Le Pli Salon & Day Spa

They are now out of business as of 12÷23÷10.

Be warned, they are closed for renovations until April 2011! The answering machine does not say this, but the kind folks at the Charles Hotel told me. I’ve had reliable waxing experiences here, fwiw, and will go again if I don’t find a good substitute in the next four months. It is clean, and the aestheticians are professional and do a nice job.

I’ve been going here for about 5 yeas, once a month for a brazillian.
I originally started going here as they were close to school and the same price range as other places. And though they upped the price for a brazillian a year or so ago, I still keep going since I’ve had horrible painful experiences with brazillians elsewhere before and I’d rather not risk it.
The other thing that keeps me here is that they use hard wax, which is far less painful than strip wax. Most places don’t use this, partly because its more time-​consuming to use. Not all Le Pli girls use it either, you have to check beforehand.
The annoying thing at Le Pli is the estheticians keep leaving and I have to switch to a new one every year or so. And their service in general has gone down a bit. They used to allow 45 min for a brazillian but now only do 30 min so there is a bit of a rush. My current esthetician uses a combo of strip & hard wax and gets everything done within 30 min. All the same, I don’t appreciate Le Pli management.
However, the waxing is pretty decent. My esthetician Marianne is very considerate and does a good job, fast!
If you’re looking for a decently priced place to get a brazillian which a relatively small ouch factor, go here!

Le Pli was an incredible disappointment. I expected a lovely, clean, modern, professional spa given the location and the prices.
Le Pli has one unisex changing/​locker room. The door opens directly onto the tiny waiting room, offering zero privacy. The lockers didn’t have locks on them. The bathrobes were threadbare and missing ties. The bathroom was less than clean. The décor of the entire place was cheap and out dated. The appointment rooms had ugly floors and stark cabinets and counters. It reminded me of a doctors office.
The massage I had was fine. But the experience was less than relaxing for sure. Given the number of beautiful and professional spas on Newbury street and downtown I know that I will never be returning to Le Pli.

They’ve raised their already high prices and I had a new esthetician who only used hard wax on the most sensitive areas. Disappointing.

I’ve been going to Le Pli periodically for years and each time I go back the service is a little less impressive than the last. I’ve had two pedicures there, both below average — barely any foot massage and the clinician tries to get the service done as quickly as possible… not a great spa experience.
Just had a massage yesterday because I had an old gift card that I still needed to use. I had the deep tissue massage with no scalp or foot massage — $ 95.
This place charges top prices for less than adequate services. I’d try somewhere else for that kind of dough!

This place is unappealling.
The staff may be good but dealing with the management and making appointments is just awful. It feels equally unfriendly and tense when you are there waiting for your appointment. So, that’s not relaxing.
I’d recommend the SPA at the Mt Auburn Club over this place.

In December, Le Pli’s mother ship sent out an email announcing a Christmas special: purchase $ 100 in gift certificate and receive a $ 50 credit toward spa products. I signed up and paid for a gift certificate (which I was giving to myself for Christmas) and promptly received emails with both the certificate confirmation and the $ 50 credit confirmation. I printed these out (though they have them on file there) and brought them in yesterday. I thought I would peruse the goods and pick out $ 50 worth before my treatment. The young lady at the desk explained that this offer had expired at some point in January. I pulled out all my documentation and we looked together for the expiration date and COULD NOT FIND ONE. Despite the fact that the expiration date was never communicated to me, she would not allow me to take advantage of the promotion. This was disappointing, though I would probably come here anyways because I had visited once before and received a relatively painless, quick and professional bikini wax treatment. I had the same person this time, and she did a much less satisfactory treatment, and I was in a fair amount of discomfort for about 20 hours afterward. Because I did not use up the entire certificate, I will return. Hopefully she was just having an off day.

