Sk:n Laser Hair Removal: Treatment Six

Last week I had the last of my course of laser hair removal treatments at Sk:n clinic in East Finchley.  There's not a huge amount to report that hasn't been covered in previous posts, but it's safe to say that I'm pretty much hair free on my underarms and any hair that is there is impossible to detect by touch and only visible if you're really looking for it...and even then it's a struggle!

For some reason, this last treatment was the most uncomfortable of them all.  I'm not sure why that was, and apologies for too much information, but the treatment occurred slap-bang in the middle of my period which might have something to do with it as I could've been over-sensitive...who knows? But it's a possibility.

Now I've completed all six treatments, I'll be having an evaluation in eight weeks (which will be in 2013; how difficult to fathom is that??!) and so I've been asked not to shave my underarms at all in that time so we can see exactly how much hair growth is still happening.  I only ever shave just before treatments as that's what you need to do, but when I shave I don't really put much effort in as I can't see any hair so I don't really know what I'm shaving; it's just a token gesture to make sure that any fair, stray hairs are removed pre-treatment.

Once I've had the evaluation, I'll write up the results plus a summary page of what happened with the treatments and time frames to give you an idea of what to expect if you decide to have the treatment yourself.  It really is so fantastic, as I said, there's virtually nothing left on my underarms and if I didn't have to shave pre-treatment then I think it would've been quite a while since I bothered shaving at all.  This is truly an excellent treatment that's very, very effective.

For more information on Sk:n laser hair removal, head here.  There's currently 30% off laser hair removal courses so now's the time to book if you've been thinking of giving this a whirl.

Disclosure: treatments provided for the benefit of this review.  

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JinnyLash Promotion

JinnyLash are currently running a promotion until this Sunday (for some reason all the good things are ending this Sunday!) where you can purchase two sessions of Express Lash Extensions for £100, which equates to a saving of £100 - therefore 50% off which is a huge saving.  

The voucher doesn't expire until March 2013, although you won't be able to use it during December.

You can redeem the voucher at either the Bond Street or New Malden stores and the voucher can be purchased here.

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Sk:n Laser Hair Removal: Treatment Four

So we're now over half way in my course of six laser hair removal treatments with Sk:n.  I'm still getting a little bit of dryness but I've come to the conclusion that that's due to my deodorant! I stopped using one for a little while, started again this week and realised that the dryness is back so I'm going to hold off with deodorant use for a bit and see if any changes occur.

There are two things of note to report at this point.  Firstly, I'm not really shaving my armpits any more (I can't remember if I mentioned that in the previous post or if I'd said I'd just cut down) and the only time I do shave them is just before the treatment as you have to be hair-free so the laser doesn't attach to the hair as opposed to the inner follicle.

Secondly, shaving is really difficult now! The hair that is still present on the underarm is so incredibly fine that my usual razor won't pick it up, so I'm thinking I might have to start using disposable ones on the rare occasions that I do now shave (it'd only be if I knew my underarms were going to be on show; quite when I don't know!) so that I use a very sharp razor each time that will hopefully pick up the superfine hairs.

I'm still very happy with the treatments and there are no real negative points to address.  It's still a little uncomfortable during treatment, but it is worth noting that I am on the absolute highest laser intensity now and it really isn't that bad at all.

In summary, the hair removal is doing exactly as it promised; the hair that's still growing back is virtually undetectable, both by sight and by feel and I'm seriously considering looking into saving up to get my legs done next.

Here you can find more information about Sk:n laser hair removal.  There's currently 30% off laser hair removal treatments at Sk:n, so now's the time to get involved!

Disclosure:  treatment provided for the purpose of this review.  

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Digital Protein Treatment at Eleven Hair

A while ago I was invited to try a very exciting hair experience called the Digital Protein Treatment.  Beauty fanatics will no-doubt already be familiar with Digital Perming, but just in case you're not, it's a new type of perming that works with your specific hair type ensuring your hair fully takes to the perm without overheating it and therefore damaging your hair.  Digital Perming involves being plugged in to a rather sci-fi style machine, which then heats the rollers to your hair limit, ensuring the treatment is tailor-made and removing the 'one size fits all' approach to hair perming.

The Digital Protein Treatment is an extension of Digital Perming, as it's a way of building the protein in your hair whilst making full use of the capabilities of the Digital Perming machine.  So hair is heated to a level its comfortable with, resulting in the protein treatment being forced to absorb as effectively as possible.  The treatment involves firstly a clarifying shampoo, then the protein treatment is applied.  The protein treatment consists of silk, collagen, keratin and amino acids which are mixed together to form a protein that is then applied to the hair and left to absorb under a warm towel.  After around 15 minutes, the treatment is washed out and a conditioner is applied, before that's rinsed out and then you have the choice of how you'd like your hair set.

You can choose to have hair straightened or set into curls.  To make full use of the Digital Perming machine, I went for curls which involved having hair rods applied, before being plugged into the machine.  Cotton wool was stuffed under each roller to make sure the rollers didn't burn my head.  It didn't feel particularly hot, although when I felt the actual rollers they were very warm.  It wasn't an uncomfortable experience and other than looking a bit odd - all hooked up to the sci-fi machine - it was a pleasant enough experience involving mostly drinking coffee and reading my Kindle.  I'm not too sure how long the rollers were left on as obviously everyone is going to have different needs depending on their hair type, but I'd say it was probably around 25 minutes.

