Beauty Salon Review: Refresh Facial at Skatt, Mount Hawthorn.

When Skatt first opened a couple of years ago, I am sure I’m not alone when I say that I thought it was a bit of a gimmick. The bright pink, imposing building on a seemingly quiet, conservative Mount Hawthorn street screamed “different”.

However, I put my opinion on their choice of décor aside and went along to get the “Refresh Facial” which is $65 – on the cheaper side for a facial – which was the first positive.

When I arrived, I was taken through to a treatment room by the therapist. Unfortunately she didn’t tell me her name, and I forgot to ask at the end…must always remember to do this in future!

The treatment rooms at Skatt are located at the back of the building, the hair salon is at the front and is the first thing you see as you walk in.

The treatment room was fairly small but heated to a pleasant temperature and they had some ‘chillout’ music playing over the speakers which added to the atmosphere nicely.

The therapist began with a skin analysis which involved a magnifying light-dealy that she shone onto my skin. She talked me through some positive and negative points about my skin which I really liked, and she recommended ways in which I can improve the appearance of my skin.

The very best bit about all this was that she did not try to sell me anything! Skatt use Dermalogica products which I think is great – and even better that they don’t try to push them onto the clients as I believe that is the first way to turn off any clients from potentially returning in future. Other salons could do to take notice of this.

Next, my skin was cleansed twice, exfoliated, masqued and moisturised. On the website it states that extractions are included, but this was not part of my treatment – I suppose I just didn’t have anything to extract that day!

The entire facial took about 45 minutes and was of extremely high quality. I was so impressed by my therapist and her manner throughout the entire treatment, she had a slightly firm touch which I think is good in a facial and her hands were warm too which is always a plus!

The “Skattwalk”: a focal point of the salons



Overall, the Dermalogica facial experience was brilliant
.

I have nothing but praise for Skatt and the team, in such a competitive market it is difficult to be outstanding however I believe this is exactly what they have achieved. I will definitely return and encourage anyone looking for a new beauty salon to do the same.

To add to the praise – a couple of weeks later I got a letter in the mail from Skatt containing a card for $40 off my next treatment! Fantastic – I’ll be heading back this week.

Skatt are located:

Mt. Hawthorn at 165 Scarborough Beach Road

Ph: (9443 6500)

Claremont at 52e Old Theatre Lane, Bayview Terrace

Ph: (9385 3123).

Web: http://www.skatt.com.au

By Amy – 20 year old face care novice who is now addicted to facials.

Hairdresser Review: Head Studio on King Street, Perth CBD.

Hairdresser Review: Head Studio on King Street, Perth CBD.

Head Studio is located in the center of the Perth CBD, on King Street, which is renowned for being home to designer stores including Louis Vuitton, Wheels & Dollybaby and Tiffany… Perth’s own mini version of Rodeo Drive!

It would be easy to feel intimidated heading to a hair salon that rubs shoulders with these big names.

Head Studio proves nothing to worry about however, upon arrival the staff are all smiles and very welcoming. The interior is impressive: high ceilings and gorgeous wooden floors throughout, mixed with antique décor, candles and rose petals make this two-storey salon a contender for hairdresser heaven, accessibly.

There is also a little team of goldfish friends to look at!

It’s not just the visuals that impress either; Head Studio would need an extra salon dedicated to housing all the nominations and awards for excellence they’ve received! Check out the extensive awards list here.

♥ ♥ ♥

My experience starts with relaxing on a red velvet vintage chair and a yummy T2 tea (Botanical) served in a cute teapot/cup combo with a tiny cookie.

The selection of reading material on display is very impressive, with a personal favourite of mine, Natalie Blooms Beauty in Bloom: A Collection of Beautiful Inspirations, on display, as well as many other lovely books and all the current high-end glossies.

My colourist Rachel meets me upstairs and expertly chooses a mix of two brown shades that she thinks will suit my look. It’s a chilly day, but the temperature is controlled so I’m feeling warm while I bliss out waiting for the colour to make friends with my locks.

When it’s time for the rinse out, a huge LCD screen is positioned in front of the basins and we make the executive decision to put on ‘White Men Can’t Jump’.

For some reason I couldn’t get comfortable in the chair, but I didn’t get any water in my ears which is a notorious problem for me, so overall the colour rinse / wash was positive.

Straight off a plane and back from a competition in Melbourne, my stylist today is Taryn and she has wonderful hair. Tick!

She does what I ask for and is really friendly, giving me plenty of advice and tips about how to style my hair along the way.

My very own hair.

To finish, she uses the GHD to style my hair in a way that is completely new to me, little waves all over (I’m sure there is a technical term for this … help me out!). I’m really happy with it as it looks cute!

Unfortunately I’ve been unable to replicate it at home despite her best teaching efforts. 🙁

Throughout my experience I was really looked after, I think I ended up having 2 cups of tea, an orange juice and a glass of water. Needless to say I needed to use their toilet and even the bathroom is great, with cute pictures and writing all over the walls.

I was recommended some products and purchased L’Oreal Tecniart Spray-Mousse, pre-blowdry application ensures great smooth volume.

