Cocooned In Luxury
Envelop your clients in aroma-shea magic
By Anne Williams
Originally published in ASCP's Skin Deep, August/September 2007. Copyright 2007. Associated Skin Care Professionals. All rights reserved.
For clients who are ending the summer with skin battered by ocean salt, chlorine, or too much sun, there's a treatment that marries the power of aroma with the luxury of shea butter. An aroma-shea cocoon combines the emollient qualities of shea butter with the sensuous natural fragrances of essential oils to create an inviting full-body treatment that helps a client relax, while benefiting dry, dehydrated, or mature skin.
African Roots
Emollient cocoons are body wraps using the healing qualities of medium to heavy lipids like shea butter, almond butter, evening primrose, or wheat germ oil to revitalize the skin, increase its moisture content, and provide a moisture barrier.
Shea butter is a popular lipid that comes from the nut of Vitellaria paradoxa (synonym: Butyrospermum parkii), a tree found only in the semiarid Sahel region of West Africa and Cameroon. Shea nuts have traditionally been processed and used by women in West Africa to protect their skin from drying out in the hot African sun. Shea is composed of triglycerides and linoleic acid. It is rich in vitamins A and E and has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-arthritic properties, as well as being soothing, healing, and moisturizing. Anecdotal evidence indicates shea brings relief from chronic skin diseases, scarring, and stretch marks.
Pure shea butter has a firm texture and should be warmed slowly in a double boiler until liquid. Then apply it to the body and leave it to be absorbed. Essential oils can be used to enhance the benefits of shea butter, promoting relaxation and creating a luxurious smell-scape for the treatment. The oils may be chosen for their physiological benefits, such as brightening, stimulating, or soothing skin, or for their effects on mind and spirit. Try this spa treatment to provide a haven where the body can rest and the mind can reflect while basking in inspiring and uplifting aromas.
Cocoon Care
Preparation. Set up the treatment table from the bottom to the top layer starting with a blanket (washable wool or cotton) set horizontally so the long edges fall on either side of the table, a thermal space blanket turned horizontally, a plastic sheet turned horizontally, a bath towel placed horizontally at the top of the table, a bath towel placed horizontally at the bottom of the table, and, finally, a drape.
To prepare the shea, melt it in a double boiler and add twenty- four drops of an appropriate aromatherapy blend to two ounces of melted shea. Keep the shea in a double boiler to keep it warm and add it to a worktable, which should also hold a bowl of warm water, an application brush, an aroma mist, products for a mini-facial, and two dry hand towels. Have twelve hot, moist hand towels close by in a hot towel cabinet or in a small soda cooler.
Posterior Exfoliation. The client begins the session in the prone position wearing disposable undergarments, with a hand towel draped across the gluteals to ensure the client feels covered. Apply a small amount of warm water to the body area, then use an exfoliation product to remove dulling skin cells. Exfoliate the legs, arms, and back, then remove the product with hot, moist hand towels.
Posterior Application of Shea. Test the temperature of the shea butter on your wrist to ensure it is warm, but not hot. Brush the shea onto the client's back, legs, and arms. Remove the hand towel across the disposable undergarments and ask the client to turn to the supine position. Again, cover the disposable garments with hand towels so the client does not feel exposed.
Anterior Exfoliation and Shea Application. Repeat the exfoliation on the legs, feet, arms, belly, and upper chest. Remove the exfoliant with hot, moist towels. Brush the shea onto the client's legs, arms, belly, and upper chest. The feet are treated last so as not to contaminate other areas of the body in the event of an undetected fungal infection.
Cocoon. The wrapping materials are pulled up and around the client. The bath towel at the top of the table can be used around the client's head in a turban drape. The feet are wrapped with the towel at the bottom of the table. Place a warm pack on the belly over the wrap for a nurturing effect.
Process. You can pair a mini-facial with the cocoon. The facial is delivered while the client is processing in the wrap. Offer the client a sip of water or herbal iced tea through a flexible straw and mist her with an aroma mist or spring water if she should get too hot, or simply to fill the treatment room with a new and refreshing aroma.
End of Session. When the facial is complete (15-25 minutes) pull the blankets off the client and unwrap the plastic. Most of the shea has absorbed into the skin, but hot, moist towels can be used to remove the excess if desired. If you are also a massage therapist, you might conclude with a short, full-body massage using the shea already present as a lubricant. Some estheticians place a steam canopy over the client and steam the shea for ten minutes. The session might also end with a Vichy shower, or in a soaking tub. Regardless of how the session ends, be sure all shea butter is removed completely from clients' feet to prevent a slip or fall while they get off the treatment table.
* * *
While the end of summer is a great time for an aroma-shea cocoon, this treat for your clients can easily become a year-round proposition. Summer lends itself to soothing botanicals reminiscent of an herb garden to address sun damage. Cocoons for fall might use alpine oils that detoxify and purify, while winter cocoons address dry, cold-weather skin and lift the spirit with warm, nurturing aromas. For spring, consider citrus oils that help brighten the skin in anticipation of summer fashions.
Anne Williams is a licensed esthetician, massage therapist, aromatherapist, reflexologist, registered counselor, educator, and author. The work outlined in this article is adapted from portions of the author's textbook, Spa Bodywork: A Guide for Massage Therapists (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2007). Williams is also education program director for Associated Skin Care Professionals (ASCP). She can be reached at awilliams@ascpskincare.com.
