Why is Threading cheaper that other eyebrow shaping methods?

So, for some time now, I have pondering this very question, because I don't understand it quite frankly because in my opinion you can buy your own tweezers and wax and shape your eyebrows yourself! However, how many of you can thread and shape your own eyebrows?

Let me tell you that, in my opinion, Threading is a SKILL; an art infact. Anyone can learn to thread nowadays, but it takes time and ALOT of experience to become a good Threading Aesthetician. So why are Salons offering this treatment for so cheap?

Ask anyone who as had threading; that used long term, Threading is anyway a very cost-effective treatment to have. The only answer I can come up with is that those salons, beauticians etc. offering CHEAP Threading have a newly trained Threader and want to offer this treatment cheaply in order that they get the experience. Now... tell me, do you want someone who has had one day's training; with minimal practical experience to touch your eyebrows?

So for those bargain hunters out there; paying £3 or less for an eyebrow shape sounds like a great deal, but you may want to ask how much experience and training the Aesthetician has had before embarking on shaping your eyebrows or removing unwanted facial hair!

Common complaints that I get from clients who had had bad previous threading experiences by other Aestheticians are:

1) A very "in-out" service which is very impersonal

2) No after-care advice or pre-thread consultation

3) Mishaped eyebrows, eyebrows too thin and uneven eyebrows 

4) Nips and Cuts caused by poor control of the thread or the aesthetician rushing

5) They never see the same aesthetician twice, so end up having a different shape to their eyebrows everytime

So think twice before you grab that bargain.... because it may turn into a nightmare! Threading is a skill and like with any trade, highly skilled individuals cost money sadly and you will most likely get what you pay for!

How to Grow your eyebrows back

Well shaped Eyebrows will frame your face and enhance nonverbal communication (such as the expression of emotion). Eyebrow hair have a six to eight week growth cycle and follow the same growth, resting and shedding cycle as other body hair (not head hair).

Sadly, many of my clients suffer from sparse or 'gaps' on their eyebrows caused by; a bad previous therapist (!), over plucking, side effects to medications and/ or due to alopacia areata which leaves them feeling very self-concious.

Based on my experience and advice I give to my clients, I have made a list of suggestions to help grow back those hairs naturally; without the need to invest in expensive lotions and potions that are out there in the market.

It is important to note however that this is a LONG TERM and SLOW process; which can take upto 3 months, so before embarking on one or more of these suggestions one must be prepared to patient!

Tips:

1) Essential Oils - Using drops of Peppermint, Rosemary & Sage (3-4 drops of each) mixed with a table spoon of Olive oil. Massage this mixture for atleast 2 minutes once or twice a day. Peppermint is used for stimulating blood flow and Sage & Rosemary have antibacterial properties ans nourish the hair follicle.

***Please check beforehand by applying the mixture on a sensitive spot for any reactions/ sensitivity you may have to any of these oils before using it on your eyebrows!

***Also, some oils are not suitable for use in pregnancy, therefore please check before purchasing these oils if they are suitable to be used during preganancy.

2) Massage - Using your fingers or a Brow Brush, gently massage the areas of your eyebrows in the direction of hair for up to 10 minutes. You can add a drop or two of Vitamine E, Caster or Olive oil to the brush/ finger for the massage. Do this atleast twice daily.

3) Vitamins! - Research shows that Vitamins A, B3, C & E are good for hair growth as these vitamins increase the intake of Proteins.

4) Water - Also drink LOTS of water to ensure your body removes toxins.

Avoid having hair removed too close to those areas you are trying to grow back. This is why Eyebrow Threading is so wonderful; one can remove a hair at a time!

Eyebrows - Waxing vs Threading

WAXING VS THREADING

 In the West, it is normal to get your eyebrows waxed and all salons offer this treatment right? In the East it is very unlikely to even have eyebrow waxing as an option on a treatment list. It will always be Threading!

So I have put together a list of why I think Threading is FAR SUPERIOR to Waxing.