Eleven Hair is a Mayfair based salon and the person who did my hair is called Christian B. Toth who is the man in the know for all things "Digital Perm".  The salon itself is small and an interesting blend of trendy, whilst being a little, charmingly kitsch.  All staff are very friendly and most of them look like models, but it would be wrong to write this review without giving a special mention to their hair wash chairs.  I absolutely hate hair wash chairs, I've been to so many different salons, ranging for super-luxury to bargain-basement and not once have I found having my hair wash a truly comfortable experience.  These chairs are nothing to look at (I approached them with my usual sigh of resignation) but they were so incredibly comfortable and there was no neck-strain whatsoever!  Therefore, if you hate having your hair washed but can't live without a weekly blow-dry, I strongly recommend visiting Eleven Hair where blow dry prices start at a very reasonable £32.

Slight deviation, but now back to the review.  Once the rollers were taken out, I was left with incredibly tight and shiny curls and my hair had halved in length which was definitely novel.  Christian used a straightener on my roots to get rid of that 'roller kink' you tend to get when rollers have been applied.  He then shook the hair out a little and I was good to go.

I absolutely loved, loved, LOVED having curly hair, especially as my hair is so stubbornly straight that it's virtually impossible to give it any kind of curl, so rather disgustingly I didn't wash my hair for 5 days before I had to give in and wash the curl out :( <sad face.  After washing my hair the first time there wasn't too much difference and to be honest, my hair felt a little dry but after the second wash my hair felt unbelievable.  It looked astonishingly shiny (something that is quite hard to achieve on bleached hair) and is still holding it's shine today.  My hair feels thicker, fuller and because of this it hangs really well and doesn't seem as prone to flatness as it usually is.  Therefore this is a treatment I highly recommend and is something I would definitely have again; especially pre-night out as I haven't a hope in hell of achieving the curls that Christian managed.  I didn't know the price of this treatment until a couple of days ago when I found out it's £60.  Considering what's involved, I had it in my head it would be a lot more expensive than this (if you consider you're having a full treatment, plus a set) so I rate this as a highly affordable and effective treatment that's definitely worth considering if your hair is in need of some pampering indulgence.

Eleven Hair is in Blenheim Street, W1 and the nearest station is Bond Street.

Disclosure:  treatment provided for the purpose of this review.  

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Leticia Haute Coiffure Summer Nail Colours

To celebrate the Olympics, Leticia Haute Coiffure have launched a manicure special encompassing five Essie shades that coordinate with the Olympic shades and these are Coral Reef (red), Shifting Power (yellow), Lapiz of Luxury (blue), Cocktail Bling (grey) and Navigate Her (green).

I was invited back to Leticia Haute Coiffure to sample the summer nail colours and have my rather neglected feet tended to with a Spa Pedicure.  Regular readers will remember my first visit to LHC when I met the fabulous Pierre who did wonderful things to my hair which can be seen on my review here.  All the staff at LHC are absolutely lovely so I was keen to go back, but nothing excited me quite as much as the opportunity to see Jack, Pierre's ridiculously cute King Charles Spaniel, again and the boy has grown! He's HUGE now!  I couldn't believe it was the same dog when I saw him, but thankfully he recognised me immediately, and like old friends, we caught up during my pedicure:

Leticia Haute Coiffure is split into two sections with one side being the hair salon and the other side being more focused on beauty.  The main part of the beauty section has a couple of workstations for manicures and a large, raised sofa-bench for the pedicures with several foot baths beneath.  I really liked the set-up for the pedicures as it was comfortable and easy to just drop my feet in and allow my feet to soak.  The Spa Pedicure is a standard pedicure with the addition of a Paraffin Wax treatment (to soften hard skin) and a Callous Peel which involves placing thin strips of pre-soaked material on to areas of hard skin which are then left for a while to dissolve any roughness.  The Spa Pedicure was indulgent, pampering and most importantly, comfortable for the whole duration of the treatment.  The colour I chose for my nails is Essie's Secret Stash.

After my pedicure, I had my Nail-Ympics manicure which was a standard manicure that followed the usual manicure process of cuticle removal, nail shape, massage and colour.  Unfortunately by the time we moved on to my manicure I was running seriously late for my next appointment, so I had to rush through it so I could get going! The colour I chose was Essie's Lapis of Luxury which I absolutely love as it's a slightly purple toned blue that's really pretty whilst being something a bit different.

Just like my last visit to LHC, I enjoyed copious cups of choco-milk along with some chocolate nibbles and biscuits.  I won't go into too much detail about the salon itself as I covered it in my last review, but it really is a lovely place to visit with friendly staff who make a real effort to make you feel welcome and pampered without overdoing it.  I've really enjoyed both appointments at the salon and it already feels like I'm visiting old friends each time I return.

The Spa Pedicure costs £70 and the summer colours manicure is at the special price of £20.12 (I'm sure you can work out why!) for the duration of the Olympics.  More information can be found by visiting the Leticia Haute Coiffure site.  

Disclosure:  treatments provided for the purpose of this review.  