I took my boyfriend here today as a surprise birthday gift, and we both got Swedish massages. When I made the reservation over the phone, the woman with whom I spoke was very friendly and answered all my questions clearly, so I hoped that our massage experience would be good.
Le Pli is very pretty — the waiting room is very relaxing with water, tea, banana chips, and magazines, and the décor is modern with lots of clean lines, so it’s sort of an ideal place to wait for a treatment like a massage or facial.
Although the massage i had was good (I’d give it 3 stars, though it was a little on the light side, so more pressure would have been personally preferable), it wasn’t anything mind-​blowing or something that I’d really want to get again.
One thing that really annoyed me was that I had booked 2 60-​minute massages for the two of us, and in the end we only got about 45 minutes each! Yes, we got there at 2pm, changed into the robes, and then waited, but we started at 2:15 and then ended at 3pm on the dot. That’s really frustrating, especially considering how expensive it was. If I am paying for a 60-​minute massage, then it had better be 60 minutes.
Another thing was that I had told my masseuse, when she asked me if there were any spots I’d like extra attention to, that I’d like more focus on my lower back, around my shoulders and neck (yeah, I have a computer job), but in the end I didn’t really feel that there was «more» attention given to those parts.
I’m not sure I would come back here, though I want to like them because the masseuse and the receptionist were so nice and professional, and the ambiance is really great. Maybe I just needed a deep tissue instead of a Swedish massage, but that still doesn’t excuse how I was sort of ripped off of 15 minutes.

I am not a ‘spa person.’ I’m the gal who reluctantly gets their hair cut once a year at Supercuts. However, every now and then I want to get an eyebrow wax or a massage. And when I do, there’s no better place. Wowwwww! The massages are top notch, grade-​A, perfection. I love the waiting area in the back, the plush white robes, the professionalism of the body workers, the dim-​lit rooms, the scents, the shower area afterwards. it’s all, well, exactly how I imagine the prefect massage experience to be. This place isn’t cheap, but you get what you pay for.
The brow waxing: I do this rarely, but when I do it’s always precise and clean – again, prefection! So thorough and they really take their time and do the best job they can for you.
Years ago, I had my hair cut and dyed here and I was pleased with it. It was on someone elses dime, though, so I won’t be going back because I spend my money on other things. I don’t do other spa-​stuff like facials, manicure, pedicure, etc anywhere. I’d imagine a mani/​pedi might be overpriced here, but if I were into facials I would trust this place with my skin.

Went here for a massage on Saturday. Co-​ed changing rooms kind of sketched me out (although I didn’t see any hint of masculine presence while I was there). Kathy did a good job of asking me about my preferences, and the massage was nice. Overall, not the most amazing experience ever, but it was free because I used my Discover rewards points to purchase a SpaFinder gift certificate. It’s also close to home and very easy to find.

I recently treated myself to a deep tissue massage with Matt at Le Pli. I am a great fan of massages and have had them at spas all over the country and this was *the best* deep tissue work I have ever had. Matt has impeccable bedside manner, was friendly and welcoming without being too chatty, and was truly an expert and natural in his craft. I cannot recommend him highly enough. His intuitive grasp of body and muscle response to his pressure was perfect.
The spa area itself is very nice for Boston, and the post-​spa showers are immaculate and have remarkable water pressure. It is truly an exemplary place to treat oneself to a massage, although I cannot speak for their other services which I haven’t yet tried, but likely will on the basis of the quality of my session wtih Matt.

Five stars to Helen for facial, massage and perfect waxing. I was recommended by my friend to visit Helen few years ago and I never went to any other place. Helen is the best and always on time.

I’m pretty over Le Pli– it’s an entirely underwhelming experience. The massages are fine. The nail salon is fine (except they tricked me into buying this One Minute Manicure product that I’ve never used and I’m still bitter). The waxing and spa treatments are fine. It’s all fine, it’s just not great and it’s completely NOT worth the money that they charge. For something in the Charles Hotel, you’d think that they’d amp up the ambiance or something… but no. The waiting area is tiny (and very very gray– the color scheme is all gray– very gray all gray), there are no amenities to speak of and quite frankly, after you pay so much money for a massage and end up sitting in this itty bitty waiting room, well, I ended up feeling a bit gypped. Part of the enjoyment and luxury of indulging in a spa treatment is feeling pampered. At Le Pli, you just feel like another side of meat on a butcher’s assembly line going in to be pounded until tender. It’s almost a utilitarian experience.
It’s certainly not the worst spa that I’ve been to but it’s so not worth the money that they charge and there are better places to go. I had gotten a gift certificate the handful of times I’ve been here so wasn’t as bent out of shape as I might have been had I coughed up my own hard earned cash, but it doesn’t make me feel any less cheated or disgruntled. Don’t waste your time or money and make haste elsewhere.

