Galentine’s Day is the February 13th celebration of friendship and unapologetic self-care (aka your squad’s official excuse to rebel)
But here’s what that actually looks like: not the Galentine’s where bottomless prosecco is the main event and your phone eats first. We’re past the ‘Instagram filler’ era. Let’s call it intimacy 2.0 – transformative head spa sessions, intimate conversations you’ll actually remember, and a sensory reset that leaves you feeling more like yourself than when you arrived.
Sure, there might be vino involved – but it’s not carrying the entire experience. The new luxury? The glow that comes from taking care of yourself… and your friends.
Matching pedicures followed by reformer Pilates. Head-spa sessions, then no-phone Netflix marathons. Blowouts with serious bounce for wherever life takes you. No grand gestures – just the treatments that leave everyone floating. Your crew. Your rules.
Why Galentine’s Day matters for female friendships
Because these friendships aren’t optional extras – they’re the backbone of your actual life.
What started as a celebration of female friendships has grown into something bigger – a day for the friends who’ll drop everything when you text “help”. The ones who know your coffee order, your salon gossip tolerance, and exactly when you need them to just book the mani, the blowout, or whatever it takes to lift your mood. (Science even says strong friendships can reduce stress and boost your wellbeing.)
Galentine’s Day is your reminder to actually make time for the plans you’d otherwise push to the bottom of February’s chaos.
When is Galentine’s Day? (And how to actually make it happen)
Galentine’s Day falls on February 13th – a Friday this year, which is either perfect timing or complete chaos depending on your group’s ability to coordinate diaries without seventeen rescheduling messages.
The official date is aspirational. Reality is booking whatever slot you can actually get everyone to commit to before someone’s work trip/cat/general life implosion intervenes. Mid-week appointments are chic and efficient. Weekend sessions are indulgent and guilt-free. Both work. The crime isn’t missing February 13th – it’s letting the entire month pass without making it happen at all.
The origin of Galentine’s Day: thank you, Leslie Knope
We owe this entire day to Leslie Knope – yes, a fictional icon from Parks and Recreation, played by Amy Poehler, who decided February 13th should belong to female friendships, not romantic pressure. Season 2, Episode 16: she hosted an over-the-top breakfast stacked with waffles, gifts, and unfiltered toasts, and accidentally gave millions of people a new kind of love story – the one that doesn’t need roses to feel real.
The internet did what it does best and ran with it. What started as a throwaway TV plot became a cultural phenomenon because, apparently, everyone was just waiting for an excuse to celebrate the friendships that actually hold their lives together. Social media made it mainstream, sure – but Leslie Knope did the heavy lifting.
So here we are: a fictional government employee from Indiana created a holiday more meaningful than half the official ones. Rebel behaviour. A bit of us.
Galentine’s Day treatments: what’s worth the group chat coordination
There’s a specific kind of intimacy that only happens during Galentine’s Day shared treatments – lying side-by-side in spa robes, sitting next to each other with bare feet and wet nails, debriefing life while someone else handles the details you’ve been neglecting for weeks. These rituals create a context for conversations that wouldn’t happen anywhere else. The kind where someone finally says what they’ve been thinking, and everyone else exhales in recognition.
Massages: friends who get massaged together, stay together
Head spa treatments are having their moment for a reason – they leave you floaty in a way regular massages simply don’t. It’s scalp massage meets existential reset, and yes, you’ll bore everyone at brunch talking about it afterwards. Worth it.
Swedish massages work if your group wants something universally tolerable (medium pressure, no surprises). For those who want more edge: wood therapy (deep, sculptural, slightly intense) or reflexology (because your feet know things your therapist doesn’t). These aren’t the treatments everyone books – which is exactly why your squad will love it.
That hour of blissful quiet, followed by twenty minutes of incoherent but very satisfied chatter? Peak bonding.
90s blowouts: turn up the volume
The 90s blowout is back, and honestly, Linda, Naomi, and Cindy knew what they were doing. Volume, bounce, that “I woke up like this except I absolutely didn’t” finish. Book your squad simultaneously and suddenly you’re not just getting your hair done – you’re giving your living room performances the music video treatment they’ve been missing.
A 90s blow-dry works whether you’re actually leaving the house or staging a dance-off to All Saints. Go full glam with flicked ends, or adapt it to your texture – the spirit is confidence, not conformity.
Some salons offer group rates, which makes your not-so-secret escape slightly more affordable. Either way, you’re leaving with hair that makes you feel like the rom-com protagonist you are, surrounded by friends who actually mean it when they say “you look incredible”.
