♥

My feet were feeling very neglected and my little toes were screaming for some attention from all those times strutting in high heels on uneven pavement in the city, gallivanting around Europe and dancing til 5am in the clubs.

Well it was time my feet deserved a treat. After all, I’ve been told many guys have a foot fetish… but that wasn’t the sole reason why I wanted to go for my very first pedicure. (or maybe it was) (no, it really wasn’t) (or was it?)

I wanted my feet to feel confident in a pair of open toed sandals for the next up-and-coming social calendar event!

The location of choice, Serendipity Medi Spa in Riverton Forum.

I stepped into the salon and to my surprise it was a beauty therapist friend of mine who was going to get intimate with my feet that night! I decided upon booking an evening session as there is one thing I dislike about communal pedicure places: the crowds.

At every opportunity when getting a beauty treatment, I enjoy the peaceful “me” time that comes with it. So to my delight, I was seated in a massaging chair with plenty of space all to myself.

While I was catching up on the latest celebrity gossip, my feet were soaking in the warm bubble bath and as I felt the tiny jets on my feet, I was in my happy place. The beauty therapist handed me a basket full of polish colours to choose from. I opted for a french manicure to suit any occasion.

I took my feet out of the water and they were gently massaged with a light exfoliating foot scrub. At this point I should note that the therapist is wearing gloves. Then she removed my old nail polish and trimmed each toe nail with a square edge. Rotating each foot back into the bubble bath when it wasn’t being pedicured. After some more buffing and gentle scrubbing, my pushed-back cuticles revealed toes that were painted on with precision and care.

Voila! After 45 mins of a Goddess experience, I had the perfect ready-to-party nails all set for an upcoming balmy cruise down the river!

Tip: If you can’t pick a colour, a french manicure is always a safe bet, but keep your eye out for the colours that are on trend at the moment which include pinks (instead of your usual vampy red) and taupes.

Zoe Foster Tip: After hearing her extensive knowledge on fashion, a tip is to bring your fave colour to the pedicure place so that when it chips, you can always fix it up at home yourself.

Rating: 4/5 Since my feet were long over-due for a pedicure, I was indeed fascinated by the whole process, and how I had never thought to have one earlier! The service here is without fault and the evening booking was ideal.

$60 will get you the basic pedicure.

Shop 20
Stockland Riverton Shopping Centre
Cnr. Willeri Drive & High Road
Riverton WA 6148

Ph: 08 9354 3370

Article by Kelly-Anne Wong, pedicure cherry popped.

Pretty nails that have nothing to do with article ahead!

Readers will know of my quest to find perfect acrylic nails in the Eastern Suburbs. Herewith the second installment!

Location location location:

LA Nails
159 Walter Road, Dianella. Ph: 9275 4419

(Salons also in Kingsway Shopping Centre and Mirrabooka Shopping Centre.)

Service: Permanent French acrylic refills, after 4 weeks’ growth.

I found this salon by doing a search on the web and, since I drive down Walter Road most days, I was curious to see what the salon would be like. It’s tucked into a strand of shops and parking is easy, so if you live around this area and want convenience, then this is not a bad bet. The low-down on this salon is that it won’t win any awards for service or creativity but it does the job. Unfortunately there are other salons out there that do a better job at a better price.
Service

I called on the Friday and got a Saturday appointment at the time I wanted. When I arrived, the nail tech hadn’t finished with the previous customer, so I waited for 15 minutes. Not that big a deal – there is a coffee machine for customers. Once it was my turn, again, there wasn’t a lot of conversation or interaction with the nail tech although she was polite and efficient. Apparently they were short-staffed and she was the only one on that day.
Nail form

I was very happy with the shape – the nails were shaped square-round and thinner than the previous salon’s efforts. However, the nails were a bit chunky through the middle and could have been filed further to flatten then out. The thing I was least happy with was the ration of white to pink. There was way too much white! For some reason, some salons insist on starting the white powder about half way down the nail bed. Even when I asked for less white, the result still wasn’t natural looking.
Technique

Again this salon uses a tip to cut through the drying white powder which creates a nice, even crescent shape. Electric drills and emery boards are used. Gel was applied to create a glossy look.

