I normally save my massages for when I go overseas - that way you can truly relax - but the other…read moreday I thought I'd treat myself. I'd been meaning to try hot stone massage for ages and so called Forme to book myself in for a 40min session. The receptionist was lovely to deal with and of course, I got the obligatory reminder text two days before (Honestly, I don't know how I ever remembered appointments before these!). Forme is tucked down on the backstreets of Takapuna in a stand alone villa, where they have off street parking. Upon entering I was greeted by my therapist, Grace. She was lovely - very professional and didn't chat throughout the massage, which in my book is essential! I guess the idea with a hot stone massage is that the heat relaxes the muscles further. There's no doubt it was relaxing - I was verging on falling asleep - but if I am honest I think deep tissue massages are more up my alley. Just a personal preference thing... All in all though, Forme did everything to ensure my experience was enjoyable and I would definitely trust them with other treatments! p.s they often have great deals on packages, which you can check out on their website

From the owner: What life takes out, we put back in. We are NZ's leading relaxation and rejuvenation experts. Our…read moreaward winning spas are beautifully designed to provide a haven from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Our expert therapists are highly trained to deliver a world class experience. Specialising in facials and massage, however we also offer a full range of beauty treatments. Trust us, you are in good hands.

I've looked at this place for years but never been in. Finally went and had a pedi. A lot more…read moreexpensive than the mall but for that you get a nicer environment, friendly staff and I felt I could trust all the equipment was clean and sterile. They offer hot beverages so I took advantage and had a nice hot chocolate with an extra choc on the side. Love the colour I chose. Will take my young niece there for a mini mani and see how that goes. Only thing I would have liked is a lower leg massage but that's only included in the spa version.

Love the this place. I've been coming here 3 years. Friendly, professional staff. They always make…read moreyou feel welcome and pampered.

I have thick curly hair and have had a lot of bad haircuts so I was delighted when I found Nigel…read more He gave me a cut that suited my curls and face shape. I made the mistake of getting another stylist when I couldn't get an appointment with Nigel. Big mistake, the cut was awful for my type of hair, so now I have to wait for the short layers to grow back. Will definitely go back to Nigel next time.

I live in Mangalore, yet I travel all the way to Albany just to get pampered at KESS and trust me,…read moreevery single mile, every turn on the road, every little bit of that long drive always feels worth it. Because KES is not just a beauty salon to me... it feels like home. You know that comforting feeling when you go home and your mother pampers you, makes you feel safe, comfortable, cared for and seen? That is exactly how I feel every single time I step into KESS. From the moment I walk in, they warmly welcome me, ask how I'm doing, make me feel comfortable first, and then patiently guide me through everything. It never feels rushed. It feels personal, genuine and full of warmth. And if KESS is home, then Shilpi and Dean truly feel like family. Talking about Shilpi first - she is an absolute superstar. I got my eyebrows, waxing, threading and facial done by her, and I cannot even explain how comforting her presence is. The moment she starts the process, I instantly feel relaxed. I blindly trust her because she has never disappointed me, not even once. The best part is, I don't even have to explain what I want anymore. She already knows. In fact, she understands my skin, my face shape and my preferences even better than I do. She carefully suggests what would suit me best, what my skin needs, how my eyebrows should be shaped, and every single suggestion of hers has always been worth it. During my facial, she even played relaxing music because she knew it was my little "me day," and that small gesture genuinely touched my heart. She is so warm, welcoming, sweet-hearted and professional all at once. After the entire session, I felt so refreshed, relaxed and peaceful, like all the stress in my body quietly disappeared. And I HAVE to mention this, after the facial, my skin looked unbelievably glowy and fresh. Even the next day, when I attended an event, so many people complimented my skin and asked what I had done. My face genuinely looked radiant and healthy, and I felt so confident. That glow was absolutely unreal. And then comes Dean , another absolute gem. I got my hair wash, haircut and volume blow dry done by him, and oh my God... he is amazing. He has this comforting energy that instantly makes you feel at ease. He makes me laugh, forget stress, forget life outside for a while, and simply enjoy the moment. He's incredibly professional and talented, but at the same time so down-to-earth and caring. I've done my hair with Dean multiple times now, and every single time he somehow makes me walk out feeling prettier, lighter and more confident. He carefully checks what suits my hair, suggests what needs to be done, and the final results are always beautiful. The volume blow dry and haircut I got recently looked absolutely stunning. Honestly, KESS is one of those rare places where beauty services feel more like self-care for the soul. Shilpi and Dean don't just do their jobs, they make people feel cared for, comfortable and beautiful from within. Thank you,Shilpi and Dean for always making me feel at home. And Dean.... Thanks for the handmade coffee

I know it's late, but as they say, it's never too late to compliment good work. During my visit to…read moreyour store in March, I received exceptional service from Giaan and Shilpi. I was thoroughly impressed and truly enjoyed the experience. It was a little pricey, but the service covered it all.

Excellent service, fantastic products and had the most wonderfully relaxing facial. Dianne is…read morefriendly and makes you feel completely at ease. I can't wait for my next facial and look forward to trying some of her other services,

I came to Cabana one afternoon just to get my hair straightened before going out one night (didn't…read morehave a hair straightener at this point in life). I decided to come in here purely because it looked cool from the outside - it is decorated to look, astonishingly enough, like a cabana. It has a really awesome nautical theme and everyone is so friendly and in theme with the place. The staff were very professional and did a great job (not that it is hard to straighten hair but still) and I visited a couple times after as well but it is quite on the pricey side for me being a poor student and all.

The bed I inherited with my flat has not been good for my back, it started off fine and now I have…read morebeen experiencing random twinges of pain which come and go. While you can't really complain about a freebie, the pain was beginning to aggravate me and not being able to afford a new bed right now I wasn't sure what to do about it. One of my friends who works in Takapuna recommended Bliss Reflexology, which she couldn't speak more highly of, so I popped In to check it out myself. I thought with the reputation of this place (see above review) that I may have needed to make an appointment but I explained my predicament to the very understanding lady at reception and she managed to squeeze me in about half an hour later. The massage I ordered started off with a foot spa and massage (I just about collapsed into a puddle on the floor, it was that good) and then moved onto the main event the Rebalance Hot Stone Massage; which comprised of all the usual massage techniques and then the application of the hot stones (they're warm not scorching, don't worry) onto areas of the body. When they placed the stones onto my back it really was the most amazing feeling ever, it just felt like the warmth was leaching out all over my body. At the end of my treatment I swear I just about floated out of Bliss. You can find me still orbiting around space somewhere.

2012 Metro Best Massage of the Year…read more The name says it all. I have always been a big fan of massages, big fan, and this place is currently topping my list. The first time I went here was because I got a voucher for my birthday, which was actually bittersweet because after getting a taste for Bliss, I now must pay for myself. From the moment you walk in the door you feel transported to a place of relaxation. The dark wood, background music, lovely smells and mellow staff made me forget within seconds that I was on one of the main roads in Takapuna. First they took me through to soak my feet in a warm footbath while sipping on a green tea. There were no magazines or tvs, just me chilling. Being forced into just doing nothing can be really amazing. I was then take through to get my massage which.was.amazing. They didn't try to chat, I was warm, comfortable and in heaven. My masseuse was fantastic. Such a lovely experience, and I left feeling lighter than air.