Prior to commencing your treatment your therapist will carry out a thorough consultation to assess your suitability for treatment. Use this time to ask any questions regarding the treatment and what results you should expect.

Do inform the therapist at the consultation if you are taking any medication and let them know if you might be pregnant or have just had a baby. This personal information is treated confidentially and is very important for your own safety and well-being. If your health or medication changes between visits always notify the therapist prior to having any treatment. Some medical conditions prevent you from having certain beauty treatments or may require your doctor's written consent.

During the course of their training therapists are instructed how to deal with getting the client to undress. They understand that you may be embarrassed and will respect your privacy. Remember therapists are expected at college to experience the treatments that they offer themselves and will understand your anxiety! They will reassure you and will do their utmost to make you feel relaxed and comfortable during your visit. The therapist will advise you exactly what clothes or underwear you will need to remove for the treatment and will offer you a robe or wrap to put on whilst she is out of the room. At this point she will also advise you where and how to lie on the couch or treatment chair.

You will feel more confident and relaxed if you pay a visit to the "little girls room" before having your treatment (remember to allow yourself extra time to do that not to disturb with the time scale of the treatment) You don't want to be fidgeting all the way through your hour-long treatment and wishing that it were over so that you can make a dash to the loo! However, if "nature calls" during the treatment, if you let the therapist know she will let you know when it is convenient to go.

During any treatment the therapist is trained to discreetly expose the area of the body that she is working on and will go out of her way to spare your blushes and avoid any unnecessary embarrassment by keeping the rest of your body covered with clean towels. If you are having a body massage or body treatment you will usually be asked to remove everything except your knickers. If you are having a body wrap, false tan or mud treatment disposable knickers are generally provided. Massage oils and false tan products can mark your clothes, so always wear loose fitting clothes that you are not worried about the possibility of them getting marked. Of course therapists will do their utmost to avoid this happening, but it is better to be safe than sorry!

If the treatment involves a bikini wax the therapist will usually provide you with paper knickers to wear to avoid getting your own underwear ruined by the wax. Pre-wax and aftercare products may stain delicate fabrics and there may be some slight blood spots as a result of the hair being removed from its follicle. It is always recommended that you never wear your best silk blouse, underwear or swimwear.

It is standard practice for the couch to be covered in paper towels; some treatments require a plastic removable sheet. Don't worry if the paper tears as you move around on the couch as it is thrown away at the end of your treatment.

If you have booked a facial treatment you will be given a hair band or towelling cap to keep your hair out of your face during the treatment. Don't arrange to meet your friend or partner in the pub for a drink after your salon visit as you may well regret it! It is not recommended that you apply make-up after immediately a facial and your hair may be a little unruly! Make sure you have a small hairbrush with you and if you have long hair something to tie it back with. After your facial you will just want to rush to the car and head home for a quiet night in front of the telly alone. I always recommend you book your facial appointment so that you leave the salon in the dark and if this is not possible carry a pair of sunglasses in your handbag, that's what all the top celebs do!

If you have booked a manicure or pedicure treatment always allow yourself extra time for the polish to dry before you put your coat and shoes back on to go home. A good tip is to take a pair of open toed sandals to put on after the treatment to avoid smudging the newly applied polish. Most salons have a range of oils and topcoats available to speed up the drying process.

I would advise you to leave all your jewellery at home when you visit a spa or have a salon treatment. I recommend doing this to help you relax more during you treatments, after all that is what you are there for and you don't want to be forever worrying about remembering to collect your jewellery from the therapist at the end of every treatment.