Colour Bar & Spa is a full-service salon and spa that offers services ranging from manicures and pedicures to body wraps, massages, facials, and bridal hair and makeup.
Located in the tourist town of Pigeon Forge, Tenn., and nestled in an enclave of diverse shops, ranging from gourmet yogurt to a mini-golf course, is the aptly named Colour Bar & Spa. Even its website lives up to its colorful and engaging name — plus the spa pays attention to retail like few others!
Retail Mecca
Owners Pam and Gary McKay, along with their daughter Rachel, designed what they call a “South Beach look with upscale NYC flair” by merging a traditional day spa with exclusive retail products found only in select markets. Among the staff of 12 are two nail techs, plus, in addition to Pam, there are two other sales and makeup consultants who are devoted to ensuring that clients have an informed shopping experience.
Experienced Techs
On our visit in June, 25-year veteran tech Cindy Parton treated my sister and me to a Couples Spa Pedicure, which Cindy accomplished solo in an hour and a half! The pedicure steps were choreographed perfectly between soaking, scrubbing, the mask, and massaging so that while Cindy was working on one of us, the other was experiencing a product essential to the Colour Bar Spa Pedicure.
Business Savvy
Colour Bar has a fun, creative vibe that’s conducive to shopping and when it comes to the service side, they certainly know their business. A credit card is required to initially book an appointment, clients are encouraged to turn off their cell phones upon arrival, and everyone needs to make prior childcare arrangements, which we totally appreciated and found thoroughly professional.
Fun Facts
> The original Colour Bar & Spa (which I visited) opened in 2006, and the second (newer) location is located in the nearby Dollywood’s Splash Country Water Adventure Park (owned by none other than their local gal, country star Dolly Parton). This sister salon offers people the chance to relax with manicures and pedicures on any operating day from May to August.
> The Great Smoky Mountains are a popular wedding destination, and despite its compact size Colour Bar’s service areas are arranged to accommodate bridal parties of all sizes without feeling cramped.
> The vast selection of retail products are arranged in an orderly, eye-pleasing manner that leads clients on a journey around the colorful room, ending (or beginning) with the fully stocked makeup bar. The website follows suit by making it easy for clients to create an online shopping account, while being kept abreast of special deals via their Facebook page too.
Menu Highlights
Manicure: $25
Colour Bar Manicure: $35
Shellac Manicure: $35
Acrylic Pink-and-Whites: $50
Couples Spa Pedicure: $45 each
Chocolate Spa Pedicure: $55
Ice Cream Pedicure: $60
(Dollywood location — most prices are $10 higher)
Product Highlights
Mani/Pedi Products: CND
Nail Color: CND Shellac, OPI polish
Nail Retail: OPI polish in several different collections, Avojuice lotions in regular and travel sizes
Additional Retail: Bliss, Trapp Private Gardens, Bumble & Bumble, Dermalogica, Too Faced, Philosophy, Bare Escentuals
Jill Wright is owner of Jill's -- A Place for Nails in Bowling Green, Ky.
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