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Sk:n Laser Hair Removal: Treatment Three

A couple of weeks ago I had the third treatment of laser hair removal at Sk:n on my underarms.  I'll be having six treatments in total, so we're about half way through now.  I have a treatment roughly once every six weeks, meaning that it's been 18 weeks since my first treatment.  I'd say that I've only had to shave my underarms about 4 times in that duration, bearing in mind that I used to be someone who would shave every couple of days; not because there was a lot of hair, but just because I don't like anything to show so I shaved a lot!

Whilst there's still definitely hair coming through, it's that fair, fluffy hair that can neither be seen nor felt unless you're on a mission to find it.  Since I've been having the treatments, the skin under my arms has become a lot more dry.  Apparently this isn't common, so it could be due to the fact that I used to use a lot of moisturising products when I shaved, so now I'm not using them, the skin has started to dry out more.  The skin doesn't feel dry though and instead feels very smooth.

So far, it's definitely a treatment I'm happy with and the fact that I don't have to shave so often is a huge bonus.  I'll be most interested to see what happens a few months after I've finished treatment to see if the hair stays fair and fine, or if it starts returning back to how it used to be.

Here's more info about my first treatment and second treatment, and more more information about the laser hair removal I'm having, have a look at the Sk:n site.

Disclosure:  treatment provided for the purpose of this review.  

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Colour and Blow Dry at Daniel Galvin

A couple of weeks ago I visited the Daniel Galvin Salon in George Street, W1 for a colour and finish.  Daniel Galvin is unlike any other salon I've been to before.  Firstly, it's absolutely huge with room for hundreds of Stylists and Colourists to do their work, but also, on a weekday early afternoon it was absolutely packed!  My first appointment was with Chloe, a mid-level Colourist who has been at Daniel Galvin since 2004.

We sat down for a chat and she immediately said that my hair was too golden toned which was consequently washing me out.  She suggested we take my hair a little closer to my natural hair colour using a few highlights that were closer in tone, as well as a slightly lighter shade to ensure the multi-dimensional effect was still present.  I really felt as though Chloe was analysing the best colour choices for both my hair and my complexion and it was obvious she knew what she was talking about.  I've been a golden blonde for a while now but I've always liked the idea of going more towards caramel and toffee shades, yet I've always been advised against it.  However, Chloe believed it would be a better and more natural match than anything too golden, so we went with that.

When speaking to Chloe, I asked her a lot about her training and experience at Daniel Galvin.  All trainees go through a pretty hardcore apprenticeship with unbelievably long hours that last 3 years.  There's no quick career path available and you instead have to prove your worth through hard-work, dedication and a demonstrable talent which is why only around half of the apprentices make it to the end.  The consequence is, when booking in for a hair treatment of any kind, you know you're putting your hair into the hands of someone who's well and truly proven their ability over a long and gruelling process.

Chloe applied the first colour in sections all over my hair to blend in the roots.  Whilst I was waiting for the colour to take, I was offered a menu of drinks and food to choose from.  All the way through my time at the salon, there were people walking around taking orders for the kitchen.  As you'd expect, drinks and snacks came at quite a premium and I had a cream cheese bagel with a coke that came to around £7, so they were pretty standard inner London prices.  However, I really liked the fact that you could eat and drink from an impressive selection during your visit and I much prefer paying a little more for something I actually want (especially as I usually always arrive at these appointments starving!) rather than sticking to the standard biscuits and coffee.  

I then had the next colour applied around the original colour and all colours were left to take for a little longer before it was all washed off.  During the rinsing process I was given a Detox Miracle Solution treatment packed full of Vitamin C to clarify my hair.  This Detox was amazing and left my hair unbelievably shiny (as you can hopefully see in the pictures) and soft without feeling flyaway or static.

My next appointment was with Becky who dried my hair.  I was interested to note that she didn't use any products at all which I personally find refreshing as there's nothing I hate more than leaving a salon with hair stuck full of product.  Becky showed me a new blow drying technique to give my hair a bit of texture and definition and I've managed to integrate the technique into my Babyliss Big Hair drying process, which I'm really pleased about.

I prefer to take "after" hair pictures when I get home so I have time to take as many as possible, but unfortunately the moment I left the salon I got absolutely drenched thus removing all Becky's hard work, so the pictures below are taken once I'd had a go at drying my hair myself.

My experience at Daniel Galvin was a true eye opener.  The huge salon consists of an array of specialists (there's quite a few beauty treatments available on top of the more standard hair focusses) and I have genuinely never visited a salon quite like it.  I absolutely love my colour, I think it's natural, flattering and easier to grow out and whilst Becky was great, the star for me was Chloe as not only is she lovely, she also knew exactly what she was doing and had the ability to work out the best colour for someone taking everything into consideration, as opposed to what's easiest to work with or what the client is used to, which I think is so important when visiting a Colourist.  Whilst nobody knows me better than I know myself, there are certainly people who are far more expert at deciding what's best for my colourings and what will really suit me, and I was very confident in Chloe's ability to do just that.  I've always wanted caramel, toffee-toned hair in flattering shades and now I do!