I had a gift certificate to Le Pli, otherwise I wouldn’t have trekked out Cambridge especially given the lukewarm reviews. When I called I asked for a special pedicure, the Ultimate Rehydration Milk Pedicure that was advertised in my gift certificate booklet. The lady on the phone kept calling it a custom pedicure so I just figured it was their internal lingo. When I checked in for my appt. I repeated the exact type of pedicure I wanted and again was told ‘custom.’ I was really looking forward to a long leg massage and some warm lotion treatment but all I got beyond a basic pedicure was a salt scrub. It was a good pedicure, the lady was meticulous with the nail paint but it really wasn’t what I had gone in expecting. I wanted luxury and what I got was just a step above your corner of every street, nail salon experience. It definitely was not worth $ 50.
My husband had an hour-​long massage with Bethany while I was getting my nails done and he thought it was great. No complaints from him. So I guess if you are in Cambridge and need a massage this is a good place to go. But if you need a pedicure or other salon type treatment I suggest heading to Newbury street.

I have to agree with Suzin… after visiting estheticians in 10 cities over the past 6 years, Le Pli offers a Brazilian waxing experience like no other. There’s either magical fairy dust or cocaine in the hard wax — it goes on nice and warm and barely pinches when it comes off. And the whole procedure usually takes 20 minutes — they’re not cutting corners, just skilled and efficient. I’ve seen both Sandra and an older Russian woman who are both sweet as can be and completely professional. I can’t imagine going anywhere else for waxing, even though parking in Harvard Square is ridiculous. (The salon will validate for the nearby garages, but it only saves you $ 2 off the insane hotel parking rates.) Though when I do have to drive, at least the waxing is reasonably priced ($ 45 as of last month, a total steal around here).

I have had two really good experiences with them and 2 bad. I don’t think I will go back since I’m not a fan of 50% satisfaction.
I had a full spa day here, (a wonderful gift), the facial was not so great, the hour massage was incredible and the foot reflexology was good.
I dreamed of going back for more but couldn’t afford it, there prices are pretty high. I got another gift of a massage. It was horrible. so bad that I made them end early and I complained. The woman behind the counter felt horrible and credited my account/​gift certificate the full amount. I used part of the credit for a facial, this time it was absolutely amazing! The best I have ever had, however, they were pretty pushy with their expensive products, it was still a really good facial!
I called them to make another appointment and use up my credit and they said I had non left. I’m sorry but a $ 135 massage fully credited back to me does not get used up with a $ 85 facial. Either they never fully credited my account or charged me too much for the facial. I complained to several people but never got any response or help from anyone.
now I want to say they should get 2.5 stars.
a lot of money for 50% satisfaction.

Helen deserves four stars for her wonderful facials! She listens to you onwhat your skin issues are, talks to you about how hydrated your skin is? Does a great job going about extraction. She wont push products on you and just suggests what she thinks might help you in your skin care regimen. I have only been to LePli for facials and love how helen takes care of my skin. The only down side is its hard to get in to her schedule.

WAY, WAY OVER-​RATED. Had a facial and mani-​pedi there a few years ago and will NOT be going back. The service is what you would expect for the price, but I just didn’t think the place was professionally run and I didn’t come away feeling I was getting the pampering that should come with a Four Seasons price tag. It gets an Ellen-​style «EH.» I thought the individual astheticians were good but not amazing, though the facial person was pretty good. Was just not very impressed. I think I spent close to $ 300 after everything was said and done, including take-​home products, and I have had many better experiences since then. Its not just about price, its about value. For what you pay you should have a great experience.

I get my brows waxed by Shannon at Le Pli. It’s a little more expensive ($ 20), but it is less painful than any other place. The stuff smells good and there’s relaxing music. For someone like me that has trouble with pain, it’s worth it. Shannon is an eyebrow waxing genius.