Pamper
Before Christmas, the team at Golden Triangle-based Norwich hair salon, FresHair completed the training necessary for them to offer the rather fabulous KeraStraight Semi Permanent Hair Straightening treatment.
Featured in all the top hair & beauty magazines, the KeraStraight process (also known as the ‘Brazilian Blow Dry’) is an innovative and more natural way to achieve gorgeously smooth locks for up to 4 months (depending on hair type etc). It employs naturally occurring keratin, low pH protein, 22 carat gold & amino acids from vegetables and leaves to not only straighten, but also simultaneously repair hair. 100% Formaldehyde and Aldehyde free, it is by far gentler than most other chemical straightening methods.
Before the KeraStraight process.
The ‘natural’ element of the Kerastraight treatment fits perfectly with FresHair’s philosophy. Owner Sue Helps is determined to use natural and eco-friendly products and processes wherever possible. Along with low energy lights, new eco-friendly Parlux Hairdryers and using NO Aerosols, FresHair uses the New Schwarzkopf “ESSENSITY” Organic Colours and Matrix Biolage Botanicals paraben-free shampoos, conditioners and styling products.
Sue says of FresHair’s approach: “We employ a total ‘green’ ethos in the business, thus being healthier for both the clients hair, scalp and skin but also creating a healthier environment for me and my team to work in”.
KeraStraight is suitable for all hair types from virgin, untreated hair to highly damaged and weak. Look forward to beautifully shiny, straight & healthy hair. The process takes around 2-4 Hours depending on hair length, curliness etc.
After the KeraStraight process.
FresHair is open 6 days a week Mon-Sat 9am-5.30pm (late night opening on Thursdays until 7pm).
FresHair on Avenue Road.
FresHair, Beauty & Barbers 2.
33A Avenue Road, Norwich, NR2 3HN.
Tel: 01603 621854.
Enjoy 20% OFF COLOURS at FresHair, including Schwarzkopf Organic “ESSENSITY”, throughout January 2012. Please mention EnjoyNorwich to qualify.
Tidal Therapies’ Thai Hot Compress Massage.
Thai Hot Compress Massage.
Tidal Therapies in North Norfolk is a complete wellbeing experience for body and soul that is going places. Originally based at Creake Abbey Studios, you can now enjoy the full range of delightful holistic and beauty treatments in Holt and at Potter & Dibble in Dersingham. No excuse not to indulge yourself now then…
One of Tidal Therapies’ ‘signature’ treatments is the Thai Hot Compress Massage. I visited the Tidal Therapies Centre in Holt, a discreet and peaceful little space next to Nicholsons just off the High Street, to see if said massage could relieve the unbelievable knots in my poor aching shoulders and whatnot (i.e. to see if it could work miracles).
Tidal Therapies Owner Linda Black, who set the business up almost 2 years ago after relocating from London to North Norfolk, describes the treatment thus:
“Hot Thai Compress Massage offers the application of warming and muscle easing heated compresses comprised of some 20 Thai Herbs including lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves and tamarind. The massage combines the benefits of dry body brushing, swedish and lymphatic drainage massage to provide the best possible relaxation and invigoration experience”.
After an initial consultation with Linda, I pretty much stripped off (dignity preserved with a towel) to lie face down on the bed and the dry brush was used across my body. A fan of dry brushing (great for getting the old circulation going) this felt wonderful, ridding the body of dead skin and stimulating the blood supply.
Meanwhile, the compresses – large-ish cloth ball-like objects with a handle that are packed with herbs, are being steam heated. This resulted in the most gorgeous fragrance filling the room – a virtue of the 40-odd Thai herbs in each compress. Once heated, the compresses are applied in deep strokes, which allows the heat to penetrate into both the muscles and the joints to aid relaxation. This was a very pleasant sensation and indeed extremely relaxing.
Compress used in Thai Hot Compress Massage.
Following thorough application of the compresses, Linda used Swedish massage techniques with pre-blended relaxing aromatherapy oils from Aroma Natural to assist the easing of any areas of knots and tension in the muscles. As I mentioned earlier, Linda had her work cut out, particularly around my left shoulder. But, diligent and professional, work she did, and those knots weren’t getting away lightly. By the end of the treatment I’d say the tension had improved by a good 90%, if not abated in its entirety.
Once the back and legs had been tackled it was time to turn over and the process was repeated on the front of my legs and arms.
All in all, the treatment lasts about an hour and afterwards one definitely feels thoroughly relaxed and pampered. I actually had trouble walking, I was so blissed out. I would probably give it a while before driving after this treatment! Alongside the relaxation one does feel an overall sense of ‘wellbeing’ and calm. Just what we all need from time to time in this hectic modern world. Thanks Linda!
Thai Hot Compress Massage – 60 mins – £50.
Tidal Therapies.
Creake Abbey, North Creake, NR21 9LF
Tel: 07854 001590
and
Suite 4, High Silver (next to Nicholsons), 35 High Street, Holt, NR25 6BN
Tel: 07773 252170
Summer is coming (honest, it is) and I’ve been testing out a selection of wonderful creams, sprays and potions to protect from those naughty, ageing rays (the sun, lovely as it is, accounts for some 80%+ of all skin ageing, as well as aiding and abetting the formation of thread veins and hyper pigmentation. Boo).
For the reasons just stated, I wear some sort of SPF all year round – usually SPF15-30 in my moisturiser until April/May. After this point I crank it up to some SPF50+ value until the leaves start to turn golden in Autumn. So I was delighted when long-time beauty fave, Clarins brought out two new High Protection Sun Care products – a 50+ UVB/UVA Sun Wrinkle Control Cream for Face (£17 / 75ml flip cap tube) and 50+ UVB/UVA Sun Care Milk-Lotion Spray (£17.50 150ml natural spray bottle).
Clarins High Protection Sun Care for the Face.
Promising smart multi-cellular protection, moisturisation and dark-spot protection, these products are part skin-case, part sun-care. Wonderful. They come in bright-yellow packaging that would look pretty fab in any beach bag.
They both apply easily, without leaving a heavy sticky residue (though the facial product does leave your skin a bit shiny, but then this is pretty standard for sun protection products), smell nice and leave the skin feeling very comforted.
Clarins Sun Care Milk Lotion Spray.
We Love: Both excellent products, the 50+ UVB/UVA Sun Wrinkle Control Cream for Face will definitely replace what we were using for facial sun protection (Boots No7 Anti-Ageing Facial Protect SPF50, £11 / 50ml).
Not Crazy About: The price, particularly for the 50+ UVB/UVA Sun Care Milk-Lotion Spray is a third to double more costly than a comparable sun care product in, say, Boots. Which could work out quite expensive given how frequently I slap the stuff on! Though this is a lovely, effective product, we’ll probably stick to annual staple Boots Soltan (SPF 50+ £9.25 /200ml) for sun protection for our body.
Clarins High Protection Sun Care is available online now and from Clarins counters and Spas nationwide, including John Lewis in Norwich.
- 11/02/2012 - Love Looks: An Exhibition of Nudes plus sensual poetry and images February 11, 2012
- 11/02/2012 - Signs of Spring Week at Fairhaven Garden February 11, 2012
- 10/02/2012 - Coaching for a Great Life! Weekend Break in Norfolk February 10, 2012
- 09/02/2012 - A Beginner's Guide to Stargazing February 9, 2012
- 09/02/2012 - SCIENCE MUSEUM LIVE ON TOUR February 9, 2012