My treatment included a half head of highlights, a Detox Miracle Solution and a Blow Dry.  A half-head of highlights with a mid-level Colourist costs from £155, Blow Dry with a Stylist costs from £32 and a Detox Miracle Solution treatment costs £17.  For more information on the Daniel Galvin Salon visit his site here.

Disclosure:  treatment was provided for the purpose of this review.  

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Pedicure and Waxing with Heaven Sent Beauty

A few weeks ago I visited Nita at Heaven Sent Beauty in Hadley Wood, North London, for a waxing and pedicure.  Heaven Sent Beauty is a small salon based underneath a hairdresser close to Hadley Wood station.  The salon is basic but clean and offers all the usual treatments as well as some specialities including Environ facials, of which I'll be trying out soon.

I booked my treatments through Wahanda in a mad panic to get myself summer ready although I needn't had bothered as it started raining literally the day after.  Obviously now the sun's decided to appear again I'm now due another pedicure and wax.  I seriously need a holiday.  Anyway....the salon is run by a lady called Nita who has a very efficient, 'no-nonsense' approach to treatments.  Waxing is a bit of a tricky treatment to review as unless you leave with stray hairs and burn marks, it's basically a successful treatment isn't it?  Although to Nita's credit, the waxing was fast, she asked all the right questions and the finish was very smooth with not a stray hair in sight.

The pedicure involved the usual treatments you'd expect in a pedicure, but Nita also used a treatment that contains fruit acid to dissolve hard skin which is then lightly buffed away, therefore much kinder to the feet.  If I had to be pedantic, I'd say the removal of nail varnish was a little rough (I have very sensitive toes!) but I was left with beautifully buffed and pampered feet.  Nita's huge selling point is her varnish application, as my nails looked even and very glossy with a brilliant finish.

All in all this was a pleasant if unremarkable experience of the salon, but it's worth taking into account that the treatments I received were functional as opposed to pampering so it's difficult to wax lyrical (puntastic baby) about such treatments.

This image isn't strictly necessary, but I digged the seventies-style shadowing.

One thing definitely worth noting is that Nita is currently running a promotion for eyebrow threading which consists of a free threading if you spend £30 on treatments.  I took advantage of the offer and my eyebrows looked fab.  The treatments I had at Heaven Sent Beauty were the full leg and bikini wax costing £34 and the pedicure which costs £32.  I purchased my treatment through Wahanda Spa Deals. 


Disclosure: treatments were part funded by Wahanda for the purpose of this review: I paid £16 towards the cost of the treatments.  

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Destination Skin Oxy Brightening Facial

I've had a couple of treatments via Wahanda lately, the first of which was the Brightening Facial which I'll review now.  Annoyingly, I completely forgot to take pictures whilst I was there, so this'll be an image-free post unfortunately!

Any regular readers will know that, as my skin has started to show signs of age (sad, sad times) I've been more inclined towards gentle, pampering facials that show my skin a bit of love.  However, whilst this is fine for the most part, my skin is also prone to playing up and recently as I've had a bit of a manic time, it's gone from harmless, toddler-esque child's play to hardcore Chucky-style evilness.  Stress and my skin have never been and never will be friends, so that's why it's working through the various skin types almost as we speak. I've got bits that are dry, bits that are dehydrated, bits that are oily and bits that are covered in several cystic spots; it's a glorious experience for all involved.

I purchased a Wahanda voucher through Wahanda (funny that) ages ago as I'd been curious about Destination Skin and wanted to see if they were any good.  They're more of a clinical treatment centre rather than a pampering one and their treatments are focussed on quick results rather than indulgence.  I arrived at the centre, filled in a detailed questionnaire and got set up for my treatment.  The facial I had was the Oxy Brightening Facial and the reason I purchased this was because I'm a bit fascinated by any treatments that involve Oxygen.  I'm easily pleased.

It turns out, the Oxygen aspect of the facial was no more than an Oxygen cream that was applied during the facial.  I had preconceived images of oxygen jets being fired at my face from all angles, but sadly this was not the case.  You can achieve the exact same thing with Bliss' Triple Oxygen Mask which basically fizzles and pops over your face.

I had a lovely practitioner called Natasha who had, in the past, experienced similar skin issues to me (not that you could tell; jammy cow) so she tailor-made the treatment to ensure the products used were suitable for my skin type.  The facial lasted for approximately half an hour and involved the use of various masks including a salicylic treatment.  My skin felt seriously smooth, polished, cleansed and comfortable afterwards and my spots didn't feel aggravated at all.  Consequently, I would recommend Destination Skin as a venue to visit if you're prone to problem skin.

The only downside to my visit was the hard sell.  I know it's sometimes unavoidable (although Sk:n manage to go without it) but I'm not a fan of being strongly urged into pursuing product lines.  This may just be a personal thing and an argument could be made that they're just trying to ensure I'm informed about my skin type, but I prefer to just be handed a catalogue and sent away to think about it.

My voucher was £20 for a facial that usually costs £50.  Would I pay £50 for this facial?  To be honest, I don't think I would as whilst I did enjoy the facial, I don't think it warrants the £50 price tag.  Having said that, since my treatment I've been keeping an eye out for any upcoming deals at Destination Skin as I do feel that they promote decent and realistic treatment objectives and a lot of what they have to offer makes sense to me.  For target driven treatments and a pretty impressive range of procedures, they're definitely worth checking out.  I visited the Barnet branch of Destination Skin but there are quite a few venues dotted all over the place and more Wahanda Spa Deals are available online at Wahanda.

