Eyebrow and Eyelash Tinting

I don't like wearing a lot of make-up. Unless of course it's a special occasion or a night out, which gives me a reason to be "made up".

My every day make-up regime is basically brushing a couple of strokes of mascara on my eyelashes and applying natural colour lipgloss.

Like I've mentioned in a previous post, the one thing that I would struggle to live without, is mascara.

They say the eyes are the windows to your soul. And without mascara, I'm sad to say, that my "window's" look rather dull and I tend to look pale ;-0. I find that my eyes get lost in the scenery of my face. I think you will all agree that nearly invisible eyelashes can sometimes make a woman look a bit sick. And even the best-shaped eyebrows may not set off the eyes if the hair is fine, sparse or pale.

At the same time I don't always want to/and I don't always wear mascara, especially when I'm working out, diving or swimming.

Besides using waterproof mascara, which I hate; I was reminded again of a popular procedure known as tinting. I actually had this done once or twice before, many years ago. When a friend mentioned that she has it done in Jakarta I decided to try it again.

Brow and lash tinting may be your solution. Just like having your hair colored, tinting changes the colour, adds the illusion of thickness and dimension.

Before tinting

After tinting

The procedure took approx. 15 min and the results were visible. I am glad I had it done. I remember it being more noticeable when I had it done previously, though. I might ask them to use a darker colour or perhaps leave it on for a few minutes longer next time.

NOTE: Keep in mind tweezing or waxing should be done after a tint. This maximizes the amount of brow hair available for shaping.

Where to go:

Nikki's Salon on Kemang Raya No. 47A.
Tel: (021)-7192917

Price: Rp.100,00 for eyebrow and Rp.120,000 eyelashes.

Tip: Ask them about the price when you make your appointment.

I didn't enquire about the price and I was surprised when they charged me Rp.220,000 for a
procedure that only took 15min. I find it pricey considering that my hair colour incl. cut and blow dry (approx. 2 and a half hours) would probably cost Rp.350,000-Rp.400,000. Also, considering that most 1 hour treatments e. g. cream baths, pedi's and mani's don't cost nearly as much.

PLEASE COMMENT ON THIS POST, SHOULD YOU KNOW OF ANY OTHER SALON'S IN JAKARTA THAT PROVIDE THIS SERVICE?

Biodroga facial - a mi Casa on Jl. Benda, Jakarta

As I've mentioned in a previous post, Entra a mi Casa (now, a mi Casa) is my favourite place to go to for pedicures and a manicures in Jakarta.

a mi Casa
Jl. Benda Raya no. 17,
Kemang, Jakarta Seletan
Phone: +62 21 7806 222

Now it is also my favourite place for facials.

As per previous posts about facials, I am always after a salon that uses good international skin care products as well as facial equipment. Oh, and don't forget the massage part ;-)

I am very happy to write about my fantastic experience at a mi Casa salon & spa and I highly recommend trying them for your next facial.

The Spa has private therapy rooms where you can really relax and unwind while the therapist works her magic.

The Balinese style spa has a terrific atmosphere with Balinese music playing and true sense of serenity. You change into a batik sarong and have your feet washed before you lie down for the most heavenly facial, including a 15min massage and later a hand and foot massage while you relax with the mask on your face.

Or is the real magic really the products they use?

They have a choice of 3 products, French, German or a local product. I opted for the German product called Biodroga.




I am not usually keen on whitening products but the therapist (Ibu Sumi) recommended I try the Biodroga Whitening facial at Rp. 300,000. This would apparently help with the breakouts and to lighten the dark spots/acne scaring on my face (Yes, I pick).

She suggested I go for a facial every two weeks if I want to really notice a difference in my skins appearance.

So after my second facial today, I can report that I do think my skin looks smoother, especially on my cheeks where I've been struggling with breakouts. And the couple of dark marks I had are definitely lighter than 2 weeks ago.

I look forward to my next facial, in 2 weeks and really hope that the Therapist is right and that I will soon have that soft, flawless skin that I've been dreaming of.

Martha Tilaar Spa

I've been for a couple of facials over the past 9 months in Jakarta and a lot of the salons use natural products from Bali or their own products made from nuts, honey, cucumber etc.

As I've mentioned before, I personally prefer a facial that uses a good skin care range and that uses facial equipment such as a steamer, high frequency machines etc.

I went for a facial at Martha Tilaar on Thursday. This salon was recommend by a friend and I was happy to hear that they use Biokos products.

