The Indies Teen Spa at Hawk’s Cay Resort in the Florida Keys is offering a range of island-inspired massages, salon and skin care treatments for 10 to 17 year olds. The spa has its own entrance and comes complete with pint-size pedicure chairs, manicure tables, and smaller massage tables that are frequently placed alongside the standard variety for parent-child massage appointments.

Mother-daughter facials are especially big business. Products include an impressive range of tweenie-oriented sparkly nail varnishes and eye-catching appliques as well as a special product line geared to the mixed skins of teens. “With the number of unhealthy teens on the rise, it’s important that we start showing children the fun in being active and taking care of their bodies,” explains Barbara Whatley, Indies Spa consultant who helped Hawks Cay pioneer the teen-spa concept.

The Teen Market
In 2008, just before the downward turn, US teens spent $173 billion of discretionary money, according to a study by Teenage Research Unlimited, a company tracking teen consumer behavior and attitudes for more than 25 years. In fact, more recent years haven't seen that figure drop too much; on average, a teenage consumers spent $104 per week on CD’s, magazines, video games and movie tickets – with little being spent on taking care of their bodies. At Hawk’s Cay, that’s already beginning to change. One seven-year-old even insisted on leaving a tip!

The Next Spa Generation
Check out some of these services for the next spa generation. All are specially formulated for young adolescent skin types and doe with the utmost concern for the care ad comfort of younger guests.

Island Breeze – this teen escape comprises a relaxing 25-minute Swedish massage, done in the comfort of a teen’s bathing attire, and a 25-minute facial

Spa Castaways – designed for friends to enjoy a spa experience together. Both receive a massage and a special teen facial using products gears for young skin.

The Kick Back and Relax manicure and pedicures include a choice of Nail Art for fingers ad toes

Glamour Girl – is the full-meal deal of hair, cut and styled any which way, including French braids and fancy curls, plus mini-facial and make-up. The best part, for mums at least, is that the session comes with a make-up lesson. After all, if your daughter’s going to use lipstick, eye-shadow, and blush, then she might as well learn to use them with grace rather than by trial and error …. And too many of us remember those clownish results, right?

My Last Word
Readers of Travel & Leisure rated Hawk’s Cay Resort, Duck Key, Florida the Best Hotel Spa in the USA so you know it’s gonna be good. And, be sure to swim with the dolphins some time during your stay. It’s a magical experience.