Dear readers: this may well be the Mecca for acrylics! Could this be where my search for the perfect nails ends?

Studio One

U2, 1004A Beaufort St, BEDFORD, WA, 6052

Ph: 9370 2000

What: Permanent French acrylic refills, after 6 weeks’ growth.

This salon came recommended by a friend who has other beauty treatments done here. Imagine my surprise when I walked in and found one of my very first nail techs, who’s now running her own salon. I’d been somewhat lax about booking in to have my refills so by the time I actually went to Studio One, my nails were looking the worse for wear. Emma, ever the consummate professional, was very diplomatic and made a lot of sympathetic noises, like how hard it must have been to wash my hair. (Other acrylic-lovers will know what that’s like when your nails start to lift. They catch in everything!). I felt right at ease.

Service

Between us we had managed to mix up our first appointment but Emma quickly found an alternative spot on what must have been a busy Saturday. The salon itself is comfortable, sunny and faces out onto Beaufort St. (If you’re peckish, there’s a fantastic Indian restaurant next door!). Emma is charming and personable, so there’s no shortage of conversation!

Nail form

The shape was spot on – square without sharp edges. The nails look like a sheet of glass – thin and flat. The proportion of pink to white was also exactly right; that is, about two-thirds pink to a third white. The curve of the crescent is oval – which takes some getting used to, if you’re used to a more round shape – but nevertheless effective.

Technique

The application of the acrylic and creation of the shape is all done with a brush. Electric drills and emery boards are used (your own board is kept in a separate envelope for hygiene). Gel was applied to create a glossy look.

Time

1 hour.

Cost

$70.00 for refills. That’s double the price of some salons. However the products are high quality and non-toxic. (If you haven’t already done so, it’s worth researching the various health risks of the cheaper products. Ultimately, you pay for what you get).

Overall Rating

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ + 1/2 a heart! (4.5)

Review by Bron, whittling down the nail salons til she finds the pinnacle of acrylics.

Be well,

xoxo

Hello! ♥ This week we’ve got a tasty variety of interesting articles and websites for you to check out, some quick bits to get you thinking!

♥ Healthy skin care rituals for a clear and glowing face and body! Some lovely advice here.

♥ Eat Pretty Super Foods for Your Skin! – eat yourself pretty!

♥ You Are the CEO of Your Life – interesting reading, treat your life as you would treat a company you were the CEO of.

♥ Apple Cider Vinegar is a thing that you should look into! It will give you energy, soften your skin and ad shine to your hair according to BeGenki!

♥ The Manifesto of Encouragement – if you read any of these links, read this one. SO good and I am tricky to impress with internet self help articles!

Wellness WA is going to be moving offices during the next week, we have HEAPS of articles ready to go but there may be a little down time so please bear with us, there is also a new section launching soon!

Be well,

Annette

xoxo

I was recently presented with the opportunity to send a Pamper Boxes gift box to someone I knew, I thought it would be a really fun experiment as sometimes our friends and loved ones need a treat, a wellbeing boost to let them know they are being thought of.

I decided on the lucky friend and had to sneakily get her address without alerting to the fact that a cool little gift would be winging it’s way to her soon… what follows is her genuine experience upon receiving the unexpected gift 🙂 – Ed.

One of the main objectives of ordering a Pamper Box, apart from showing the recipient that you care, is the element of surprise. When my Pamper Box recently arrived on my doorstep, I was definitely surprised! In fact, I was blown away. Already, the gift was a success.

Upon opening it, I immediately began to get excited! Even the sight of the box itself made me feel like a kid at Christmas time. I opened the lid, unraveled the tissue paper and began to explore.

It was perfect for me. I recently have not been feeling the best due to a personal issue, and the contents of the box automatically lifted my spirits!

♥ Firstly, a book full of inspirational thoughts and quotes – something I could definitely keep close when I was feeling down.

♥ Also included was a beautiful aromatic dream bag to slip in between my pillows to help me sleep and dream at night. This smells beautiful and has brought a very calming element to my bedroom.

♥ I also found stress less bath bubbles, which are an absolute essential for chilling out.

♥And last but not least, no Pamper Box would be complete without the yummy chocolates included! I must admit, they were the first thing that I tackled, and my husband found his way over to “help” me with these!