Waxing is:

1) More painful – Waxing is more painful than threading. Since threading only targets individual hairs, skin irritation is kept to a minimum, unlike waxing, which often causes unnecessary stretching and removal of the skin’s delicate top layers.

2) Not Perfect – Threading is very precise and allows to have a greater control than waxing, resulting in a better brow shape.

3) Not Natural – Threading is 100% natural; no artificial waxes, chemicals, or invasive techniques are used.

4) Anti-Acne – The majority of individuals that breakout from waxing tend to not to suffer the same effect from threading. Also, threading can be used for individuals who are currently using medications for acne-based skin conditions.

5) Harmful to the skin – Waxing can pull, stretch, and even remove the delicate skin on your face; eventually facilitating in the development of wrinkles! Threading does none of this!

6) Less safe - Threading is better for your skin. When you wax you not only pull the hair but also pull on the skin which is very delicate and after a while it will become'saggy'

7) Redness and no proper shape-Unlike threading, waxing makes the eye area red afterwards (for a longer period of time)and its painful and shaping is not as accurate. 

So, do you still want your eyebrows waxed? If you haven't tried Threading before, now would be a great time to start!

I have been shaping my own eyebrows since I was a teenager and waxing was NEVER an option to me!

Unwanted Facial Hair in Menopause

Unwanted facial hair will be different for every woman, e.g. a few hairs on the chin, growth on the upper lip or heavy and beard like. An increase in facial hair in Menopause is due to hormonal changes; namely the levels of Oestrogen and Testosterone. Some medications (and certain hormone replacement products) can also cause of the increased degree of facial hair.

However, you don't have to suffer in silence. As a woman ages, she will unfortunately find coarse, dark hairs emerging on areas of the face she never did before. In the past, waxing and plucking have been the method of choice for the removal of these unwanted hairs. However, waxing can increase the rate of ageing of the skin (which is the last thing you want!), and plucking can lead to hairs growing back thicker and can often lead to in-grown hairs.

As a result, many women are turning to techniques such as Threading as it is by far the safest and most effective way of removing unwanted hairs. It does not damage the skin as the hairs are removed and in time can often make the hair finer and more bearable (and less noticeable!). 

In my experience, threading is a safe, effective and a natural way of removing unwanted hair - regardless of age!

 

Getting Hairy in Pregnancy

Pregnancy is an amazing experience. The most noticeable difference (aside from your growing belly and bust!) is how your hair looks so healthy, shiny and fuller. For some though there is also a traumatic side to this new phenomenon; hair starts growing in places where you never had hair before!

The unwanted hair normally presents itself on: chin, upper lip, cheeks, neck, abdomen, breasts, and back. Never fear though... this hair usually disappears or greatly reduces once the baby is born. So why do you get more hairy? The main reason for this is hormones related to pregnancy. Androgens (aka sex hormones) and cortisone levels are increased in pregnancy. Pregnancy hormones rise sharply in the first trimester; which is probably when you will first start to notice the 'new' hair.

The hair is more noticeable in darker haired ladies and less so in fair haired ladies however, how self conscious one feels about this is individual. Most advise against the use of hair removal creams and bleaching agents during pregnancy - so threading the hair can be a great way to remove this unwanted hair - especially on your face as you can hide the rest! It is also important to note that during pregnancy, there is increased blood flow which generally means hair will grow back sooner and you may be more 'sensitive' to the sensation of hair removal.

Again, if threading is an option you are considering for removing this unwanted hair, it is well worth visiting a threading professional who has plenty of experience and preferably has had previous experience of threading pregnant ladies.

Threading and Wedding

It's been some weeks since my last post. Having been busy threading many bride and groom-to-be's and also having been to two wonderful weddings myself, I am going to keep with the wedding theme this blog.

Your wedding day is one of the single most important days of your  life. Particularly so for the bride. It's alot of pressure actually (having once been a bride myself) where you know as the bride, you will be the centre of attention the whole day as well as the talk of the entire wedding; both during and a long time after. So no wonder you want to look your best.