Disclaimer:  paid for by me with my hard earned beauty booty fund.  

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Cut and Colour with E.Scissorhands

A couple of weeks ago I had an appointment with the guys at E.Scissorhands on the Archway Road, courtesy of SalonAddict.  If you're unfamiliar with SalonAddict, it's a service that allows users to book all their various beauty treatments in one place, with emphasis placed on organisation; so the further ahead you book, the cheaper the treatment will be.  They currently have a huge list of salons involved (I believe it's close to 800 in London alone) and to secure your treatment you pay a small deposit, then pay the remaining balance when you attend your appointment. It's a very user-friendly service where you can search by postcode or area and book in for the next day if you're in need of an emergency appointment, you'll know exactly what the price of the treatment will be and you can view all treatments that your chosen salon has on offer, so it's definitely worth checking out if you're a Beauty Junkie like me.

On arrival at E.Scissorhands, I was asked to sit down to go through what it was I was hoping to achieve with my hair.  I first talked to Georgia who would be doing my colour and we discussed the fact that all I was really looking for was to have my roots blended in.  Then I had a quick chat with Edward and we agreed that I would  be keeping the length and we'd aim for a long, choppy bob.  I was then offered a drink and Georgia went through my colour options.  We decided that a warm, medium blonde would be the best bet for matching my natural colour to the rest of my hair.

Georgia was absolutely lovely; very chatty and we spent pretty much the whole time discussing make-up and boys.  Once my colour was in, I was placed under one of those machines which speeds up colour development which felt like a form of torture considering it was during that balmy week where everything was sooo hot so this part of the experience felt a bit like a resilience test!  Thankfully it didn't last long and my hair colour was washed out (with ice cold water at my request) before we started on my cut.

Edward is one of those stylists who you can tell has been doing it a long time and knows what he's doing.  He doesn't need a lot of instruction to know exactly what you mean and he cuts hair with the typical absent-mindedness that comes from being so familiar with a trade that it's all second-nature.  The cut was super quick as was the blow-dry.  I think I've mentioned on previous hair posts that I really hate having hair that looks slicked down and overly neat as with my long face it just looks ridiculous.  I didn't have to express my concerns with Edward as he obviously took into account these factors when drying my hair, and gave me volume and a slightly unkempt finish which is exactly how I would do my hair if I was any good at styling it myself (although I've come on leaps and bounds since the arrival of the Babyliss Big Hair).

The salon itself is small but adequate.  It's almost got a typical 'anti-London' feel, in that it's much more of a local, suburban place which I personally prefer as I hate anything OTT.  The downside is that the chairs are seriously uncomfortable; if you have to sit there for any length of time then it's going to be unpleasant for your neck and back.

The colour for me wasn't the best colour I've ever had, but then I was only booked in for T-Bar highlights.  Having said that, normally even with T-Bar the majority of my roots look blended out but I can still see quite a lot of root growth at the front of my hair, which is a shame, made doubly worse by the fact that I really liked Georgia so I feel mean saying that I'm not overly impressed with the colour.  The main issue for me is the front part; as long as the parts of the hair that frame the face are blended then I'm not too concerned with the rest of it but it seems these parts were missed.  Obviously you learn from these experiences and in future I would make it clear that the front parts of my hair are the bits that I feel the colour needs to focus on.

The cut and finish were excellent and I was really happy with the shape and style.  I struggle to find stylists who are able to cut my hair so it doesn't just hang and instead looks textured and I especially struggle with stylists who aren't determined to give me that neat, blow-dry that they all seem to want to push on people.  Neither of these issues were apparent with my experience with Edward, so on that basis I would happily return for a cut and finish with him.

The Cut and Finish with Edward costs £50 (T) and the colour with Georgia also costs £50 (T). Visit E.Scissorhands for more information, which is based on the Archway Road, N6.

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Spa and Massage Swedish Massage Treatment

Last week I had the opportunity to try out a 30 minute massage at one of the Spa and Massage venues in London. I went along with the intention of having an indulgent, pampering and relaxing experience to sooth away my stresses.  My experience was none of the above, but I'm booked in again for another one this week and I'll explain why below.

Spa and Massage have a slightly different approach to the typical treatment salon as firstly, they keep longer opening hours so that people can have their massage later in the evening (they open until 11pm every night) but they also allow for walk-in appointments.  They focus on only massage and you can choose between Thai, Swedish, Deep-Tissue, Sports, Reflexology and their signature 4-Handed Massage.  Then you decide how long you want the massage to last: 30, 60, 90 or 120 minutes and prices start at £30 for 30 minutes.  I really like the idea of this who approach as it's making massage much more accessible, plus the later opening hours and drop-in facilities mean you don't need to plan around an appointment.