Time

1 hour, in addition to the 15 minutes I was kept waiting prior to my appointment.

Cost

$50.00 for refills, although when I got home I discovered that the price-list states that refills are $45.00. Disappointingly, I was not alerted to the price difference or provided with an explanation.

Overall rating

♥ ♥ ♥ (2.5)

Article by Bron, resident nail aficionado & expert!

Ilcsi AHA Spicy Organic Facial

The Skin Deep brochure states that this is “The hottest facial in town” and they weren’t kidding! I’ve been looking for a natural facial treatment that will deliver smooth glowing fresh looking skin and I think I have found exactly what I am looking for. This all natural treatment provides fruit acids to smooth the skin and spicy paprika to boost circulation and detoxify your skin.

Ilcsi is a Hungarian based natural skin care company that relies on quality hand picked herb, fruits and vegetables. Ilcsi products contain no synthetic colouring agents, paints or animal-based ingredients. According to the Spa Universe website, Australia’s stockist for Ilsci, the philosophy of the brand is simple and natural: it accommodates to the modern need that prefers natural skincare methods, but still demands results. This is possible due to the high concentration of herbs, fruits and vegetables found in Ilcsi products.

The facial started with a double cleanse of the delicious smelling Rose Petal Cleanser and a light exfoliation. Next AHA fruit pulp is smoothed over the skin, the apple and grape extracts help to smooth and retexturise. A layer of thin Hessian is then placed over the skin and the Paprika herbal treatment applied. This is when it really starts to heat up, you feel hot but not uncomfortable. You can really feel your blood pumping. While this is kicking in to action, my therapist gave me an arm exfoliation. The mask stays on for about 15 minutes or until it dries. Some light fanning by my therapist takes away any last minute tingling. After the spicy mask is removed a lovely cold Rose Hip Gel mask was applied. This instantly took any heat in my face away. Rose Hip Serum and moisturiser were then applied which further cooled and calmed my skin.

Paprika Herbal Treatment

My skin was pinkish for about an hour post treatment, which my therapist did warn me about. The results were amazing- my skin was soft, glowing and radiant. I had someone stop me at the supermarket to ask what I use on my skin! It’s an absolutely great treatment to have pre event and the best thing about it is that you can buy the products and do it all at home; you can even do it a few times a week. As someone who has used microdermabrasion, chemical peels and Omnilux I can say that this is the most effective treatment I have ever had. I can’t wait for my next appointment!

Ilcsi AHA Spicy Organic Facial

Cost: $130 (approx)

Time: Approx 90 mins

Where: Skin Deep Medi Spa Salons (Como, Floreat, Mullaloo and Perth)
http://www.skindeep.net.au

Ilcsi
http://www.spauniverse.com.au

Article by Hannah Lee!

Be well,

xoxo

Acrylic Nail Salons in the Eastern ‘Burbs.

I love having acrylic nails. I can’t help it. I am addicted to the shiny, neat way my hands look when they’re just done.

Due to domestic downsizing, I went without them for a year and I eventually learnt that I am simply not disciplined enough to sit in front of telly, dutifully filing, shaping, buffing and coating all ten of those little suckers when I can pay someone else to do it in half the time.

So around Christmastime, in a fit of desperation, I had a full set of French acrylics back on. Being an acrylic aficionada, I was significantly underwhelmed with the result (at a service that shall remain nameless). So began the searching for a decent salon that would tick all the boxes.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with acrylic nails, acrylics are mixed by a nail technician from powder to create an acrylic material which adheres to your natural nail, making it very tough and durable. Depending on your nail growth, the acrylic takes about 3-4 weeks to grow to the point where your nails need to be “rebalanced” or in-filled.

“Permanent French” refers to creating a “French” manicured-look by using a white powder for the tip, then a pink powder for the nail bed. Typically, nail technicians should have appropriate qualifications, and of course, you should aim to check that out.

