BJ Grand Salon & Spa

Easy to set-​up massage appointments. I’ve bought a massage and had one as a gift. It is SO worth it!

I’ve tried a few salons in the area for a shellac manicure and I will tell you right now do not look any further. BJ Grand Salon is the place to go if you want a calming, clean, relaxing, and well done manicure. Not to mention this is the first upscale salon that I’ve been to that does nail art.
I had a shellac mani with Mariah who is fabulous. She created the exact look I want from just looking at a photo on my phone. The music was calming, no modern mix on the radio, I could look out the window at a pretty scenic tree view and relax.
Yes this salon is a bit of a drive for U of I students about 17 minutes from campus, but it is so worth it. Trust me. I won’t go any place else now.

So disappointed with my recent visit to BJs. I went with a bride for her updo — she was quoted a lower price for an updo but when they found out she was the bride they increased the price by $ 25. When she asked why the difference for the same updo, they couldn’t validate. The staff was so rude, nearby stylists were snapping at us, and we received an ‘eye roll’ attitude when we said it was her wedding day. If it is an inconvenience to have bridal parties at your salon — I will happily go elsewhere. The only saving grace was the stylist, Jessie, was very nice compared to the other staff and did a nice job on the updo. If this is your regular cut and style location — fine. But I will not be coming back here and wouldn’t recommend going out of your way to try it.

The staff was rude and by no means helpful. She was in a rush to do something so she hurried on my bride’s makeup. The eye lashes did not stick fully on the eye lids and looks very funny. Not recommended. Lack of professionalism.

AWESOME!!! I was in Champaign for a few days and I wanted to have a spa day with my sister-​in-​law, who cares for my husband’s mother. After looking for a spa, BJ Grand was recommended to me two days before I was to leave. They were fantastic and accommodated us the next day. The service was wonderful. You could tell they truly believed in customer satisfaction, as I watched employees greet their guests, it was always with a smile. I truly appreciated all the work that went into giving us a great day!

I went there for 5 years. Saw a girl named Jill G. She was AWESOME. I always felt sexy leaving — and she never pushed me to buy products. I would buy them sometimes… it just wasn’t one of those sleezy feelings you get from some stylists. You know, when the look at you like you’re a lesser being because you use pantene or garnier products. Anyway — I stopped going for a year. (Had a kid and what not). Called back… they acted like they’d never heard of her — didn’t know where she went — and they couldn’t find my file.
One night, when I was feeling «eh» about myself I made an appoinment with a dude I’d never heard of for cut and highlight. And he did good. And I’m happy again.
But those snotty girls that look me up and down when I walk in and keep me on hold for 6 minutes immediatly upon answering the phone can go by by. I don’t need that judgemental nonsense.

Belinda, a director nail technician, did my mom’s nails for Mother’s Day. She was so friendly and made my mom feel comfortable (even though my mom was feeling uneasy about having her first manicure done).
The Almond Spa Manicure was a hit with my mom and took 10 years off her hands.

This is the best place in Champaign county! I have found no place like it elsewhere!

So I was having an amazingly stressful week to put it lightly, I had just lost my parents and sister in a plane accident and I was just aching all over and couldn’t relax, and I couldn’t sleep. it was also my two year anniversary dating my boyfriend so he (being the amazing person that he is) made us appointments to get massages here and it was JUST what I needed. The lady I had was so nice and let me just enjoy my massage in silence. I’ll definitely come back.

The first services I had were fine — 2 decent, & relatively pain-​free facials (I’ve had some traumatizing extractions before at another place).
The problem was the lack of customer service, which is oh, I don’t know, ESSENTIAL, if you are running a luxury service provider.
After two positive facial experiences, I scheduled a series of facials and I was canceled on TWICE as I was DRIVING to the appointments. Not the day before, not even an hour before, but 15 minutes prior to on both occasions. There was no apologetic air whatsoever, and, needless to say, nothing was suggested to remedy my situation. After that I was done. I made appointments at my hometown spa in Bloomington and drove the hour there and back — at least I knew I could count on stellar customer service.
I don’t have a ton of money (poor college kid). When I make an appointment at a spa (a place in which I am paying $ 60 to get moisturizer rubbed on my face while listening to Enya), I expect a great experience. Customer service is an integral part of that experience!
Take your money elsewhere!

My hair is fairly short and I usually get it cut with a razor… it’s a pretty shaggy, uneven cut yet very cute and girly. The lady who cut my hair did a pretty good job the first time, but the second time, it looked like she cut my hair with her eyes closed. One side was thicker than the other and my head looked like a box. I’d rather go to Chicago to get my hair done… I’d rather drive 5 hours round trip for a good haircut, rather than getting a Chambana cut.

