it's so cool, after a massage or facial you can lay in the sun on their terrace, and they will order lunch for you from the great restaurants downstairs.

I am writing the review though, specifically for Anna, who has been cutting and coloring my hair for a year now. I have been foiling my hair for 10 years now, consistently. I have lived in 4 countries and 5 cities, including NYC and London, and noone has been as great as Anna. This is the first time, actually, that I have been loyal to one person for so long!
http://www.humblebumble.us/

The men's lounge is dope! I got a manicure and a pedicure by Natasha (not sure if she is at a different salon now now.). She was great, the vibe of the place was smooth, and I do not think any man would feel out of place.

I went as a gift and I will be back, yeah I clip my own nails most of the time (lol), but every once and awhile I like to have it done right.

I mean I could watch tv in a massage chair while my nails get situated... That beats me doing it.

It is not cheap, but it is not ridiculous either. Check it out fellas!

I am going back soon.

I used the other part of the Emerge gift card I got for Christmas the other day for 30-minute targeted massage and a 30-minute thermal spa bath. I went on the the Tuesday after New Year's, and had the entire top three floors to myself. That's one benefit of no real job -- you get any appointments when you want them.

The sandals here are much more comfortable than the skimpy ones they give you to wear at G2O. I don't know why they're different. Anyway, the locker/dressing room is also much smaller. I went in for my bath and was surprised that I had an attendant, and a super-annoying one at that. Another thing that really irked me was that she announced that my bath would be 20 minutes, rather than the 30 listed in the brochure. REALLY?! Presumably, this is for someone to get the bath and the room ready for you for five minutes, and another five to clean afterward. But for the price, I'm really pissed to have had a third of the appointment taken from me. You might also think since I was the ONLY customer they might not have rushed me so much. UGH! I don't have a tub at home, and so this was a great luxury for my poor little soul.

Said attendant also wished me a Happy New Year twice, fun, but pushed some bath salts on me, again, don't have a tub, and kept telling me all about how she did waxing and facials, and to come see her. Sorry, but no. I need someone not so pushy and irritating. I also felt obligated to tip.

The bath itself was really nice, a hydro-tub with lots of jets for lymphatic drainage pulsing up my legs. A dvd/projector played images of a beach in Abaco (an island in The Bahamas) which was really lovely. The room was dimly lit, and soothing music played.

The massage was great. Lucy was very chill in comparison to the other woman, and even showed me a stretch for my pecs, which are apparently tight and pulling on my shoulders.

The fireplace lounge had no fireplace going or tea maker on. I had to figure out how to work these myself (there's a light switch on the left wall of the fireplace that turns it on), because no one was around and there were no other clients. I read a magazine, had some tea, then showered and went on my merry way.

I'd really like to come back and relax in that tub, but holy hell.... You would do good to revise the time policy on this one, Emerge.