The Retreat in Devonshire offers a range of services, facials, nails, massages, but after the Covid-19 lockdown customers had one thing in mind ­— body hair removal. “We did a lot of waxing in the first few days after we reopened,” spa owner Natalie Danks said. “Our clients wanted the treatment for their eyebrows, bikini areas, everywhere. They were desperate. I handle the facials normally, but my first day back was waxing.”Ms Danks opened The Retreat at 35 Tee Street in October, and then added two staff members in January. When the Covid-19 pandemic shut down Bermuda in March she thought the situation would last just a week or two. “Never did I imagine that the doors would be closed for three months,” she said. “It was a little disappointing.” But since reopening, The Retreat has been so busy she has brought on another staff member and extended her hours. “We are now open seven days a week,” she said. “There have been a lot of new faces coming through the doors, which has been great.”Customers are hearing about the spa mainly through social media or word of mouth. And the location is ideal. “I have clients come from Southampton and clients come up from St George’s,” she said. “Whether you are going east or west out of town after work, it is a pretty quick stop.”The Retreat has four treatment rooms. “One is a double room with a shower so we can offer couples treatments,” Ms Danks said. “We can also do body treatments as well. We also have a separate nail room with one manicure station and one pedicure station.”With Covid-19 we are just allowing one client in there and one therapist at one time unless it is a family of sisters, or mother and daughter.”A sprig of Bermuda cedar is depicted on their logo hinting at their eco-conscious vibe.“We are organic, eco-friendly, vegan, and cruelty free, wherever possible,” Ms Danks said. Ms Danks grew up in Bedworth, near Coventry, England. “I always wanted to go into this industry,” she said. “When I left school I thought I would do make-up artistry.”But she was advised that if she studied beauty therapy instead, it would encompass make-up and many other types of treatments, giving her more options.After achieving her National Vocational Qualifications 2 and 3 in beauty therapy and receiving the gold medal at the UK Skills Therapy competition for North Warwickshire and Hinckley College in Nuneaton, England in 2002, she worked in various salons and spas in the United Kingdom, and Australia. She came to Bermuda nine years ago. This is her first time running her own business.“I had my moments of nerves when I first opened,” she said. “Now I am really enjoying the journey.”She loves seeing customers relaxed in The Retreat’s space and happy with their treatments. “I think getting used to the protective equipment was the challenge after Covid-19,” she said.Ms Danks works with other local businesses. She sells Limestone and Cedar brand candles and reef-friendly sunscreen by Cassine. She also carries a line of skin care products called Osea from California. “I actually went to their skin care studio in Malibu and did their training which was really nice,” she said.During the Covid-19 pandemic she and her staff also did virtual training sessions with Osea. “They are a very great company to work with,” she said. “We use these products for our facials and we offer body treatments with these products.” • For more information see theretreat.bm, call 541-3535, e-mail spa@theretreat.bm or see them on Instagram @theretreat.bermuda or on Facebook @theretreatbermuda.