Over the years, haircuts were the only thing I visited the neighborhood parlor for. Friends moved on to eyebrow threading and waxing and I never jumped the wagon. A couple of years in college and then I decided to attempt the ritual of waxing, sending shock waves at home. But it was too painful and too long for my hyper-active personality.

I threaded my eyebrows for the first time a couple of days before her engagement, stuck to forced home facials by grandma and lived. I did the all bridal thing for my wedding and called it a day.

A few months back, after a sunny vacation, the tanned me decided it was time for a facial. I shocked the beautician by telling her that she did my eyebrows 3 years back and never did a commercial facial in life. Today I hit the spas or salons or parlors for a quick haircut, an occasional pedicure and manicure with my girl friends and at times a massage.

And then I see this.

A facial and massage for a 2-year old? to relax her? oh yeah! relaxation in a spa for a 3 yr old? And the mother telling she wants the girl to know she is beautiful and she is loved? Isn’t she sending a message to the little one that beauty is skin deep? And will the mom’s love fade away or lessen if the girl was not having regular spa visits? And where did we get the idea that princess are beautiful? Confidence building by visits to the spa? Aren’t there other ways to boost the confidence of your child?

I admit, good grooming boosts confidence and isn’t it the reason we pick, colors that flatter us and our favorite outfits for that-big-day-at-work. Matching accessories and a dab of her favorite lip color boosts my confidence levels. But visits to a spa at 2?

A lot of mommy bloggers I read have been worried about the influence of fairy tale princess in the lives of their little ones. Fluffy pink dresses, tiaras, glass slippers, white-as-milk complexion and the most-beautiful-girl-on earth. And this is the icing on the cake!

This is when I go, what-on-earth-is-the-world-coming-to?

And out of curosity, I have added a poll/survey to find out at what age girls typically had their first facial done. Please vote there.