eyelash growth

ESTHER TAUNTON

she was tall, eastern-European and had the mother of all mono-brows – and I was about to put my face in her unusually large hands.

After years of gentle prodding by well-meaning friends and family, I had found myself in a dingy beauty therapy clinic in Wellington, about to have my slightly unruly eyebrows tended to.

while I lay on a plastic-covered bed staring up at dusty blinds, my sister watched the therapist – let’s call her Marta – stir a pot of sticky golden wax.

before I knew what hit me, the wax had.

Marta leaned over me, her bushy brow furrowed as she smeared the hot gloop across my skin, and I wondered if self-beautfiying therapists were as frowned upon as self-medicating doctors. It sure looked like they were.

with a few quick flicks of Marta’s sturdy wrists and a couple of barely-stifled yelps on my part, it was over and despite her alarming appearance, she did a reasonable job.

But the whole experience was a little on the creepy side and put an abrupt end to my fledgling relationship with beauty therapists.

So it was with some trepidation that, five weeks out from my wedding and with nails, brows and skin all in need of attention, I embarked on a tour of Hamilton’s Polished Image beauty therapy clinic.

I needn’t have worried.

behind the counter was senior spa therapist Keryn Donovan who, thankfully, had a pair of the tidiest brows I had ever seen. After my run-in with Marta, that alone put me at ease.

The first thing I noticed – after Donovan’s eyebrows – was the sweet smell of scented candles and skincare products wafting through the foyer.

The kind of gentle, tinkling music only played in fancy restaurants – and beauty therapy clinics, apparently – came from somewhere I couldn’t pinpoint and although it wasn’t what I’d listen to at home, it was a perfect match for Polished Image’s antique furnishings and muted decor.

By the time we’d peeked into the tastefully decorated, candlelit treatment rooms, examined the padded pedicure chairs and perused a stand of high-end makeup products, I was feeling pretty relaxed and that’s the goal, Donovan says.

“People come to places like this to relax and that’s what we want,” she says.

“A lot of people get vouchers for beauty treatments as gifts too so you want to make it a really special experience for them.”

The clientele is broad, with everyone from grandmothers to teenagers popping in for treatments, and procedures are tailored to suit.

“Everyone is different – their skin is different and their hormone levels are different,” Donovan says.

“You have to think about that with things like electrolysis and peels.”

Having always believed electrolysis took care of unwanted hair from above the surface, I’m slightly alarmed to hear an electrified needle is slipped right into the follicle and it’s a small electric current that does the job.

“It’s quite an intense pain but it’s localised and it goes away pretty quickly,” Donovan says.

Because the treatment is primarily used on unwanted facial hair and leaves some redness, at Polished Image it is carried out in 10-minute blocks.

for larger areas, intense pulsed light (IPL) can be effective, although it is not available at the Rostrevor St clinic.

during treatment, intense light energy is converted to heat energy which loosens hair and damages the cells responsible for new hair growth.

“It has the same sort of result as electrolysis but is done in patches for larger areas,” Donovan says.

IPL can also treat skin pigmentation, spider veins and some birthmarks by targeting the red-pigment (haemoglobin) in the blood.

The heat destroys the pigment without affecting the skin or other tissues.

among the less daunting treatments for beauty therapy newbies is microdermabrasion, during which the therapist uses an exfoliating head with suction to remove the build-up of dead skin cells.

“It’s a great way of sloughing off dead, dry skin after winter or just generally reviving the skin,” Donovan says.

Despite rumours it’s like having your face sandpapered, Donovan says it’s a relatively gentle process.

“It might leave some redness and make the skin a bit more sensitive but it’s not so bad,” she says.

“I wouldn’t recommend it more than once a week and it’s usually done every four weeks or so.”

Beauty treatments like these have long been popular with women and although men aren’t yet queuing for microder-mabrasion, they are slowly coming around.

“More and more men are having treatments,” Donovan says.

“Usually they start with a massage and when they realise that’s not just a tickle they’re not so scared of coming in to a clinic.”

and after my tour, neither am I. Marta who?

Beauty stripped bare – the treatments behind the lingo

Electrolysis

What it’s for: Hair removal.

How it works: A fine electrified needle is inserted into the hair follicle and a small electric current is emitted. The current damages and eventually destroys the hair follicle. while there is some pain, it is intense but quick, Donovan says. “It’s a little bit like a frying pan sear – it hurts for a few seconds then it’s gone.” The treatment leaves some redness and because of this is carried out in 10-minute blocks. Electrolysis can be used on many parts of the body, although intense pulsed light may be more suitable for large areas, Donovan says (see below).

Who it’s suitable for: almost anyone. Electrolysis is usually a safe and permanent process for both men and women. however, it is not suitable for patients with pacemakers as it can interrupt the electronics.

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)

What it’s for: Hair removal, treatment of pigmentation, spider veins and some birthmarks.

How it works: Light energy is converted to heat energy, which causes damage to the target area. When used for hair removal, the light causes the hair to heat, loosening it and damaging the cells responsible for growing new hair. Very little hair will grow back. for the treatment of broken blood vessels and birthmarks, light pulses are targeted at the red-pigment (haemoglobin) in the blood which heats and destroys the pigment without affecting the skin or other tissues. When treating pigmentation problems like age spots and freckles, light pulses are targeted at the melanin in the skin’s surface. The heat destroys melanin to remove the discolouration.

Who it’s suitable for: Most people.

Hot stone massage

What it’s for: going deeper than traditional massage, clearing waste and toxins.

How it works: Stones are heated and placed at specific points on the body, most commonly on the back. The heat relaxes muscles, stimulates circulation and activates the lymphatic system. “Because it draws things out of the body, it’s important to keep drinking lots of water after the massage,” Donovan says.

Who it’s suitable for: Most people. however, as with all massage, pregnant women, people prone to blood clots and anyone who has recently had surgery, radio or chemotherapy should check with their doctor first.

Chemical peel

What it’s for: General revival and hydration of the skin.

How it works: Accelerates and advances the normal removal of the dead skin cells, unclogging and cleansing pores.

Peels also actively stimulate the skin’s own processes for increasing hydration. The strength of peels varyies by percentage of active ingredient and gentler concentrations are recommended for first peels, Donovan says. “You need to let your skin get used to the process and work up to the higher strength peels.” A typical course of six treatments will be given over various timeframes depending on skin type and conditions. “If you’re having peels for a specific reason you might have a treatment once a week,” Donovan says. “If it’s just to keep your skin on track it could be every four to six weeks.” A peel will continue to work for up to a week after treatment.

Who it’s suitable for: Most people. however, because formulations vary and everyone’s skin is different, consult your beauty or spa therapist for advice on the best course of action.

Microdermabrasion

What it’s for: Treatment of dry skin, sun damage, freckles, fine lines, blackheads, uneven or blotchy pigmentation.

How it works: An exfoliating head with suction removes build-up of dead skin cells, revealing a fresh new layer of skin. Microdermabrasion works well as a follow-up to a chemical peel.

Who it’s suitable for: Most people. however, as with chemical peels, consult your therapist for the best course of action.

– Waikato Times

Beauty for beginners