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Booking a Spa in Liberty Village: Six Questions to Ask First
Liberty Village is full of places to get your face done, which is a good problem and a confusing one. Reviews are a helpful place to start, and a few direct questions will tell you even more about whether a studio is the right fit for you.
This is a list of six questions worth asking any studio in the neighbourhood before you book, with our own answers written out underneath each one. Beauty Room has been on Atlantic Avenue in Liberty Village, Toronto since 2012, and we encourage you to ask these questions of any studio, including us.
One: Who Performs the Treatment
The word spa covers a very wide range of qualifications, and for some treatments the answer matters more than for others. Ask who specifically will be in the room, and what they are qualified in.
Massage
Ours is performed by Alexandra, a registered massage therapist. Because she is registered, your session comes with an RMT receipt you can submit to your benefits plan. More on that in the next question.
Injectables
Our team includes a registered nurse, and cosmetic injections are performed under that nursing credential. We encourage you to ask this question at any studio you are considering.
Skin and permanent makeup
Amanda, who founded Beauty Room, is our lead medical esthetician and senior permanent makeup artist, and she has been in esthetics since 2005. Our wider team includes medical estheticians and naturopathic doctors. You can read who does what on our team page before you book.
Two: Whether You Get a Receipt Your Plan Can Use
This question can save you money, and it is one people often forget to ask. Every registered massage treatment here comes with an RMT receipt you can submit to your extended health benefits provider.
The nuance is in the add-ons. Hot stone, LED light therapy and facial or buccal massage can be included on that receipt. Our skin upgrade is classed as a wellness add-on and is not. Coverage varies by plan, so we recommend confirming with your provider, and our registered massage page sets out which is which before you choose.
Three: The Cancellation Policy
Every studio has a policy, so we recommend asking how long the notice window is and what happens if you miss it, because both vary from studio to studio. We publish ours in full so you can plan ahead.
| Service | Notice needed | Late cancel | No show |
|---|---|---|---|
| Esthetics | 24 hours | 50% of service | Full service cost |
| Massage therapy | 24 hours | 50% of service | Full service cost |
| Permanent makeup | 72 hours | 50% of service | Full service cost |
| Cosmetic injections | 24 hours | $75 | $150 |
| Consultation | 24 hours | no fee | $25 |
We want to highlight two details. Permanent makeup needs seventy-two hours of notice, because those appointments are long and cannot be refilled at short notice. And a no-show is defined as cancelling within six hours, so a late morning cancellation for an evening appointment counts as one.
Rescheduling counts the same as cancelling. Moving an appointment inside the window is a late change even if you rebook for another day, and our cancellation policy sets this out clearly.
Four: Whether There Is a Real Consultation
A consultation booked as its own appointment gives you dedicated time to talk through your goals before any treatment begins. We recommend asking whether the studio holds a real slot with real time attached.
Ours is bookable and carries a $25 fee for a no-show, because that time is held for you. It means the conversation happens before any decisions are made.
Five: What Goes Into Your Skin
For anything that places pigment, ask about the pigments. We use Health Canada approved pigments and machine-based techniques designed specifically for facial skin, and colour is chosen through colour theory against your own skin tone.
For facials and peels, ask what line the studio works with and whether they will tell you when a treatment is not right for you that week. Both answers will tell you a great deal about the studio.
Six: Hours and Location
Opening hours matter when you are planning around work. Here are ours, laid out as a week, so you can see at a glance whether we fit around your day.
OPEN UNTIL EIGHT, TUESDAY TO FRIDAY
Opening hours
Late evenings, Tuesday to Friday
Ten in the morning until eight in the evening. These late hours make it easier to book around work.
Monday and Saturday
Ten until six on both.
Sunday
Closed. Please keep this in mind when planning a weekend appointment.
Getting here
On foot
A short walk from King West and Queen West, and an easy one from Fort York.
From further out
Clients come to us from Parkdale and downtown Toronto, and we are happy to welcome you from further out too.
Ask first
Call or text before booking if you want to check anything above. We are always happy to help by phone or text.
Where We Came From
Beauty Room started in 2012 in a small section of a hair salon, run by Amanda. It grew through the quality of the work, and we keep the studio boutique-sized by choice.
We encourage you to ask the same six questions of any studio in Liberty Village. You will get a clear picture quickly, and it is exactly what we would do if we were the ones booking.
Our Liberty Village Studio
We are on Atlantic Avenue, in the heart of Liberty Village. You will find us at 17 Atlantic Ave. Unit 2, Toronto, ON M6K 3E7, a short walk from King West and Queen West, with clients coming from Parkdale, Fort York and downtown Toronto. Call or text 416-889-9948 if you would rather ask a question before booking.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much notice do I need to cancel?
Twenty-four hours for esthetics, massage therapy and cosmetic injections. Seventy-two hours for permanent makeup. Rescheduling inside those windows counts as a late cancellation even if you rebook for another day.
What counts as a no-show?
Cancelling or rescheduling within six hours of the appointment. The fee is the full service cost for esthetics, massage and permanent makeup, $150 for cosmetic injections, and $25 for a missed consultation.
Are you open in the evenings?
Tuesday to Friday we are open until eight. Monday and Saturday we close at six, and we are closed on Sundays.
Do you take walk-ins?
We work by appointment, so we recommend calling or texting 416-889-9948 to ask what is available today. Same-day slots do exist, and we will let you know what we have.
Can I book a consultation without booking a treatment?
Yes. It is its own bookable appointment. There is a $25 fee if you do not show, because the time is held for you.
Ask Us the Six Questions
Book an appointment at Beauty Room in Liberty Village, Toronto, or call first and ask anything on this list. We are always happy to spend five minutes on the phone helping you choose the right appointment.