Book your Galentine’s hair appointment
Galentine’s Nails: an hour of “enforced” quality time
Getting your nails done together is Galentine’s in its purest form – you’re literally trapped in chairs for 45 minutes with nothing to do but talk. No phones (we see you), no distractions, just conversation that gets deeper than it would over dinner.
This year’s Treatwell theme? Try something new. Deer print nails, gummy bear nail art, or unexpected plaid. Go matching if your group can agree on one shade (rare), or let everyone interpret the theme their own way. The point isn’t uniformity – it’s sitting side-by-side while your manicurist turns your hands into something you’ll be flashing at everyone for the next two weeks.
Gel lasts through Valentine’s Day and beyond. Add pedicures if you’re making an afternoon of it – because if you’re going to spill some stuff, might as well have perfect toes.
Book your Galentine’s nail appointment
Facials: close friends, closer skin
Facials this year are chasing mannequin skin – that poreless, soft-focused finish that’s basically good lighting everywhere you go. Think Glass Skin 2.0: strategic glow, real texture, and the kind of complexion people actually compliment.
Indiba, HydraFacial, CACI, microdermabrasion – pick your weapon. Book side-by-side sessions and suddenly you’re lying there in matching headbands, catching up on the job drama, relationship updates, and whether you’re actually booking that friends trip you’ve been threatening for months.
Express facials (30–45 minutes) if you’re stacking treatments. Luxury sessions (60–90 minutes) if this is the plan. The post-facial glow room – where everyone’s radiating and time somehow stops mattering – is exactly where friendships deepen.
Galentine’s Day: how much treatment is too much?
Correct answer: no such thing. Realistic answer: depends entirely on whether your squad can survive more than two hours together without someone needing to dash for that thing they mentioned in the group chat three weeks ago.
The ambitious move: facials at 10am, nails over lunch, blow-dries at 4pm, then whatever the evening demands. The sensible move: pick one treatment everyone actually wants – which, frankly, deserves its own mini celebration. The actual move: somewhere in between – carefully timed chaos that somehow leaves everyone glowing, laughing, and wondering why you don’t do this more often.
Book everything at one venue if efficiency is your vibe. Hop between favourites if you’re treating it like a self-care crawl. Either way, you’re doing February better than most.
Galentine’s Day Playbook: before and after treatments
Treatments anchor the day – and the moments around them make it unforgettable. Whether you’re stretching the afternoon, following up with mini adventures, or just laughing over post-facial glow, every plan counts. No filler, no fluff – just experiences that make February 13th feel fully lived.
At-home ideas: the gloriously unromantic film marathon
Forget the Valentine’s rom-com flood. This is Galentine’s, not a lesson in heartbreak. Host a film night where plot twists, messy friendships, and questionable decisions steal the show. Think films where laughter and eye-rolls are mandatory, and happy endings are optional.
Here’s the twist: everyone wears something gloriously impractical for a night on the sofa. Studded jackets you never get to wear. Statement earrings too dramatic for daytime. Heels you secretly love but never wear. Call it aspirational loungewear.
Pairs perfectly with: morning facials or blow-dries earlier in the day. Not because anyone’s judging your sofa style, but because treating it like an actual event makes it feel like one.
Going out celebrations
Pottery’s trending. Tea rooms everywhere. Escape rooms never left. But if you want a sure thing – these are our two picks:
Reformer Pilates: acceptable group suffering
Book a private session, spend 50 minutes in positions that should be illegal, bond over shared suffering. Shaky arms, gasps for breath, and the mutual realisation that yes, this is friendship too. Shockingly effective for both core strength and squad solidarity.
Pairs perfectly with: Pedicures beforehand – because your toes deserve a debut even if it’s freezing, and gel makes socks feel glamorous.
Matcha date (but master the ritual)
Not your average latte catch-up. Learn the proper whisking technique, argue over whether you’re a ceremonial purist or latte maximalist, and spend an hour actually being present.
Pairs perfectly with: Express facials first. Fresh skin + superfood fuel = the glow that says “thriving, not just caffeinated”.
Galentine’s Day brunch ideas: upgrade the official meal
Brunch is the Galentine’s meal – whether you’re hosting or claiming a corner table somewhere that actually takes reservations. But this year, try something unexpected. Korean breakfast, gallery cafés? Skip the same old pancakes-and-prosecco combo and order the thing no one at the table’s brave enough to pronounce. Split everything so the meal turns into a taste-test and a little bit of chaos.