I was a little nervous about my first visit as the long opening hours and drop-in approach made me wonder if it was one of those types of massage salons that you tend to find lining the Kentish Town Road, frequented by middle-aged men.  You know what I mean.  Anyway, as soon as I arrived all fears were calmed as the salon is a relaxing, well maintained, spotless and sophisticated set-up that is welcoming without being intimidating.  The lovely receptionist confirmed my appointment, asked what massage I would like (I said I'd like something relaxing so she suggested Swedish), called my massage therapist (Nina) and offered me some tea - I'm not sure what the tea was but it was some sort of spicy, fruity concoction that was served warm rather than hot.  Once I'd finished my tea, I was led to the massage room, asked to get undressed and get under the towel (whilst Nina waited outside) and then my massage began.

Nina asked me if I had any areas of concern.  I use crutches and have been on them for well over ten years, and the consequence is that my shoulders and back are pretty much solid muscle.  I've had many massages before, of all variants, and every therapist has had absolutely no idea what to do with me as there is literally no give in the muscles on my back and shoulders as they're continually being built-up every time I take a step, so it's a bit of a no-win situation!  It doesn't cause me too many issues at the moment, but inevitably over time it will as it isn't natural for my muscles to be in such a permanent state of firmness.  I do have occasional problems, mainly when trying to tie my shoelaces and put on jackets, as my back either twinges or my shoulders don't allow for me to bend around so I can reach my back.  So I said to Nina that there weren't any major concerns and really I just wanted to get a feel for the massage.

Nina started with gentle strokes and worked at my the various lumps and kinks along my back.  We then got into conversation about my disability and Nina asked if I would mind if she stretched me a bit, warning me that it would probably be uncomfortable.  Normally I wouldn't agree to such things as I'm always a bit wary of having someone work on parts of me that are a direct result of having a disability (let's face it, if they mucked it up I'd be completely out of action!) but there was something about Nina's confidence in the massage that made me agree.  Since the moment she started I felt as if she knew exactly what she was doing, whereas usually I'm used to therapists moaning about the solidity of my back and being unsure of what to do with me.  So I went along with it and yes, it was quite uncomfortable but not unbearable.  However, what was really interesting was that as she went on (she started very gently) I started to feel my back and shoulders give in and relax.  I haven't felt either of these parts of me relax for at least five years (it sounds terrible but it really is one of those things you learn to live with) and as Nina carried on, she started bending my arms behind my back to the extent where I could reach the back of my neck; so if you imagine putting your arm behind your lower back and then moving it upwards to your neck and how difficult that is for someone without my issues (I've been asking people to do it to see if my assessments were correct!) and then within 15 minutes of working on me, Nina made it possible for me to do it, and it didn't hurt!

Nina and I discussed my back and shoulder issues in more detail and as we discussed it further I realised that this was the first massage I'd had where the person administered it saw my issues as a challenge rather than a no-go area, which is why I booked in with Nina the following week and I plan to do my best to give myself a weekly massage from now on.

The difference after one 30 minute visit was astounding.  Firstly, I didn't realise just how hunched over I was until after the treatment as I was walking much straighter, my neck felt longer and my shoulders were sitting lower.  I was expecting all kinds of pain post-treatment (I had a sports massage once where I felt like I'd been beaten up for about a week afterwards) but other than a tiny bit of tenderness in my lower back, there was nothing to report other than positive results.

So, it's safe to say that there isn't a bad thing to say about this treatment or the venue.  I had my massage at Spa and Massage in Belsize Park (T) with Nina.

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Traditional Thai Facial at Thai Square Spa

Ever since my recent Oskia facial I've completely changed tact in the types of facials I go for.  Whilst I used to be all about the treatment facials - usually aggressive procedures that 'beat' the nasties out of my skin - I've instead started showing more of an interest in facials that are aimed at calming, cleansing and pampering my face.  I'll still go for the hardcore treatment facials every so often (can't change a habit of a lifetime) but I've noticed a huge difference in the way my skin reacts to gentle facial techniques.  I think it's probably because I'm a little older now and I'm starting to consider taking action against the ageing process!

I booked in for a Traditional Thai Facial for two reasons; firstly, I've never had one so I was curious as to how it would be different to regular Western facials and secondly, I knew it would involve lots of massage and hot towels.  Massage and hot towels rock and there will never be enough massage and hot towels in my life.

When I arrived at the Thai Square Spa I was impressed by how themed it was; the minute you walk in it's like visiting another country as everything is decked out as a Traditional Thai spa with lots of amazingly Zen additions such as beaded doors, flowing water fountains and gold bathes.  It's an absolutely glorious looking spa that has a very calming effect from the moment you arrive.

I was taken downstairs to the treatment area and asked to get changed in the changing room where I was given a robe and some slippers.  Once I was ready, I was taken to the treatment room and given a foot bath using rose petals and gentle massage.  I was then asked to disrobe, get under the towel and lie down.  My facial included my decolletage and shoulders, all of which were thoroughly cleansed using various herby oils and balms.  The cleansing process occurred several times and in between each time a hot towel (yay!) was used to remove the product.  After the cleansing, I was given several massages, and eventually a massage apparatus was used made of herbs packed tightly in a muslin cloth and heated.  I have no idea what it's called but this is what it looks like:

The whole facial lasted 75 minutes and was incredibly gentle, calming and therapeutic.  It was one of those experiences where you leave feeling relaxed and refreshed rather than zonked out and ready for bed, which was handy because I drove there!  After the facial, I got dressed and was given some tea and water in a lounge area that had magazines to read until I was ready to leave.  All in all it was a really lovely and pampering experience that I thoroughly enjoyed and the little additions like the foot bath at the start and the tea at the end made the whole experience feel much more luxurious.