Over the coming months, I will be road testing a few nail salons in the eastern metro area and then rating them according to five categories: service, technique (of the technician and tools used), the finished nail form (whether a natural look is created through the ratio of pink and white, the shape and the thickness of finished nails), time, cost, plus an overall star rating, out of 5

Now remember, this is based on my opinion and how I like my nails to look; your requirements may be different but hopefully this will give you some hints about where and what to try.

For the purposes of our road-test, I will be having French in-fills, every 4 weeks. (All in the name of science!)

Fantasy Nails

Shop 6, 1010 Beaufort St, Bedford.

What I had done: Permanent French acrylic refills, after 4 weeks’ growth.

Having been for a great, cheap pedicure at Fantasy Nails, I was hopeful that their acrylics would also fit the bill. I wasn’t disappointed. They actually seem to know something about nail health. The lovely tech noticed the red area below my old acrylic and commented that the nail bed had been damaged through the last tech filing too thin. (Needless to say, this was not at Fantasy Nails). This has left a line, visible through the new acrylic and that has to grow out. I thought this was just an unfortunate side-effect since I’d had this before and no one else had ever spotted it. Colour me impressed.

Service

I made an appointment for late on a Thursday afternoon, although you can just walk in. If they’re busy, you may need to wait. The atmosphere is friendly, but efficient. Sure, chatter away, if you like, or not. It’s not a requirement. I didn’t make any new BFFs but I was treated respectfully and with a smile.
Nail form

Perfect ratio of white to pink – the white started just slightly lower than it would on my natural nail so they will continue to look balanced for at least two weeks. Nails were shaped square-round, as requested – smooth with no sharp corners. Thickness was the only aspect that let the form down – I prefer my nails reed-thin and this takes more time – a couple of nails look a bit chunky when looking laterally, down the nail. But from the top (and particularly when waving the little darlings around), the form is spot on.

Technique

I thought I’d seen it all until my nail tech used the end of a tip to cut into the drying white acrylic to create the curve. The result is a very clean line between the white and the pink, following the natural curve and shape of your finger. Electric drills are used, along with emery boards and buffers. The big surprise was the buffing paste. Ordinarily, I have a gel coat over the acrylic to create a shiny, wet look. My tech advised me that the gel overcoat isn’t necessary and instead, used a pink buffing paste which gave the acrylic a far more natural sheen. The buffed finish is looks glossy and smart.

Time

Woah! Super-quick. I was in and out in 45 minutes.

Cost

Not the cheapest refills at $55 + $5 for one tip but worth it for the finish.

Overall rating

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ (4.5)

Fantasy Nails also operates in Subi and Booragoon. Also give the pedicure a go (the chairs are brill!).

Article by Bron: I am 39, married and a full-time health professional. Like most busy women, I work way too hard and struggle to make my own health a priority. But I’m beginning to understand that wellbeing is all about having a rich, full and balanced life. (It is possible to love food, drink good wine and feel healthy – it’s called “living”!). One area I’m passionate about is how our psychological and emotional health interconnects with our physical health, particularly the role of stress. So I really look forward to writing about the stuff that I’m curious about, or battle with, and hope that it answers questions for you too
Bron x
PS Oh, and at this age, I’m also learning that gravity wins, no matter what!

♥

Tucked away in the Ballajura Shopping Centre is the Omega Skin Spa. The closed front door makes for a small and unassuming facade but once you walk in you forget the outside world altogether.

I booked my appointment for a Thursday afternoon, there were plans to go to the beach, so a bikini wax was in order. I called up first thing and made the booking for later that afternoon. It was a routine appointment and even though I arrived early, I wasn’t kept waiting. It was all straightforward, in and out in under half an hour. I have been to a few different spots for bikini lines and Brazilians and I’m not sure what the difference is but I found this one a lot less painful.