For clients who are ending the summer with skin battered by ocean salt, chlorine, or too much sun, there's a treatment that marries the power of aroma with the luxury of shea butter. An aroma-shea cocoon combines the emollient qualities of shea butter with the sensuous natural fragrances of essential oils to create an inviting full-body treatment that helps a client relax, while benefiting dry, dehydrated, or mature skin.
African Roots
Emollient cocoons are body wraps using the healing qualities of medium to heavy lipids like shea butter, almond butter, evening primrose, or wheat germ oil to revitalize the skin, increase its moisture content, and provide a moisture barrier.
Shea butter is a popular lipid that comes from the nut of Vitellaria paradoxa (synonym: Butyrospermum parkii), a tree found only in the semiarid Sahel region of West Africa and Cameroon. Shea nuts have traditionally been processed and used by women in West Africa to protect their skin from drying out in the hot African sun. Shea is composed of triglycerides and linoleic acid. It is rich in vitamins A and E and has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-arthritic properties, as well as being soothing, healing, and moisturizing. Anecdotal evidence indicates shea brings relief from chronic skin diseases, scarring, and stretch marks.
Pure shea butter has a firm texture and should be warmed slowly in a double boiler until liquid. Then apply it to the body and leave it to be absorbed. Essential oils can be used to enhance the benefits of shea butter, promoting relaxation and creating a luxurious smell-scape for the treatment. The oils may be chosen for their physiological benefits, such as brightening, stimulating, or soothing skin, or for their effects on mind and spirit. Try this spa treatment to provide a haven where the body can rest and the mind can reflect while basking in inspiring and uplifting aromas.
Cocoon Care
Preparation. Set up the treatment table from the bottom to the top layer starting with a blanket (washable wool or cotton) set horizontally so the long edges fall on either side of the table, a thermal space blanket turned horizontally, a plastic sheet turned horizontally, a bath towel placed horizontally at the top of the table, a bath towel placed horizontally at the bottom of the table, and, finally, a drape.
To prepare the shea, melt it in a double boiler and add twenty- four drops of an appropriate aromatherapy blend to two ounces of melted shea. Keep the shea in a double boiler to keep it warm and add it to a worktable, which should also hold a bowl of warm water, an application brush, an aroma mist, products for a mini-facial, and two dry hand towels. Have twelve hot, moist hand towels close by in a hot towel cabinet or in a small soda cooler.
Posterior Exfoliation. The client begins the session in the prone position wearing disposable undergarments, with a hand towel draped across the gluteals to ensure the client feels covered. Apply a small amount of warm water to the body area, then use an exfoliation product to remove dulling skin cells. Exfoliate the legs, arms, and back, then remove the product with hot, moist hand towels.
Posterior Application of Shea. Test the temperature of the shea butter on your wrist to ensure it is warm, but not hot. Brush the shea onto the client's back, legs, and arms. Remove the hand towel across the disposable undergarments and ask the client to turn to the supine position. Again, cover the disposable garments with hand towels so the client does not feel exposed.
Anterior Exfoliation and Shea Application. Repeat the exfoliation on the legs, feet, arms, belly, and upper chest. Remove the exfoliant with hot, moist towels. Brush the shea onto the client's legs, arms, belly, and upper chest. The feet are treated last so as not to contaminate other areas of the body in the event of an undetected fungal infection.
Cocoon. The wrapping materials are pulled up and around the client. The bath towel at the top of the table can be used around the client's head in a turban drape. The feet are wrapped with the towel at the bottom of the table. Place a warm pack on the belly over the wrap for a nurturing effect.
Process. You can pair a mini-facial with the cocoon. The facial is delivered while the client is processing in the wrap. Offer the client a sip of water or herbal iced tea through a flexible straw and mist her with an aroma mist or spring water if she should get too hot, or simply to fill the treatment room with a new and refreshing aroma.
End of Session. When the facial is complete (15-25 minutes) pull the blankets off the client and unwrap the plastic. Most of the shea has absorbed into the skin, but hot, moist towels can be used to remove the excess if desired. If you are also a massage therapist, you might conclude with a short, full-body massage using the shea already present as a lubricant. Some estheticians place a steam canopy over the client and steam the shea for ten minutes. The session might also end with a Vichy shower, or in a soaking tub. Regardless of how the session ends, be sure all shea butter is removed completely from clients' feet to prevent a slip or fall while they get off the treatment table.
* * *
While the end of summer is a great time for an aroma-shea cocoon, this treat for your clients can easily become a year-round proposition. Summer lends itself to soothing botanicals reminiscent of an herb garden to address sun damage. Cocoons for fall might use alpine oils that detoxify and purify, while winter cocoons address dry, cold-weather skin and lift the spirit with warm, nurturing aromas. For spring, consider citrus oils that help brighten the skin in anticipation of summer fashions.
Anne Williams is a licensed esthetician, massage therapist, aromatherapist, reflexologist, registered counselor, educator, and author. The work outlined in this article is adapted from portions of the author's textbook, Spa Bodywork: A Guide for Massage Therapists (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2007). Williams is also education program director for Associated Skin Care Professionals (ASCP). She can be reached at awilliams@ascpskincare.com.
