Born and raised in Muscat, Mansoor Murtadha Mohsin Al Lawati was awarded a scholarship to study abroad, following his high school. After staying a year in Halifax, Canada, he moved to the sunshine state San Diego, California to pursue his Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering. Upon graduating, he came back home and joined PDO as a Well Engineer, before moving to Schlumberger as a Sales Engineer. However, he always had a passion for business. So he decided to take a chance on his passion and that’s how Spaloon came to life. At that point, there was nothing in a market where both spa and salon facilities were combined under one roof, exclusively for men. So, he took the opportunity along with his partner and set up Spaloon in 2011. Today, Spaloon has three branches with more in the pipeline. Here are excerpts from the interview…
What inspired the launch of Spaloon?
It was in 2011 when my brothers and I were discussing the possibility of having a one-stop-shop for men. Up until then, whenever we wanted to get a cut and shave, we would go to a barber, and when we wanted to cut our nails or avail of other services, we would have to go to another shop again. So we thought, why not open up a business that can have all these services under one roof? That’s how Spaloon was conceptualised.
What services does Spaloon offer?
Spaloon is a full-service spa and salon for men. We offer everything, from basic grooming, like a haircut, beard shave and nail detailing, to relaxation treatments massages, skin services and Hammam; to hair removal and advanced hair removal services.
What should men do on a daily basis to look and feel their best?
The festive season is here and I only have one piece of advice to give to all – stay hydrated. A weekly beard shave is necessary to help men put their best face forward. A facial treatment once a month is also necessary. The cold weather can make it tempting to grab every single cream under the sun, but too many products can actually end up having an adverse effect on your skin’s performance and lead to the clogging of pores and unwanted breakouts. Get to grips with the basic building blocks of healthy skin by cleansing, toning and moisturising twice daily and exfoliating your skin one to two times each week. A weekly Hammam or body exfoliation will result in a cleaner, fresh skin all throughout the winter season.
What treatments do you recommend for the festive season?
I recommend our best-seller facial ‘The Vitamin C Infused Galvanic Facial’, which preps the skin instantly for parties or gatherings. With the help of orange, it instantly boosts and brightens the skin for a glowing complexion. Another is our Royal Shave. The concept behind this is the fusion of traditional hot towel shaves, combined with modern shaving techniques and products; it ends with the application of beard oil and face moisturiser for a fresh look and feel.
Why do you think men should indulge in spa and salon services?
There is only one reason that men are indulging in grooming and pampering services – to look good and feel good. Let’s admit that after having a full body massage, we do feel lighter and all our worries are gone. Did you know that a one-hour massage session is equivalent to two hours of deep sleep? It does help to relax and take some me-time out of our busy schedules. After a beard shave or a pedicure too, you’ll feel wonderful and eager to show off how tidy your nails are or how well trimmed your beard is.
What are some of the challenges you faced while setting up Spaloon?
Well, I guess this is not only my experience but that of the rest of the spa and salon companies. Recruitment is the greatest challenge that all of us owners are facing; finding the right person with proper qualifications and vast experience in this field.
What are your future plans for Spaloon?
After 8 years in business Spaloon is now ready to expand both locally and regionally, so stay tuned. To find out our latest news about new branches and services, follow us @spaloonoman on Instagram.
Who Can Cook Better?