Since about April of this year, I have had an influx of 2011 bride/ groom-to-be's who want to 'sort out' their eyebrows and/or remove the unwanted facial hair in preparation for the big day. Some have never tried Threading before visiting me, and unsurprisingly, they are hooked after their first treatment! Many of them then refer their mothers, bridesmaids and other friends as a result - gosh what a compliment.

In my opinion, it's always good to start threading some months ahead of the big day - especially if you want to get a great shape to your eyebrows. Also, hair growth becomes finer with time, therefore you may find that where you were waxing/ plucking every 2 weeks, with long term threading, you may not need threading for 3-4-5 weeks or even longer (depending on the individual) - so you have lovely eyebrows and no noticeable facial hair during the honeymoon!

For those bride/ groom to-be's that are considering threading, I say - GO FOR IT but make sure you find a Threader who is qualified, insured and of course has a reputation for being good at what they do!

Online Appointment Booking!

I'm very excited to announce a the launch of my new appointment booking system on my website.

New and existing clients can view my availability and book treatments they wish to have using this tool. Of course, the 'Contact Me' page still exists so that those preferring to call or email me can do so. The booking system is ideal for those clients wishing to have a single treatment or a full face option. Those wishing to have multiple treatments e.g. eyebrows and upper lip are still recommended to contact me directly so that I can enter their appointment on to the system directly.

It's a fantastic new tool, which I hope will bode useful to clients.

I love technology!

Threading...Not Just for Women!

Increasingly, I have seen a rise in the number of male clients coming to me for threading. Threading is increasingly becoming a well known hair removal and eyebrow shaping method within female circles but its use is also becoming popular on men.

Threading has widely been used on men in Asia and Arabia for centuries and is now becoming a popular option in the West.

So what are men threading, I hear you ask...

...well... they tend to be areas alot of men secretly or not secretly pluck/ wax anyway!

• Eyebrows - those who have a monobrow and/or to define their exisitng shape to have a cleaner yet natural look (in most cases - there are some who like them highly shaped too!)
• Bridge of Nose - those who have excessive or dark hairs on their nose
• Cheeks - removing the hairs from the cheek area, can give the beard area more definition
• Ears - removal of hair from all areas of the outer ear (i.e. lobe)
• Forehead - usually those who shape their eyebrows will also commonly have the hair on their forehead removed or 'thinned' to give more definition to their eyebrows

Most of my male clients tell me that they often tell no one about the fact that they have threading done - this is often due to fears of being seen as vain, 'unmale' etc. I assure them that this is not the case at all! Infact about 25% of my client base are male! 

Although it is widely accepted for women to have perfectly shaped eyebrows and unwanted facial hair removed, often males who are known to also want the same, tend to face some prejudice.

Perhaps the fact that I am a home-based therapist rather than being on a high street or at a threading bar in the middle of a shopping centre is the reason why male clients feel more comfortable visiting me.

Either way, I just want to let those men who do remove those unwanted hairs (by whatever means they choose) know that, it is perfectly normal and welcome any comments from any male readers out there about the topic!

Unwanted Facial Hair/ Hirsutism

Lately, I have noticed an increase in the number of clients wanting their full face threaded, so I thought this would be a good time to blog about Hirsutism (excessive hair growth) or unwanted facial hair (UFH) in women.  

I am no doctor (ofcourse!) so much of the information below is written based on my own reading around the subject as well as my notes and books from my Homeopathy and Nutrition degrees.

Hirsutism affects approximately 1 in 10 women in the UK and is often embarrassing and distressing to most women; affecting their self esteem and confidence.

Symptoms can vary in their degree of severity, from:

•      A few individual hairs on the chin
•      A light growth on the upper lip
•      Fuzzy hair on the cheeks
•      Development of dark, coarse hair on the body and facial areas (chin, jaw, upperlip, sides of face etc.)

