Blissful Retreat Downtown: Erika Taylor Urban Spa

Erika Taylor has been in the beauty industry since she was 18. Working as a receptionist for the Steven Colatruglio salon was her start and it was a great beginning. “At his salon receptionists weren’t just attractive fixtures at the front of the house – they were smart and savvy because he trained us to anticipate every client’s needs and demands,” Erika said. She went on to nail school and to get an esthetics degree and found her calling. When she made the decision to open her own business, she looked spaces all over the city before deciding on the former Jacob Neal salon space downtown in the historic Hartman Building.

“I was drawn to the California vibe – black and white, high ceilings with flowing white sheers and [original] white marble floors,” she shared. Her friend, interior designer Amy Hiteshew, helped her pull the look together. Erika loves that the spa is in an urban setting but the interior is a retreat from your every-day. She recently invited me to come with a friend for a visit and it was a very blissful and fun experience.

I admit, I’m not the best at keeping up with my hair. And ever since “my girl” left the salon I had been going to four years ago, I’ve been trying out a few places and haven’t found a new stylist that clicked with me yet. PRESSURE! When I walked into Erika Taylor Urban Spa, I’m sure my face was filled with apprehension – will I like the haircut, will I be able to chat with the stylist the whole time – the usual new-salon worries! My friend was equally apprehensive – she was going to have a massage, something she’s never had done before professionally and has never really considered having done. But those worries subsided after we met Erika and her staff that would be taking care of us. Everyone was friendly and unpretentious and really made you feel relaxed.

I started with a Skinmaster Ultrasonic Microdermabrasion Facial Treatment with Stacy. Erika Taylor Urban Spa is the only salon in the area to offer it; they see clients from all surrounding states for the service. It’s done in a private room also decorated in the chic black and white that’s throughout the salon. Stacy consulted with me about my skincare routine and what condition my skin was in before beginning the treatment. It was a very educational experience – I’ve always thought my skin fell into the combination/oily type, when really it is more sensitive and a bit dry. The treatment itself was done in about an hour. It is a painless “three phase system of ultrasonic waves” that removed about twelve layers of skin cells and left my skin soft and glowing. She added a moisturizer mixed with equal parts moisturizer and Dr. Schrammek Blemish Balm, dusted my face with powder from Glo Minerals Makeup and added a little blush to finish.

I finished my experience with a haircut and color from Master Stylist Lisa. She listened to the ideas I had about my hair and gave me a great cut with a shape that will be easy to style and color to welcome the warm weather. Having her work on my hair was a great experience, she’s very personable and created an easygoing conversation that included styling tips for me to do at home.

My friend started with a 30 minute massage with Betty. She hadn’t been looking forward to it, but afterward totally changed her mind! She later shared with me that it was heavenly and that her feet have never felt smother after the Urbanite Pedicure she had with Rhonda.

Erika’s done a wonderful job creating a beautiful space for clients to become beautiful and feel beautiful in. Currently, she has ten staff members and is looking to add five hair designers to her current five. She loves her location, the addition of Dirty Frank’s Hot Dog Palace and Little Palace has brought many more people to the area and she loves that. Erika grew up in German Village and loves the people here. She shared that she’s “proud and grateful to be from here, and humbled to go to work in a beautiful building with amazing staff and clientele and make people feel beautiful, pampered and special!”

She and her spa make it a point to be involved in the community. They do work with the Ovarian Cancer Alliance. They are also involved with an upcoming fundraiser, “Rally for Reilly” that will benefit the owner of Hey Hey Bar and Grill‘s two year old grandson who was tragically injured. The event is May 22, 2011 from 12pm-8pm at the Columbus Maennerchor.

When asked if she could only receive one beauty treatment for life (excluding hair!) she answered “Pedicures! You cannot rub your own feet like a pedicurist can – its just not the same! And for a month after – you look down in the shower at your perfectly polished toes and relive the bliss of your pedicure a little each day!”

If you’d like to “find your bliss,” Erika Taylor Urban Spa is located in Downtown Columbus in The Hartman Building at 275 South Fourth Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215. Reach them by phone at 614.564.9054. They currently have a promotion running for Mother’s Day, May 8th where they are offering a special deal on gift certificates as well as a stock-up sale: purchase $100 in gift certificates, and receive the second $100 gift certificate at 40% off. All Glo Minerals Makeup, Schrammek Skincare, and Shu Uemura Hair Care is 40% off.