If you are looking for a place that your oil-factory glands would be tickled with luxury, sounds like harps of angels and in an environment that feels decadent, Mai Sa’a spa is the place to go to. The sounds and fregances you’ve always daydreamed about come to life in this beauty haven and owner, Hadiza Maina is responsible for all of it.
Whilst dipping our feet in lush Persian carpet and inhaling oriental scents, we were able to luxuriate with Hadiza and got to know her better.
Ibiene: Tell us a bit about how this began.
Hadiza: For the longest time, people had been curious about the north and what obtains there especially when it comes to beauty and style. There’s always someone who seems to be asking about the Hausa culture in Lagos and I decided to bring the northern way of life to the south-west. I decided to take those curious questions and provide the answers for people here in Lagos.
Ibiene: What kind of services do you provide?
Hadiza: We do Laali, Turmeric body scrubs, Gyranjiki (which is the repair of the body), Sugar wax, and Dukhan (which is a smoke bath).
Ibiene: Is any culture lost in the translation of these northern practices when you bring it to Lagos?
Hadiza: No, I don’t think so. It’s about sharing secrets and traditions. It’s interesting to see people down south enjoying what the Northerners have known and enjoyed for centuries.
Ibiene: What have you learnt working with people who aren’t aware of these traditions?
Hadiza: People love to feel beautiful no matter whom they are. And people love the feeling of being pampered with organic products and that’s what Mai Saa’a spa provides. Getting relaxed and pampered in a luxurious environment.
Ibiene: What’s the best part about having the spa?
Hadiza: I’ve got to meet such amazing people who started out as clients and later became friends not just of the business but personally.
Ibiene: What has been the most challenging thing for you running Mai Sa’a?
Hadiza: Oh! It’s staffing that has been the most problematic. The northerners are particularly conservative and it’s not easy to get them to come down south to help share these traditions. But it’s getting better right now.
What would you like people to know about Mai Sa’a?
Hadiza: I would like people to know that other than being a spa, being a part of Mai Sa’a is like being a part of a luxury beauty family. People can relax, get pampered and feel beautiful without breaking the bank! I would like them to see the spa as a “beauty escape.”
You can find Mai Sa’a Spa at 30 Providence Street off 2nd roundabout, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.