Wendi doesn’t work at BJ anymore, and as evidenced by the drastic star reduction, my experiences there have changed quite a bit! Since Wendi left BJ, I had a slew of strange and/​or underwhelming experiences, but my pre-​wedding one this past May really takes the cake.
I suppose the underwhelming visits were with employees who I only saw once, and the strange visits were with this woman who will go unnamed. I guess it took her awhile to finally achieve offending the hell out of me.
She would often share her opinions with me, like, «why do you get your legs waxed? You seem to hate it. Just shave.» Yes, of course I hate it, it is super painful. Now wax me, woman.
So, the week before my wedding in May I went to see her, to get my eyebrows waxed (which, by the way, my regular brow waxer said she did an amazing job on) and get a microderm abrasion. According to her, I have the driest skin EVER and I need to start buying what they sell at BJ (where have I heard this before? Oh, at BJ.) Feel good statement of the year. She asked me when I was getting married, I told her «next Sunday.» She stops and says, «who gets married on a Sunday?» And I awkwardly reply, «Jews.» So, she asks what Jews believe, and I tell her, and she says…
«Are you sure you’re right about that?»
No, I’m not. That’s why I came to you to indoctrinate me and wax my brows. I feel like if there is any place where that should not happen, it is at a DAY SPA.
I wavered between one to two stars, but honestly, she gave me a discount on a facial and did an awesome job on my brows so two it was. I think that if you love Jesus, you will probably have a fine experience with this woman. As for me, it is time to move on to someone who is a little more not offensive.

Came here for a Brazilian wax with Tina. I was in and out in 20 minutes, and she did a great job. Five stars for her waxing talents.
I’m deducting half a star because BJ has priced a bikini wax as a Brazilian. Tina told me that their Brazilian is basically just a bikini. I asked for a true Brazilian, the kind I had been getting in Chicago for years, and was told that that was considered a «full» down-​there wax, which they have absurdly priced on their menu at $ 95. Fortunately, Tina only charged me $ 70 for their «Brazilian,» but I may not be so lucky next time.
Their prices are the other half-​star off. This is Champaign, this is not Chicago, but BJ’s prices are on par with Chicago spas. I guess they have the market cornered down here.
Spa atmosphere was fine… nothing exceptional. But I’m kind of a spa junky.
I’ll probably be back. I’d highly recommend Tina for your first bikini/​Brazilian/​whatever wax, though, regardless of price. You can’t put a price on experience and comfort!

Boys need spa days too.
So, for my birthday my sister got me a Men’s Spa package at BJ, and from beginning to end, I was thoroughly impressed and pampered. Now I see why women do it.
The most impressive part of the service was that they were so willing to re-​arrange my entire booking when I opened my surprise present and wasn’t in Champaign that day! They were also willing to tailor the package to me, and completely change the services even though specific things had been booked.
The deep tissue massage I had was my first, so I had nothing to compare it to, but I felt completely comfortable, and she worked very hard on my back.
My sensitive skin (heehee) facial was also amazing. I’ve had so many comments on my skin since I had it done, I am completely addicted.
Once I got over the self-​consciousness of being a man in a spa (there WERE other guys there, by the way) I had a blast, and highly recommend this place.

I just got a very overpriced bikini wax — $ 90 for a 15 minute session! For some reason they considered it a «full» bikini wax — but I’ve had $ 40 «bikini line» waxes that took off more. I will definitely look around for cheaper waxes elsewhere.

I have gotten a few massages in the Champaign/​Urbana area and I have to say that Suzanne at BJs is by far my fav! I like a good amount of pressure and she does a wonderful job.
She is also very aware of the body and points things out that she things you might need to be aware about.

Before I say anything negative about this place – and trust me, there are quite a few things that I could say – I want to give credit where credit is due.
Melissa, who does my eyebrows, is the one and only reason I waste $ 1.50 in gas for each trip out there. She is not only very talented, but also very good at listening to and adapting with the client and the looks that they are after without subjecting anyone to goofy-​looking brows that don’t fit their face.
Other than the wonder that is Melissa, I have been overall mega disappointed in the quality of services I have received. Haircuts and color are mediocre and pedis and manis are quite frankly unacceptable. Granted, I have never received a massage from BJ, but I’m not really that big on being rubbed by random-​ass strangers.
Bottom line: I would hate to discourage anyone from visiting Melissa for a great wax, but other than her, there really is very little reason to make the trek out to SouthWest Champaign.

Went to this place for leg/​bikini wax. Great service, way better than the majority of other places I’ve tried (various parts of the country). Very professional, great products, especially the wax. The waxing experience was one of the best I’ve had — it was relatively pain-​free (well, as much as waxing can be), and the beautician was extremely nice and competent. My Mom got a spa pedicure there, and it was also great. And I was able to schedule both of those for the next day (which was Saturday!), but probably it’s a good idea to call a little more in advance.