12/13/06

Go to Helle and love it!

by bobs_your_uncle26

That last review seemed totally off-base to me! Danielle has been my esthetician for YEARS , and I have followed her from two different salons and now to her own shop, and I have never been disappointed. She has often made special trips to the "sanctuary" to accomodate my crazy schedule and always makes me feel welcome. She's not pushy - if you're browsing, she will let you do so in peace. If you have a question - ASK! It fits in with the personality of the neighborhood - people who own shops/resteraunts there don't throw themselves at you for your business. I'm not sure where they got the information that the building she is in used to be a brothel - that's not true. As for being loud and crowded - I have been there literally two dozen times and NEVER had that experience. My mother, my boss and all my female co-workers are devoted fans and clients.

As for her merchandise, the majority of it is HANDMADE and one of a kind, yet the prices are still reasonable. Obviously Helle is geared for a specific kind of clientele, and it is not the previous reviewer's style. He admits he didn't even try to experience any of Helle's services - maybe if he had, he wouldn't be so uptight! During the holiday season, I recommend you make your appointment well in advance.

• Pros: Dermalogica! Beautiful skin! Unique items!
• Cons: Parking can be difficult on Carstens

12/11/06

This place creeps me out

by tattooed

If you can actually get past the cozy (read: cramped, awkwardly situated) shopping area into the treatment room, you are better than I. The shop is loud, over crowded, and the service was non-existent. The woman running the shop when I went in was on the phone cooing to her boyfriend.(?) and not bothering to greet me. She gave no indication that she was interested in selling anything. I can't comment on the shop's actual services, because I wasn't offered any.

After some research, I found out that they actually pride themselves on being holed up in a once-upon a time whorehouse! Sure looks like it.

Some of the merch was cute, but WAY over-priced. I'm all for supporting the fledgling enterprise, but every time I've tried to go in they were "in session", closed for some unknown reason (when hours were posting that they were supposed to be in business), or the shop keep simply ignored me.

I wanted to support my local georgetownians but the shop just wasn't up to par.

12/01/06

Look and SMELL great, and have fun to boot!

by ChezSmiley98

I'm addicted To Danielle's homemade whipped body creams and sugar scrubs, her facials, her waxing, and her sparkling personality. She also got me addicted to Dermalogica!

I've been to a number of different salons and spas and nowhere have I found a place as fun and relaxing as Helle. She's the consummate professional, but she's a total doll as well and all of my friends who I have referred to her (or anyone I meet that has been to Helle) remark upon what a fantastic experience it is.

The spa has CHARACTER and so does she.

Be sure to check out her jewerly and tees, too! She supports a number of small proprietors and always has the cutest stuff.

• Pros: great services, great prices, great place
• Cons: none