Martha Tilaar Salon & Day Spa





Jl. Prapanca Raya Blok P III No 3,
Jakarta Selatan

Phone : +62 21 739 3519


The therapist analyzes your skin and recommends a facial that best suit your skin type. I had the Aromatic Acnomore facial including a mask. I paid approx. ($30) Rp.305,000 for the facial (Rp.195,000) plus an additional (Rp.110,000) for the mask that is optional.


Though I personally don't mind this, the facial was a rather "clinical" which included extractions. I know that a lot of people do not enjoy extractions and prefer a more relaxing facials with dimmed lights instead of the very bright fluorescent light shining in your eyes.


Just mention to your therapist that you would prefer not to have extractions done

I particularly enjoyed the facial massage including head and shoulders which felt like it was a little longer than the usual 10 min. The only thing that I thought was missing though, was the hand massage...


You can't always get it all though... ;-) I guess the quality of any spa treatment will almost always differ between therapists. Ultimately it depends on how experienced the therapist is.


It was over all a really good facial and I enjoyed the experience and I would recommend the Martha Tilaar salon for your next facial.

ENTRA a MI CASA Hair and Beauty

As per my previous posts about waxing, I've been going for waxes at the Waxing Studio on Ampera Raya that is really cheap and though "it does the job" I've realised that it is of course true that you get what you pay for.

I found that the hair grew back very quickly and I decided to continue my search for the perfect wax in Jakarta.

I called around, trying to find a salon that uses proper wax, rather than sugar wax.

The only wax that I know from back home is depilève and the thing about depilève is that the pre and post lotions used, apparently prevent ingrowns and are meant to slow down hair growth and leave the skin soft and smooth. It appears that most of the salons around Kemang use Sugar wax, but I found one that to my surprised use depilève.

ENTRA a MI CASA

Jl. Benda Raya no. 17,

Kemang, Jakarta Seletan

Phone: +62 21 7806 222.

I paid approx. ($22) Rp.220,000 for a full leg and full bikini wax. Ask for Cindy, she is really very good.

I am not a scientist though and whether or not depilève products are actually better than sugar wax or if it just has to do with the way it is waxed....I don't know.

All I know is that my last two waxes, especially the bikini area has been a lot less painful and I definitely have less ingrowns and it seems that the hair takes longer to grow back than before.

I have since then been back twice for a wax and I've also been for a pedicure and manicure which I can highly recommend.

I paid approx ($14) Rp.140,000 for a french pedi and mani.

I have referred quite a few of my friends to them and they are all very happy with the treatments they've received and they've all said that they will definitely go back there.

Threading

What Is Threading Hair Removal?

Threading is a proven age-old form of facial hair removal practiced in India, China and Middle East. The procedure uses a 100% cotton thread which is twisted and pulled along the skin surface of unwanted hair, lifting hair directly from the follicle. As the facial hair is removed, only a slight pinch is felt.

I went with Marc to have his hair cut one day at a barber shop in Benmore Gardens, Sandton and I was quite intrigued and wondered what the Barber was doing with a roll off thread, holding one end in his mouth while moving up and down over a mans face. Naturally I had to ask, and the guy kindly showed me how he removed facial hair with this technique called "threading".


















I never wondered about it again really, because I never heard anyone talk about it, or saw it done anywhere, until we moved to Asia. When we moved to India I suddenly saw threading being done everywhere and all my friends raved about this wonderful way to shape your eye brows. And I must admit, it is by far the best way to get rid of unwanted facial hair. I have never had such neat, perfectly shaped eye brows. I even started threading my upper lip and once I also had my chin done. It used to cost me about $1 to have my eye brows shaped.

So, if you've never had threading done, you should definitely try it. A warning though; some people might find it really painful. I had a friend that couldn't bare her upper lip being done but if you are used to tweezing or waxing, and you have a high pain threshold this is by far the best method of removing those unwanted facial hair.

The first time I went to the hairdresser in Jakarta I was upset that they didn't do threading. I went to three other salons in the Kemang area determined to find someone that does threading, but sadly they didn't even know what I meant when I asked if they did treading.

We drove past a Waxing Studio sign on Ampera Raya a couple of times but because the salon is off Ampera Raya and I could physically see it, I just didn't know what to expect and never actually took the time to check it out.

After another bad waxing experience since my post on waxing. I decided to check it out, still hoping to find a place I could go to for a good leg wax that won't cost me a fortune.