 

Causes:

• Idiopathic hirsutism:
• Genetic.
• Drug-induced hirsutism, e.g. anabolic steroids
• Ovarian causes:
• PCOS
• Menopause
• Some tumours which cause an increased productions of Androgens
• Adrenal causes:
• Adrenal Tumours, CAH, Cushing’s Syndrome
• Other causes include severe insulin resistance, Anorexia Nervosa, Hypothyroidism etc.

Treatments:

Some popular hair removal methods include:

• Plucking/Tweezing
• Waxing
• Shaving
• Threading
• Laser Hair removal
• Electrolysis

How can Threading help?

• It is neat and precise
• It can be used to shape the eyebrow from both the top and bottom
• The same area can be 'gone over' without irritating the skin
• It is kinder to the skin and no heat or chemicals are applied
• The flexibility of the thread allows the removal of hairs facing in different directions and in awkward places on the face
• Regrowth of hair in the threaded areas is finer, smoother and softer
• It is suitable for those with sensitive skin; where waxing is not an option
• It is considered by many to be less painful than other methods of hair removal
• Long term use of waxing can prematurely age and weaken the skin, threading barely touches the skin itself and 'grabs' the hair; pulling it out by the root
• Does not cause ingrown hairs.

Important note!

Facial hair is a very personal and individual issue; whereby hair on the upper-lip can be bothersome for some, may not be bothersome to others; so only You can decide if facial hair is unwanted! 


Useful sites:
http://facialhairremoval.ca/hirsutism/
http://www.hairremovalforum.com/laser-hair-removal-research/hirsutism-causes-treatments/135/
http://www.bupa.co.uk/health-information/directory/h/hirsutism

Lush New Products...

I am very excited as this weekend I received my much anticipated floral waters from a highly recommended and recognised source. I purchased a few smaller bottles of each in case my clients wanted to use the product at home! More information is listed below.

1)      Tea Tree Floral Water:                                 

Tea Tree is widely used by beauticians for its anti-bacterial and anti fungal properties. I always use tea tree on clients (unless they choose not to) after their threading treatment. It is also fantastic for skin problems such as acne and blemishes. The use of this product as a toner can clean the skin and kill bacteria in pores; particularly after any hair removal technique as pores are left open and exposed.

1)      Chamomile Floral Water     

Specifically Roman Chamomile is used in making this lovely floral water. Chamomile is widely used in many beauty products because of it gentle soothing effects on skin. Specifically, it is excellent for irritated skin and because of it is so mild, it is excellent for use on babies and young children to clean hands, feet and even bottoms! I tend to use this product on clients (unless they choose not to) to remove make up and clean the skin before a threading treatment.

1)      Rose Water (Floral)   

Most commonly used by Threading specialists because of its ability to sooth irritated and reddened skin. It also hydrates the skin if used as a regular toner. It works by balancing pH levels of the skin and promoting regeneration. It can be used for those who suffer from acne, sunburn and even to treat dry and damaged hair! The best thing of all is that it can be used on all skin types.

So you ask, why this brand, why are you even blogging about this? I’ll tell you why…the company who produce these products and many more are a Surrey based enterprise; who pride themselves in producing premium quality aromatherapy products to therapists, Salons and Spas on a global scale. Their statement was what impressed me the most and priding myself for being able to provide as ‘natural’ a treatment as possible to my clients where even any products I use (including the antibacterial thread) are Natural, Ethical and Holistic!

Spa Therapy

What a lovely weekend it has been; the glorious sun was out once again, the air was warm and fresh. What better way to relax and unwind than a well deserved trip to a Spa!

When my son was born, my in laws decided to treat my husband and I with a gift voucher to the Molton Brown Spa in Bluewater. So, 14 months later, my husband and I finally made it a 'date'!

After a busy morning seeing my own clients, my husband and I made a dash for our own spa treat; with a quick pit stop on the way to drop my son at his grandparents for the afternoon.

