Uptown Tour of Beauty
Words: Suzanne McNamara
Illustrations: Nathalie Drujon
Grooming is a multifaceted beast. With summer around the corner and the party season near, it’s time to indulge in some pampering and Uptown has a multitude of beauty providers, from skin clinics to hairdressers and nail bars, ready to primp and polish you into your best self.
Grooming basics include skin treatments that feed your skin; keeping your locks in good condition with regular haircuts and treatments; teeth whitening; and attending to lashes and eyebrows, as they are the vital features that frame your face and give depth to your eyes. Nails can be shaped and painted, and toes given a touch of fun and brightness. Here is the lowdown on different treatments available in Uptown.
Nail it this summer
Spruce up your feet with nail polish and be ready for summer sandal wearing. Jazz up your hands with chic nail art or an elegant polish. Whatever you are after, Uptown has three nail bars to choose from.
Not all nail treatments are created equal, so we have detailed the different options available.
Normal polish with a nail lacquer
Stock-standard nail lacquer that usually comes with a hand and foot massage and nail shape. Lacquer takes a while to dry, so you are best not to touch anything for up to one hour. It lasts up to one week before the chips begin to show.
Gel polish (sometimes call shellac)
Gel polish is applied using a special base coat, two coats of colour and a special top coat. Each layer is cured under an LED light, with no drying time. Gel polish lasts a minimum of three weeks, three times longer than normal polish. Gel should be removed professionally and you should avoid chipping it off yourself as it can damage the nails.
Acrylic nails
Acrylic nails are good for gaining length or changing the shape of your nail.
Tips to lengthen nails are applied and then the acrylic. Once hardened, nails can be shaped and painted. The upkeep is to have an “infill” every two to three weeks, as opposed to removal and reapplication.
SNS nails
SNS, short for Signature Nail System, is a powder-dipping system. It is much thinner than acrylic, but thicker than gel polish. It’s a great way of getting a bit of extra strength in your nails, while maintaining a more natural-looking finish.
A base coat is applied, followed by the nails being “dipped” into a coloured powder. This process is repeated to create the required strength and structure.
There is no curing or setting under a light, because the powder is coloured and there is no painting required, meaning zero dry time.
Costs differ with each treatment and nail salon.
Signature Nails
G floor, Unit 5
150 Symonds Street Eden Terrace
Phone: 0210 326 034 Facebook: @signaturenailsnz
Nailz27
1/27 Dacre Street Eden Terrace
Phone: 021 294 2727 Website: nailz27.co.nz
Bon Nail & Spa
111 Newton Road Eden Terrace
Phone: 022 547 2972 Website: bonnailspa.com Instagram: @bonnailnz
Lash + Brow
Specialising in luscious lashes and cosmetic brow tattooing, Lash + Brow’s treatments include microblading, eyebrow feathering, ombré brows, eyebrow tinting and shaping, and eyelash extensions.
Cosmetic tattooing is a massive trend as it saves time with a brow pencil and ongoing tints. It’s great for people who suffer from hair loss, or whose brows have thinned over time.
Feathering is the most natural-looking technique, and soft powder/ombré is also a great option for someone with little to no brow hair or for someone wanting to create a powder fill look. The two techniques can be combined for more definition.
The cost
Lashes from $80-$250
Brow tattoo starts at $800 for two appointments
The upkeep
Cosmetic eyebrow tattoo treatments need to be refreshed every 1-2 years depending on how well your skin retains the pigment.
Lash tints last approximately 4-6 weeks if you follow the aftercare instructions. Sweating from heavy exercise can affect the length of time that tints last. It is normal to infill the lashes as they drop out.
Lash + Brow
9 Mount Eden Road
Phone: 0210 816 3475
Website: lashandbrow.nz
Instagram: @lashandbrow_mteden
NB: In November, Lash + Brow is on the move to bigger premises on the corner of Mt Eden and New North Road.
Smile with confidence
If you’re after a brighter, whiter, more confident smile, The Whitening Co is the place. Over time, teeth become stained from the good things in life such as red wine, coffee and tea. The Whitening Co's formula and processes aim to deliver safe and effective teeth whitening to remove these everyday stains.
Whether you’re a first-time teeth whitener, preparing for an event, or just wanting a bright smile for everyday, there are treatments to suit everyone.
The cost
In-studio teeth whitening starts at $149. The most popular treatment is The Confidence Package at $229, which boasts instant results of 5-6 shades lighter after a one-hour session.
The upkeep
Drop in for a top-up or purchase a home whitening kit, which are available from $189 and include two whitening pens, 14 whitening strips and an LED whitening light to help speed up the process.
The Whitening Co
11 Mount Eden Road
Phone: 0800 2 WHITEN (0800 294 4836)
Email: bookings@whiteningco.nz
Website: whiteningco.nz
Instagram: @thewhiteningco
Plump and luscious lips
Consider a lip blush tattoo and say goodbye to lipstick. All you need is a lick of gloss and you’re good to go.
The body's natural reaction to semi- permanent lip colour is to produce collagen, making lips appear fuller. Following the procedure, lips will become more plump as collagen is deposited.
As we age, lip pigment naturally fades. Semi-permanent lip colour brightens the whole face and enhances your best features, giving a more defined, fuller pout.
The tattoo lasts 3-5 years and there is a range of colours, from natural to something a little more vibrant.
The cost
$1040 for two appointments
Lash + Brow
9 Mount Eden Road
Phone: 0210 816 3475
Website: lashandbrow.nz
Instagram: @lashandbrow_mtedenn
Skin
Caci’s Uptown clinic offers a range of skin- correcting treatments, cosmetic injectables and laser hair removal. The beauty of Caci is that it offers memberships for some services. You pay a regular amount for a set period of time, making skin treatments easy to budget. Memberships provide a schedule of treatments, discounts on skincare and a plan personally prescribed to deliver the best results.
The cost
Reformaskin membership $1300 Laser hair removal membership $1368 Injectable membership POA
Caci Clinic
101 Mt Eden Road Mt Eden
Phone: 09 555 0028
Website: mteden.caci.co.nz
Instagram: @caci_nz
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