Thai Square Spa is located at both 25 Shelton Street and 40 Earlham Street (two entrances) in Covent Garden.  The Traditional Thai Facial (T) I had costs £85 for a 75 minute treatment and more information can be found here.

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Sk:n Laser Hair Removal - First Treatment

I mentioned last week in this post here that I was starting a course of laser hair removal at my local Sk:n clinic to treat my underarm hair.  I've now had my first treatment so here's a run through of my experience:

I initially had a patch test to ensure that my skin would react well to the laser and thankfully there were no problems so I was OK to go ahead with the course.  I'll be having six treatments in total, spaced out over six weekly intervals.

My practitioner (Dawn) explained what I should expect from the first treatment onwards; my hair will continue to grow, but should start falling out 10-14 days after the first treatment.  The purpose of the laser is to kill off the blood supply to each individual hair follicle, so whilst there's a chance all hair follicles could die-off during the first treatment, chances are there'll be a few that'll still be 'alive' which is why we continue to laser them during follow up appointments.  However, the hair that does grow back will be finer and much less dense.

The laser machine.

I apparently have the perfect underarms for laser hair removal as I'm very fair, but the hair is very dark, which will mean that the laser won't struggle to find the hair follicle.  Lasers work by seeking out colour which is why, up until recently, it was virtually impossible for darker skins to respond well to laser treatment as it was too difficult for the laser to establish the difference between the hair and the skin.  This is thankfully no longer the case as there are now two different types of laser available at Sk:n, both of which are equally good at removing hair, but which one you are treated with will depend on your colourings.

I was told to shave 24 hours before my treatment so the laser would stand a better chance of getting inside the hair follicle rather than hitting the hair on the surface.  I laid on the couch and positioned my arm above my head and Dawn applied Aloe Vera Gel to my underarm.  This is both to sooth the area and to allow the laser to glide across the skin.  As I mentioned previously, I'd had a patch test so I had a a rough idea of what to expect.  The laser itself is quite an unpleasant feeling; it feels a little like being poked repeatedly by a blunt needle, but it's completely tolerable and very quick, I was actually very surprised by how quick the whole experience was and I'd say each underarm took less than two minutes.

You do actually feel the follicle pop which is quite a strange experience but that itself doesn't hurt.  You're then greeted with the charming scent of burnt hair, which in any other scenario would be quite unpleasant, but in this one it's another sign that the laser is working so it's an oddly appealing addition to the experience!

The laser itself.

After Dawn had finished lasering, she wiped away the remaining gel (and a few hairs came along with it), sprayed the area with mineral water and applied the gel again.  I was advised to make sure I applied plenty of Aloe Vera gel throughout the evening and to apply an SPF if I was going out in the sun.  This might seem a bit strange to you (it did to me!) considering nobody really goes out into the sun with the intention of sunning their armpits, but it's important that you don't risk exposing the area to any sun at all, so this is why the SPF is important; you're erring on the side of caution.

I had this treatment six days ago and there's absolutely no negatives to report; my underarms didn't feel uncomfortable afterwards, they didn't swell or feel tender and there was no rash or reaction of any kind.  I've just thoroughly inspected my underarms (as you do...) and the regrowth is definitely much, much finer.  There's a small, central patch of hair growing back (although much more slowly than it usually does) on the left underarm and on the right there's a bit more regrowth but it's a lot more sparse and spaced out.  I could still comfortably get away with not shaving at all for a few days, but considering I'm not at at the 10-14 day point where the hairs should start falling out, I plan to leave it and see what happens as I don't think any kind of hair removal is necessary at this point.  It's worth mentioning that I'm very funny about having any kind of underarm hair on show, so to not feel the need to pursue it's removal at this point is quite something.

So far I'm really happy with the treatment and I'm excited to see how it pans out long-term.  There are no real negatives to report, the pain is completely tolerable and very quick, the aftercare is virtually non-existent and the reduced hair growth is really obvious already.  I'll definitely update as I go along and let you know the outcome.

I'm having my treatment at the East Finchley branch of Sk:n (T) but you can find your local branch at the Sk:n clinic locator here.

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Leticia Haute Coiffure Salon Review

Last week I had the pleasure of visiting the Marylebone based salon, Leticia Haute Coiffure which is run by stylist to the stars, Pierre Doumit.  Having visited the website of the salon before my visit, I was a little worried that it would be a bit too 'fashion' for my tastes (I don't play well with fashion types....) but thankfully all worries were calmed on arrival.

The salon itself has struck the perfect balance between appearing trendy and upmarket without overdoing the decor or flamboyance so you're left with a comfortable, relaxed yet professional environment that's warm and welcoming whilst still maintaining that luxury feel.

The man himself; Pierre. 

