Jinju esthetic salon: 60-min oil & dry massage for grandma, Jamae

My grandmother has been complaining about her neck and shoulders lately, so this time we went to an esthetic studio together. I didn't get treated myself — I watched from the side while my grandmother received a 60-minute upper and lower body treatment.

At first I thought it would just be a regular massage, but I was struck by how the director checked her body condition piece by piece before starting and explained which areas needed the most attention. My grandmother normally can't use one shoulder well and often has discomfort in the back of her neck, but after the treatment she said her neck felt much more comfortable and refreshed.

This isn't a review from my own experience, but I wanted to write it up as a Jinju body care story from a caregiver's point of view.

Jamae Salon Esthetic basic info

※ Business hours and menu prices may change depending on when you visit or how the store is operating, so it's a good idea to check before you go.

Called Jamae Salon because sisters run it together

What caught my eye on first arrival was that a hair salon and an esthetic studio operate together in the same space. It turns out the older sister runs the esthetic side and the younger sister runs the hair salon. That's why it's called Jamae Salon (자매살롱, "Sisters Salon") Esthetic.

Before heading into the esthetic area, I could see the hair salon space too — the hair salon and esthetic studio flow naturally into one another.

And if you need the restroom during your esthetic treatment, you don't look for a separate one in the treatment room — you use the restroom over in Jamae Salon. First-time visitors should know this ahead of time.

Parking and location

The shop is located in the Gajwa-dong area of Jinju. We drove with my grandmother, and there was a parking space right next to the building. When I visited, there was room for about 3 cars.

Being able to park and walk straight into the shop was convenient when bringing an older family member — no long walk involved.

What the treatment room felt like

The treatment space was neatly kept overall, giving off a comfortable atmosphere.

Walking into the esthetic space, everything was neatly arranged. Rather than feeling elaborately decorated, it felt like a space with just the necessary items in order — good for focusing on treatment.

There were two separate rooms — the left one used for other programs, and we used the right one. Since I was there with my grandmother, I paid attention to whether the space felt too dark or stuffy, but overall it felt easy to enter and relax in.

Fitting for a one-person shop, the treatment space was quiet, without the feeling of having to be mindful of other customers around you. I waited beside my grandmother while she was treated, and I liked that the space itself was kept so clean.

Program lineup and the director's story

Jamae Salon Esthetic had a range of programs ready, from skin care to body care.

Since my grandmother usually has discomfort in her neck and shoulders and feels stiff all over, we chose the 60-minute program that covers both upper and lower body from the menu.

Since I wasn't the one being treated — my grandmother was — I'll write the rest based on what I observed from the side and what she told me afterward.

Before the treatment began, I chatted with the director, who told me she had worked in Suwon for 35 years. With that much experience, she didn't jump straight into the treatment — she first checked my grandmother's condition. She asked where it hurt, looked at her current state, and explained which areas would be the focus, and I could feel her experience in that process.

How the pre-treatment body check works

What stood out to me was the process of checking body condition before the actual treatment began.

My grandmother usually has discomfort in both shoulders, but one shoulder is barely usable. Checking her body, the director explained that one hip appeared raised, and the lower back and spine muscles above it were quite tense.

She also said one shoulder in particular was very stiff and weak from not being used much. When I mentioned my grandmother often has discomfort in the back of her neck, the director said she would focus on the neck, shoulders and back together.

Listening from the side, I liked that it wasn't just "it hurts here" — she explained why each area needed attention.

My grandmother's 60-minute upper and lower body treatment

A 60-minute course covering upper and lower body at once.

My grandmother's treatment this time was the 60-minute upper and lower body program. Since I wasn't the one receiving it, I can't describe the intensity or feel from my own experience, but watching from the side, the director adjusted the areas of focus to match my grandmother's condition. She spent a bit more time on the neck, shoulders and back that my grandmother had mentioned were uncomfortable.

First, she gently applied natural fermented oil to the body, then the director massaged it in herself.

After loosening up the whole body once, she covered it with a thin cloth and continued with a dry massage that applied pressure through the fabric. Going from oil massage to pressure-based dry massage made it feel like the technique shifted even though it was all part of one session.

My grandmother said that starting with the gentle oil massage and then moving to the pressure-based treatment made the sensation change depending on the area.

From neck, shoulders and back to hair and scalp

Since the neck and shoulders were where my grandmother usually feels the most discomfort, the director spent a lot of time there. She worked through the back of the neck, shoulders and back, and finished with proper hair and scalp care. The scalp pressing in particular was quite thorough — even watching from the side, I thought it must have felt great.

The oil used for the scalp massage is also a natural fermented oil, and apparently it helps relieve stress. Throughout the treatment, the director kept talking with my grandmother, checking in on which areas felt uncomfortable. Rather than pressing hard everywhere, she focused on the spots my grandmother pointed out.

How my grandmother felt afterward

After the 60-minute treatment ended, I asked my grandmother how she felt. She said the back of her neck, which usually bothers her, felt much more comfortable and refreshed. She also said her whole body felt lighter after the treatment.

Of course, one massage can't be said to solve any physical issue, but at the very least, my grandmother clearly felt that her neck and shoulders were more comfortable after this session. Watching from the side, I could see her expression was more relaxed than before, which was a relief. Most of all, I was glad she got to chat comfortably with the director throughout the treatment.

Body care equipment and InBody test

Besides the massage rooms, there were separate machines set up for body shape and body care.

Looking around the esthetic space, there was a separate area for body care equipment besides the massage rooms. The machine that caught my eye there was the LIVEON, and at the time of my visit they were running a heated full-body dome plus EMS suit therapy program.

It's a program combining a heated full-body dome with an EMS suit, which seemed like something anyone interested in body shape or body care would be curious about. That area was also kept very neat.

There was also an InBody scanner off to one side. Since we were already there together, I got curious about my grandmother's body composition and asked the director if we could try an InBody scan, and she let us.

I thought my grandmother would have basically no muscle left, but it turns out she's actually about average. The director was kind enough to accommodate my sudden request, so we got to check on my grandmother's condition too.

Wrap-up

A satisfying time to bring my grandmother along.

This visit wasn't for my own treatment — it was to bring my grandmother. I got to watch firsthand, from the body check and explanation before the treatment to the changes my grandmother felt afterward. Since she usually has neck and shoulder discomfort and said she felt much more comfortable and refreshed afterward, it was a satisfying visit for me as her companion too.

If you're in Jinju looking into body care for parents or grandparents in an older age group, it might be worth getting a consultation here.