My Pamper Box definitely lifted my spirits and brought a smile to my face. It was not only the contents of the gift itself that did this, but the element of surprise when it arrived and the thought that a friend had thought to send it to me. It was indeed great for my body, mind and soul.

Review by Krystle, florist, random adventurer and die-hard Freo supporter ;)!

http://www.pamperboxes.com.au

Be well,

xoxo

Being a guy I haven’t really given much thought to “a proper salon” treatment for my quarterly haircut. It’s always been a “whilst I’m here” type thing. But maybe it’s the fact that I’m getting older or that I keep getting condemned for my bad haircuts. (Always relying on the excuse that the apprentice cut my hair, when really the blonde and pink strips should have been a giveaway that this would be a dire haircut). This brings me to the opposite end of the spectrum and a little salon in Fremantle called Nvmen.

It is nestled on the corner with an old blue/red/white striped pole out the front. Obviously a homage to the ol’ days of barber shop standards. With open doors I was told that my stylist would be a moment and to please take a seat. This place was charming with wooden floors and decor that actually matched. These were nice seats too by the way. The coffee table was littered with everything a man desires, to a certain PG rating of course. James May’s rather luscious hair put second thoughts in my head about the trim I was to receive, but regrettably the hippie era is over.

Photo of James May for reference ;)!

I was first taken to the wash basins. I had my hair washed and my head massaged. The head massages are quite superior and with the added bonus of being in a massage chair, I was on my way to tinsel town. After which I just wanted to go back to bed, but that would defeat my Saturday morning trip. The lovely hairdresser led me to an old school looking barber chair. The only thing I can reference here is like the one in Sweeney Todd. Together we conversed on what style I would like and with the American Crew style guide book in front of me I spun around 10 times, closed my eyes and pointed at a picture that would shape peoples opinion of me for the next 6 months.

After conversations about travel to Vietnam and Cambodia we built some common ground, stabilised confidence in our rapport and the hair cut was finished. She then showed me the best way to style it when leaving the crib. All through the hair cut little seeds were planted at the wash, cut and style session – it prompted me to buy some product which I haven’t used in, oh my, at least 7 years and some shampoo. To be fair I had just run out of shampoo so I wasn’t just a sucker for blue eyes and a nice smile.

I guess the greatest confidence I have about the salon is after I finished I was quite surprised at how little the hair cut costs juxtaposed against the likes of some carbon copy salons. Please for the love of god don’t go to these chain built hairdressers, they smell of underpaid workers and pessimism.

All in all a new and good experience from one of WA’s oldest but still remaining modern barber shops. Indeed the NV of men. Gone are my days of taking tickets sitting down and wondering whether the Italian grease ball or the lop sided, multi-coloured rather flamboyant Avril Lavigne will be cutting my hair.

To get your hands on the nvmen brochure, click here!

NV Men Complete Grooming
33 Market Street
Fremantle WA 6160

Tel: (08) 9336 7171

Review by David, feeling the hair grow back by the minute.

For those among us who are runners, joggers, aspiring runners/joggers or slow walkers (hand straight up in the air over here!) and are wanting a little nudge and inspiration to get fit or perhaps take part in one of the Fun Runs coming up in the near future, I present to you: The Jog Squad!

Myspringday is an Australian website I’ve recently stumbled across that will help guide you to fitness. Their latest project, ‘The Jog Squad‘ is a free program designed to make it easier for you to reach your running goals by allowing you to interact with fitness experts and other runners.

There’s a few Fun Runs coming up in Perth over the next 6 months and this could be the catalyst to get you ready for them!

Fun Runs in Western Australia for the rest of 2010:

18th July – Big Fun Run, Perth 5km
1st August – Womens Fun Run, Bunbury 5km
19th August – City to Surf, Perth 4km/11km/12km/21km/42km

As part of the free membership to ‘The Jog Squad‘, myspringday will send you weekly motivational support e-mails and there are even over $4,000 worth of prizes being thrown around which is never a bad thing.

If running if your thing, or you want it to be, I would suggest checking this out! Let me know if you do!

Is anyone else participating in any runs this year?

Be well,

xoxo