Having lived in Vietnam and India I got used to the typical Asian (under $10) spa experiences and I guess I have become rather spoiled. Naturally it pains me to have to pay $30-$40 for a facial which I used to pay about $10 for. I did pay high spa prices when we lived in SA and I of course really enjoy the occasional treat of going to a really nice candle lit, incense filled spa, wearing fluffy white robes and slippers while relaxing to background "inner peace" music. But, I am used to and are very happy going to more "local" salons.

STUDIO WAXING Poetré, on Ampera Raya, pleasantly surprised me. I walked into this small, no frills but neat and clean "local" salon. What I mean by local is that they clearly don't cater for expats, when you compare their IDR35,000 for a full leg wax to the IDR170,000 at the other "expat" salons around Kemang.























I was very happy with my wax and I was even happier to hear that they do threading.

Address: Jln ampera raya no.60 (depan pengadilan jakarta selatan)

Coming from Kemang - Drive down Kemang Timur (becomes Ampera), it is on the right hand side.
Look out for a sign board: STUDIO WAXING Poetré

Tel: 021-7813841 (only one of the girls speak some English)

Time for a wax

Waxing - Something we all loath but can't live without doing. I still think the laser hair removal sounds like the perfect solution to the "hairy problem" but of course it is pricey and there are a lot of other things I'd rather do with the money. Hopefully, one day!

So until then I have to, like most women put myself through the painful and in my opinion demeaning waxing episodes at least every 4 weeks. I always thought that a gynecologist would be the only person that would ever see me in such a compromising position. But like most girls will attest a bikini wax is right up there with a visit to the gyne as far as embarrassment goes (well, for me at least). "Can I use that towel to cover my face with rather, pleeeeeeease"? And, "no...it doesn't burn so you can please stop blowing on it now"! LOL! Will never forget that, Edith!

Philips Epilator

Over the years I've been for many waxes but I have also been using an epilator in between. Many of my friends ask if it isn't painful to use, but I really don't mind it. I do think that a wax is a lot better and leaves my legs a lot smoother but, I figured that it's not always convenient to go to the salon and when needed I quickly do a 10min epilator job and I'm good to go for another week or so. I even use the epilator under my arms...I know, I'm mad! It really works though. The 1st time is very painful but once you've done it once and keep doing it, it is actually not that bad. You just shouldn't shave in between because that makes the hair grow back coarse which of course hurts like hell when you epilate after that. I can go for up to 2 weeks without epilating under my arms. The hair grows back soft and has become a lot less over the years. I would definitely recommend it to those of you with a high pain threshold.

So back to the waxing and the embarrassing bikini waxes. I have actually been waxing my own bikini line for some time now. It is not just because I feel uncomfortable, I also just figure, why pay someone to hurt you! I'd much rather use that money for a different spa treatment that I actually enjoy :-)

I used hot wax and paper strips for the past 2 years and even brought the wax pot (thanks Jacqueline) with me to Jakarta. Many different kinds of waxes were available in India and it was really cheap. About $1.5 for a pot that would last you about half a year.

I've been to a lot of Apoteke's (pharmacies), health and beauty stores in the South of Jakarta but I haven't been able to find any wax or wax strips.

I finally decided to just go for a wax. There are many beauty salons in Jakarta and I decided to try Puri Santi in Cipete.

It is a lovely salon and I will definitely go back to try one of their other treatments but definitely not for a wax!

I asked for a full leg wax and said that I will decide if I want a bikini (Luckily I've learnt). Long story short, she started waxing (luckily she didn't start with the bikini) and I realised that there was no way I could put myself through an hour of what I can only call a amateur "patch work" wax. I apologised for perhaps being rude and explained that if it's alright I'd rather not carry on with the wax job. I just couldn't get myself to pay $25 for a wax (legs and bikini) that I could do better myself.

Note: I hope to have more positive reviews about their other services soonest. Watch this space!
The only problem was that I still didn't have any wax to do it myself. I did one of my quick epilator jobs on my legs and I managed to find:

Sally Hansen Extra Strength Brazilian Bikini Waxing & Shaping Kit


I ended up spending $20 on the kit which I should get at least 3 bikni waxes out of. "Still not sure what the mirror is for" LOL ;-)

It worked well. Like with a lot of products it doesn't work exactly like the instructions indicates though. I had to microwave it for longer than the indicated 20 seconds and 3 times during the wax as it goes thick again quickly. I still prefer the bekini strip wax though but beggers can't be choosers. Over all this product is actually very good. It got rid of the hair easily and left my skin feeling soft and smooth and didn't irritate or leave my skin red at all.