I enjoyed my experience at Head Studio and wouldn’t hesitate to return. The atmosphere, service, knowledge and friendliness of the staff, coupled with all the little extras thrown in make this place a gem in the Perth hair & beauty industry.

A must try!

Head Studio Locations:

PERTH SALON

64 King St, Perth CBD 6000

SUCCESS SALON

Shop 20A, Gateway Shopping Centre,
816 Beeliar Drive, Success

ROCKINGHAM SALON

Shop 4/7 Railway Tce
Rockingham Beach WA 6168

All contact, booking & pricing details can be found on their website: http://www.headstudio.com.au

Be well,

Annette

xoxo

Salon Review: Eyebrow Wax – Total Brow, Inglewood.

Getting your eyebrows professionally shaped is like an instant eyelift. The eyebrows are such an important and dramatic feature of your face, and so, should always be well groomed and shaped. Unfortunately I’ve been somewhat unblessed with straight eyebrows that sprout out like spiders legs in the middle. They aren’t very neat and I have black hair, so they are a prominent feature. I decided to try Total Brow in Inglewood to see if they could help my cause.

From the unassuming entrance on Beaufort St, the foyer is decorated in gold and white, giving it a royal feel. The sell Napoleon Perdis products, so I had fun looking and sampling all the new range before Amy, an eyebrow stylist, called me in. Amy, like all the girls that worked there had perfect shaped brows – and this was a great relief to me.

Amy guided me into the room and I lay down on the table under quite bright lights. I explained the predicament of my wayward brows and she didn’t seem too worried as she went to work.

Total Brow use a combination of warm wax and plucking on the brows. Its relatively painless and quick. Amy also started to pencil in my brows. I confessed I’d never used an eyebrow pencil before so she kindly gave me a lesson. Even though I had dark hair, she suggested using a blonde pencil on my brows – and they looked great.

I left there with slightly thinner, much neater and better shaped brows. I was extremely happy with the result and I will be definitely be back. On the Total Brow website it says: “Come and see us at Total Brow – We’re the best Waxers in Perth!” and, when it comes to eyebrows, I would have to agree with them.

Address:
826b Beaufort Street
Inglewood
Western Australia 6052

Ph. 9371 6057
Fax. 93716072

Web: http://www.totalbrow.com.au

Review by Yvette.

Nailed it! Part 3: Acrylic Nails at Studio One, Bedford.

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

Raw Food in Perth: The Raw Kitchen!

Raw Food in Perth: The Raw Kitchen!

As previously mentioned, Raw Food is slowly starting to make it big, even in our little city more and more people are discovering the health and beauty benefits of eating a non-processed, fresh and organic based diet.

One company that I’ve happened upon recently is The Raw Kitchen, run by Heath and Emma, and after e-mailing with Emma for a while, it’s hard not to get excited about their business because she is so full of information and passion for all the different and healthy ways of eating and existing.

Taken from their website:

“The raw kitchen is a Perth based company offering community classes and workshops teaching the benefits and power of raw, whole, real, nourishing food. In addition, we also offer raw catering, kids and school parties and raw health product supply.
Our classes offer simple, practical, hands-on, applicable ways to incorporate raw food, to whatever degree, into your lifestyle.”

Their cooking, or un-cooking as it’s commonly referred to as, classes include something for everyone!

From an “Intro to Raw” class to find out what the heck Raw Food is, how a meal made just of fruit and vegetables can be filling and ways to incorporate more fresh foods into your diet, with tastings of raw goodies in a non-judgemental setting – you aren’t going to be crucified for being an omnivore. It’s not about being militant and critical of your diet, but showing you how to slowly increase your intake of healthful, wellbeing inducing, life-giving foods!

Other workshops include such treats as; Mains Made Easy (plenty of ideas for delicious dinners), Raw Lunchbox (tips on making great food to bring to school or the office), Decadent Desserts (need I say anything else?) and more!


Photo borrowed from Hold the Beef

Aside from the un-cooking classes, they also have a cute smoothie stall every week at the brand new Subiaco Farmers Market!

There are a few types of smoothies available, all at the reasonable price of $6:

Green Smoothie – baby spinach, frozen banana and water. Great introductory smoothie as it’s a classic and there’s an option to add mango or strawberry for $1.

Strawberry Sip – strawberry, banana, almond milk, vanilla. YUM! Can’t wait to try this!

Choc It To Mecacao (raw chocolate), agave, almond milk.

King Hit: Choc Chilli – cacao, cayenne pepper, almond milk. A real kick!

There’s also a range of supplements you can add too and they use 100% biodegradable and compostable cups and straws. Very eco-friendly.

They also stock many, many raw essentials such as food stuffs, blenders, books and dvds.

In summary, if you can get down to see these guys and try a smoothie then you wont be disappointed! You can find out more information about the classes and catering there, or you can join the Raw Kitchen Mailing List: em.gilbert@hotmail.com!

Three cheers for innovative companies who are bringing us new ways to be happy, healthy & leave our taste buds satisfied.

Ps. Here is a fabulous book on raw smoothies (which I admittedly haven’t read but would love to): Green Smoothie Revolution: The Radical Leap Toward Natural Health

Urban Spoon rating: The Raw Kitchen on Urbanspoon

Be well,

xoxo