The staff are friendly and polite, and the salon has that relaxing ambiance to help you feel at ease. The music in the main entrance filters through to the treatment rooms, as do the voices. However the rooms for relaxation and massages are further back, away from the noise of the outside world. All in all it’s a lovely spot and I do think it will become my regular. The fact that it’s in a more suburban area means you’re not paying ridiculous prices and you don’t have to wait as long for an appointment.

Omega Skin Spa have something for everyone. If you’re wanting to indulge, make the most of the full body relaxation treatments, massage, exfoliations, soaks or Dermologica Treatment Facials. Perhaps if you’re just looking to look and feel good you can take advantage of the tanning, manicures, pedicures or waxing to get you ready for summer. They also do Bio Sculpture Gel Nails and make up for special occasions.

Omega Skin Spa

37 Ballajura City,
cnr Illawarra & Kingfisher Dr,
Ballajura 6066

Telephone: 9249 4957

Email: omega@amnet.net.au

Website: http://www.omegaskinspa.com.au/

Opening Hours :

Monday – Closed
Tues – 9:00 – 5:30
Weds – 9:00 – 5:30
Thurs – 10:00 – 7:00
Fri – 9:00 – 5:30
Sat – 9:00 – 4:00
Sun – Closed

Written by Liv, who is my lovely North of the River correspondent! You can expect many exciting articles from her coming up, including circus exercise, dietitians & more!

Been to this beauty salon? Leave a comment and let us know what you thought!

Be well,

xoxo

Treatments undertaken on: 10th, 17th, 24th November 2009

Aside from the obvious rewards of being on the Baskin Robbins email subscriber list which entitles me to one free icecream scoop per year, this is absolutely the most rewarding subscriber list I have found myself on: Ella Express.

I’ve long been an Ella Bache user, but in recent times have found it to be a little expensive for the contents of my purse. This is more a reflection on my own personal financial situation, but that is a can of worms that is best left unopened. Let’s just say that being on this particular database has been a lifesaver and a joy.

So anyway, back to the whole Microdermabrasion thing. Every so often, I’d get an email from Ella Express with some kind of special they are advertising. This could be a Napoloeon makeover session, waxing deal, facial special, whatever. All good and I’ve taken them up on a number of these. I’d been thinking about trying micro for a while but it was unfortunately out of my price range given that they advise you do them in a series of sessions.

Then I got the email: Half price microdermabrasion for the month of November. Hurrah! I promptly booked in for 3 sessions, each costing $60.

The first session was interesting as I’d never had the procedure done and didn’t quite know what to expect. Firstly she cleansed my skin, did the microdermabrasion, then popped on a soothing mask for about 15mins before removing and moisturising. It took about an hour, was quite relaxing and the beautician explained everything well. She also did a skin analysis under the black light and showed me my problem spots and what I could do about them. I was very happy with the result and my skin felt very smooth, clean and even had a glow to it.

The second and third sessions were done by a different beautician who did all the above with the only difference being that while the soothing mask was on, I was given a very lovely hand massage. This was a nice touch! Who would have thought a hand massage could be so relaxing?

The salon itself, was well-presented. The music was fine, your typical relaxation cds I guess and the room smelled all essential oil-like, which I love. The lighting was perfectly dimmed and the bed very comfy, to the point where I could have just rolled over and snoozed the rest of the day away. I don’t think that’s allowed though.

The whole experience was very positive from my perspective, my skin tone visibly improved after 3 sessions and I am eagerly awaiting the next email I receive alerting me to this half-price deal again. As much as I was very pleased with the experience and result, it still remains out of my price range for the time being, but hope that this won’t always be the case.

Editors note: I have personally viewed Sheridan’s skin & it indeed, was glowing after her treatment sessions! I was very impressed & am extremely keen to try this procedure myself – Annette

Sheridan is an enterprising lass who runs music quizzes around Perth, check out “The One Thing Quiz” for more details!