As soon as I arrived I was settled down with a drink (if you have any chocoholic inclinations then I INSIST you try their Choco-Milk which is a milkier version of their Hot Chocolate) which comes with a couple of those caramel biscuit things that I can never remember the name of but I'm always happy to see and even happier to munch on.  Pierre then joined me for a chat to discuss my hair requirements.  It's worth noting a couple of things at this point; firstly, I'm incredibly fussy and hard to please regarding my hair and secondly, there is nothing I hate more than being told (read: barked at) what will look good on me.  Having lived with my hair for 28 years, I'm open to suggestion, but I detest being bullied into things and I've come across this again and again at salons which I find incredibly frustrating.  Thankfully, Pierre is my idea of the perfect stylist as he first asked me what it was I wanted to achieve and then mentioned a couple of subtle changes that he felt would enhance the look I was going for.  I always feel that changing a hair look should be a team effort that includes involvement from both the stylist and the person being styled and whilst Pierre had ideas, he didn't give me the impression that he would take it personally if I didn't like them.

The Before Pics:

We agreed to change both the colour and the length of my hair.  I prefer my hair to be above my shoulders and as I have a long face (Pierre tactfully referred to it as "oval") it can't be too severe and needs to be a style that will give the illusion of a slightly wider face to balance out the length of my face.  I always like to go lighter when the sun starts appearing, however, I had very red hair last year that's been a bit of a pain to remove, so Pierre and I agreed that we should lift the whole colour a couple of shades and make it slightly warmer so that we ended up with a warm blonde to counteract the red.  Pierre also felt that a few subtle highlights around the face and crown would ensure it looked multi-tonal and natural.

During the highlight application. 

Pierre got to work on mixing my colour and applying it and whilst talking to him it became very apparent just how much thought he'd put into creating the right atmosphere for the salon.  He's very experienced in the hair industry and knows what people like; they want to feel comfortable and feel as though they can say and do exactly as they please (within reason....!) and for this to occur, stylists need to create that comfortable vibe that puts clients at ease.  Considering the clientele he's used to working with (not only celebrities but royalty too) there's no trace of arrogance and conversation flows as much or as little as you'd like.  It's also absolutely essential that I now mention Jack, who is Pierre's King Charles Spaniel puppy who was my solid companion for the visit and took immense pleasure in nibbling on my fingers whilst my colour was applied.  If there's anything truly high fashion in the salon, it's Jack's outfit as you can see in the pictures.

Jack making himself comfortable.  

I don't know how Pierre gets anything done with that little face following him around...

For me, there are two markers for a good salon that I really take into account when deciding whether to revisit.  Firstly, the massage you get during the conditioner application.  As with facialists who apply a mask and then leave the room (when my thoughts are that they could be giving me a massage during the treatment!) I'm also not a fan of salons that apply a conditioner and then leave you with your head dipped awkwardly into the sink for ten minutes.  I actually had the best head massage to date thanks to Alex (Pierre's assistant) who spent I'm guessing at least 15 minutes (could be less, could be an hour....) doing an excellent job at massaging my head whilst the conditioner did it's thing.

The second marker I use is how my hair is towel-dried.  This might sound like a weird one, but I am so careful when towel-drying my hair as the only reason I'm doing it is to remove excess moisture so I carefully squeeze and stroke it out.  Whereas at every salon I've ever attended, for some inexplicable reason, they insist on using a towel to ravage my hair with such ferocity that all I think about is the split ends I now have that I didn't have previously to the towel-drying.  So, as Alex came at me with the towel, I held my breath and waited for the ravage to ensue, but I'm (rather weirdly, I'm sure many of you are thinking....) thrilled to report that he dealt with my hair with the exact gentle care that I do myself.  This alone has converted me to a LHC fan.

So it's all very well talking about the bits and bobs that culminate to ensure a pleasant visit to a salon, but the most important thing is how the hair looks when completed.  Pierre also mentioned earlier in my visit that my hair was very typically European, meaning that there's plenty of it, but it's very fine and much heavier at the ends so he suggested thinning the ends with a razor (yes, I wasn't sure on this idea either...) to release the heaviness.  It worked perfectly and now my hair is lighter and much easier to handle.  It falls where I want it to, doesn't lay flat and hangs beautifully.  I had the hair makeover last week and since then I've been trying various different approaches to styling it, all of which have proved easy and manageable, which are also two great ways to describe the hair itself.  The colour has really warmed my face and looks natural yet bright and summery.  All together I'd say this is exactly what my hair needed; it's lighter, brighter and easy to dress up or down with minimum effort.

So in conclusion, I really enjoyed my visit to Letitia Haute Coiffure (I'll quickly mention that Letitia is Pierre's wife's name; everybody say "awwww") and couldn't have asked for a better experience.  I felt comfortable with both the salon atmosphere and the way my hair makeover was put together, so whether you're in a hair slump and don't know what to do to brighten up your look, or you know exactly what you like and just want someone who will LISTEN to what you have to say then it's definitely worth visiting Letitia Haute Coiffure for a cup of Choco-Milk, a play with Jack and maybe even a hair treatment.

Leticia Haute Coiffure can be found at 61 Chiltern Street, W1U 6NG.  The nearest Underground station is Baker Street, but there's also a gigantic car park 2 minutes down the road.  Prices start at £35 for a cut and finish with a graduate stylist and £25 for a natural glossing colour.  More info can be found at the LHC website here where you can browse the huge array of beauty and hair services available.

*Treatment was received complimentary for the purpose of this review.  Everything discussed in this review is my honest opinion.  

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