When we got there, it was perfect. The ambience and the 'feel' of the place was great. Pre-baby, my husband and I frequently visited Spa's. However after having our son, our priorities changed and we put greater value on spending 'quality weekend time' with him. Needless to say treating ourselves no longer comes at the top of our priority list, so this was was a much needed and deserved treat!

I love Molton Brown products; the quality and range of products are amazing, so I was really curious to see what their Spa had to offer. 10 out of 10 for the Spa itself; who would have thought such a gem of tranquility existed in a Chaotic, Crowded and Busy shopping centre!?

The treatments on offer were enticing; and I felt spoilt for choice! We did however finally make our selections; I chose the Skin Awakening Uplifting Facial (at a hefty £115 for 1.5 hour treatment - oh well - I deserved it!) and my husband the Tension Relief Deep-Tissue Massage (a wholesome £70 for 60minutes).

My long term goal is to open my own Brow Bar; not only offering Threading but also other related and complementary treatments, so I took in my surroundings for inspiration as to what I want my own place to look like one day.

So, things I took away from my few hours at the Spa:

1) Using Room Fragrances and candles - a great touch and I shall be using this for my own clients going forward. I personally would prefer the use of Bach Flower Mist Sprays (which I have for my own personal use) 

2) Heated treatment beds - My own place will boast these one day as they are wonderful!

3) The silence...coupled with soothing music - Although my clients and I enjoy a good chat where possible before, during and sometimes after our appointments, I wonder how many of them would actually prefer the tranquility and music during the treatment - note to self - run a Facebook poll on this!

4) Value for money - My time at the MBSpa was great overall, however we were both not convinced the treatments themselves were good value for money - the treatments are definitely not the cheapest, so I had a very high expectation of my treatment and unfortunately I did not feel it did meet those expectations; this feeling was shared by my husband also - So we were glad for the voucher. So I want to make sure my clients feel like my service and product is 'Good Value for Money'.

What I valued most from my few hours at the Spa this weekend was 'time to myself'; to reflect on my own needs, dreams and aspirations. Being a mum and wife is my number one priority and always will be, but I realised how little time I now get to reflect on my own needs.

I would love to hear what people love and enjoy (aside from a treatment itself) when they visit a Salon, Spa, Mobile/ Home based therapist, so please feel free to share your experiences.  

*Please do not name the places/people etc.

The First Blog

Firstly, welcome to my Blog!

My name is Harshini and I am a home based and mobile Threading professional in the Beckenham/Bromley and surrounding areas. I am a fully qualified 'Threadist' and hold full memberships to the Guild of Beauty Therapists and the Guild of Holistic Therapists.

Although I have been threading since my tender teens and threading for 'clients' and friends alongside a full time career (unrelated to threading), I finally took the plunge following the birth of my son; I gave up my corporate and high pressured career in order to pursue a dream I had been postponing with endless excuses. 

I put together my website and facebook page (please feel free to visit them!) whilst waiting for baby but a good friend recently suggested that I also start a blog to educate people about this fantastic technique and of course my small enterprise.

For those of you, who don't know about the wonderful art of threading:

"It is an ancient method of hair removal originating in Arabia & Asia. It is a very delicate procedure; making it suitable for even the most sensitive skin. The twisting action of the thread traps the hair and lifts it out of the follicle."

Unlike many Threading practitioners, I provide a personalised and friendly service; where my aim is not only to remove unwanted hair; but to assist and advise you going forward. I appreciate that every client is an individual, which is why my service to each and every client is tailor-made and individual. Trust and a strong relationship is what I aim to build with all my clients in the long term and this is what makes my service different to that of others.

 

It is something you MUST try for yourself and guaranteed you will never go back to anything else!

So, I want my readers to be involved in this blog so welcome your comments, suggestions, requests etc. so please add your comments!

Thank you for taking the time to read my first blog and I hope you will be hungry for more so please subscribe!