Essential details:

Floreat Forum WA
Floreat Forum Floreat, Western Australia 6014

Phone: +61 8 9284 9777

email: floreat@ellaexpress.com.au

Opening hours:

Mon – Wed & Fri: 9.00 am – 5.30 pm
Thursday: 9.00 am – 9.00 pm
Saturday: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm

After one of the worst waxing experiences I’ve ever had at a salon this weekend, I’ve decided to share some ways in which to minimize the chances of such unfortunate hot wax related pain and suffering happening to others!

The world of salon hair removal can be treacherous, we’re navigating the waxing waters of poorly trained staff, salons trying to cut costs and unhygienic practices…all in the hope that we will find the holy grail of beauty therapists.

And honestly, it’s pretty amazing how hard it is to find a good one in this town.

Many of my friends have never waxed before and go all wide-eyed when I proclaim it as a Godsend, three weeks with no underarm hair, I’ll take that opposed to daily shaving & stubble thank you very much!

So this advice is for them and also anyone who is not satisfied with their current therapist or timidly contemplating jumping into the world of waxing.

Without further ado, I present to you my advice.

“Everything you ever wanted to know about getting waxed at a salon but were too afraid to ask…”

- First up, recommendations recommendations recommendations! Ask your friends, your Mum, sisters, brothers’ girlfriend, aunties, that random woman on the bus who looks impeccable.

Word of mouth recommendations are one of the best ways to find a great place for people to perform acts of hot wax application on your sensitive areas. I’ve found that most people I’ve asked don’t wax, but 1/10 will have a tried & tested go-to, so that you can confidently jump on the bandwagon without too many heart palpitations.

- HOT WAX VS. STRIP WAX. Alright, now listen carefully. Here is where it gets important. There are some fundamentals of waxing and this one is King.

Hot Wax = thicker wax that is applied with a spatula to your more sensitive spots (bikini line, brazilian, underarms, sometimes eyebrows), when cooled it’s removed by hand. ie. the wax itself is pulled off and the hairs come with it. This wax hurts a lot less than strip, better on thick hairs, does a better job of keeping ingrowns at bay and is a bit more pricey for salons to purchase (important note for later).

Strip Wax = a thinner wax that is also applied warm/hot but removed by pressing a strip of cloth over the top, rubbing and then pulling off. Better for large areas such as legs and arms, quicker to apply and also cheaper for salons to purchase.

Then, there are subcategories for strip wax:

* Applied with a spatula

* Applied with a ‘roller’ (kind of like deodorant)

So we have three different methods we’re working with, which brings me to my next point:

- CALL OR ASK WHAT TYPE OF WAX THEY USE, BEFORE YOU GO!!! 99% of the time they should be using hot, peel off wax for your bikini line or underarms. I’ve spoken with other wax-ees and beauty therapists and this is the STANDARD PRACTICE!

However, there are a -lot- of beauty salons who will try and get away with using strip wax in these places, because it is about 1/3 cheaper for them & sometimes it works (however, the hair grows back faster, more prone to ingrowns, more pain for you). I urge you to not accept this and not to support salons that do this, you probably wont want to anyway because of the added discomfort.

Secondly, I and others I’ve talked with have found that the wax rollers provide a substandard wax compared with the spatula and strip method (for legs & arms).

The wax is quite temperamental, doesn’t come out evenly, has problems with being heated to the right temperature and as someone with sensitive skin, I’ve found it irritates my legs a lot more and I end up with red bumps, whereas with the spatula method I don’t.

In summary:

- Ask your friends where they go!
- Hot Wax + Bikini Line + Underarms = Good
- Strip Wax + Spatula + Legs + Arms = Good
- Anything Else Generally = Bad

Thus concludes the first part to this delicate topic! If you have any of your own advice, let me know in the comments, otherwise very soon you’ll find out some more vital info to know before you show up naked & hairy at your therapists door!

Be well,

xoxo

nvmen Complete Grooming Salon

“nvmen is the longest trading barber shop in Australia (established 1911) with almost 100 years experience they offer the great service of yesteryear with the modern day touch of fashion.”

Location:

33 Market Street
Fremantle WA
6160

Tel: 08 9336 7171

Email: nvmen@bigpond.com

Download the nvmen brochure!