If you’re going out, book early – Galentine’s weekend fills up fast. Hosting? Make it potluck with a twist – everyone brings something new: a recipe, a drink, a story.
Pairs perfectly with: Morning manicures beforehand – because grabbing the last croquette looks refined when your nails are gorgeous.
Creative Galentine’s Day gift ideas
The favourite things swap: Everyone brings multiples of something they actually love – £15–20 budget. The storytelling is the gift: why your friend is evangelising that candle or Dubai chocolate says way more than you’d think.
Beauty swap: That serum you swore you’d use but never touched? The trendy tool gathering dust? Lipstick in the “wrong” shade? Bring it. Think jade rollers finally finding their soulmates. Chaos guaranteed, fun inevitable.
Clothes + wine swap: Your “someday” pile meets vino and becomes someone else’s instant wardrobe upgrade. No judgment. Lots of laughs. Possibly new best outfits.
Pairs perfectly with: The Treatment Style Swap. Everyone chooses a treatment for someone else – facials, nails, brows – based on what they think suits them. Squad picks: surprisingly accurate, occasionally terrifying, and 100% worth it. Hair is optional (only for the fearless).
Galentine’s Day party planning tips
Pinterest boards, matching tableware, colour-coordinated napkins? Sure, do your thing. But if you want a Galentine’s party that actually feels like your squad, forget the checklist.
What actually matters: a playlist someone made with intention, not “Galentine’s Day vibes” auto-generated by Spotify. Fresh flowers on the table – supermarket works, florist is better, stolen from your mum’s garden is iconic.
Skip the balloon arch. Pour that energy into snacks, wine, and chaos. And please, go personal: garlands with your besties’ faces, a photo wall of your wildest group moments, name cards with everyone’s most unhinged quote. Or try the 2016 challenge – recreate your most iconic group photo from that year. The goal isn’t “wow, this looks amazing.” It’s “wow, I don’t want to leave.”
Celebrate the Treatwell way
On Wednesdays, we can still wear pink. But February 13th? That’s for your inner rebel. Big curls, matching robes, post-facial glow, gossip that makes you laugh until your cheeks ache, and blowouts that refuse to lie flat – this is Galentine’s, unapologetically. Treatwell’s here to nudge you to try something new, give you an excuse to go bolder, and make your group chat finally commit.
Because the best memories? They’re the ones where you snort mid-laugh, steal the last bite, and wonder why life doesn’t come with more days like this. Make it happen – book your Galentine’s treatments on Treatwell. XoXo
FAQs
What is Galentine’s Day?
A February 13th celebration of female friendships that started as a fictional holiday on Parks and Recreation and became a real cultural phenomenon. It’s the day before Valentine’s Day, dedicated to the friends who actually hold your life together.
When is Galentine’s Day 2026?
February 13th falls on a Friday this year. That said, the “official” date is aspirational – mid-week appointments are chic, weekend sessions are indulgent, and both work. The only crime is letting the entire month pass without making it happen.
Where does Galentine’s Day come from?
Leslie Knope, the fictional government employee from Parks and Recreation (Season 2, Episode 16), threw an over-the-top breakfast for her friends and accidentally created a holiday more meaningful than half the official ones. The internet ran with it, and here we are.
What are popular Galentine’s Day treatments?
Head spa sessions (the existential reset everyone’s talking about), Swedish massages, 90s blowouts with serious bounce, group manicures, and facials chasing that mannequin-skin finish. These shared experiences create space for conversations that wouldn’t happen anywhere else.
Can anyone celebrate Galentine’s Day?
Single, coupled, married, complicated – the day celebrates friendship, not relationship status. Everyone who values their squad is welcome.
How much should I spend on a Galentine’s Day gift?
Most groups settle on £10-30. Agreeing on a budget beforehand keeps things comfortable for everyone. Popular ideas include favourite things swaps, beauty product exchanges, or clothes + wine swaps.
What’s the difference between Galentine’s Day and Valentine’s Day?
Valentine’s Day (February 14th) focuses on romantic relationships. Galentine’s Day (February 13th) is exclusively about celebrating the friendships that are the backbone of your actual life – no roses required.
How far in advance should I book Galentine’s treatments?
A few days before February 13th is ideal for securing your preferred times, but Galentine’s weekend fills up fast. Early booking = less group chat chaos.
What are good Galentine’s Day activities beyond treatments?
Reformer Pilates sessions (acceptable group suffering), matcha rituals, pottery classes, escape rooms, or at-home film marathons featuring plot twists and questionable decisions instead of rom-coms. Korean breakfast spots and gallery cafés are also having a moment.