Fashion Voyeur

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Categories: Beauty, Fashion, Pixie

Pre-Vacation Beauty with The Wax Bar

If like me you’re off on vacation some time soon, you’ll know the prep that goes into getting yourself ready.  I’m not talking about the endless gym hours (which I didn’t do), searching for the perfect vacation fragrance, or the shopping for cute outfits, I mean the beauty prep.  The search for travel sized versions of your favourite products to make space in your case so you can bring back exotic spirits (just me?), the waxing, primping, preening and plucking that goes into making sure your face is as instagrammable as your vacation wardrobe and the gel polish to give you that flawless finish.  Yup, vacation season is almost over but I’m shoehorning in one last trip to see my mama in Menorca and that means a jam packed visit to The Wax Bar for The Works.  The Salon is cool and modern.  With it’s dark, charcoal grey and fuschia pink interior and it’s Ministry of Sound chillout vibe, it’s actually a place that you don’t mind hanging out in, plus the staff are pretty awesome too.

I try to get an appointment as close to the date of travel as possible, in this case, they day before.  This gives you the longest life out of your treatments and ensures they’ll last for the duration of your time away.

When it comes to vacation essentials everyone has their favourite treatments, but these are my absolute staples.  Here’s my guide to the beauty treatments that will have you looking like a natural beauty on the beach:

1. GEL FINGERS & TOES

Orange Gel Nails The Wax Bar
Gel Pedicure The Wax Bar
Gel Toenails Day 4
Gel Toenails Day 2
Gel Toenails Day 9

A gel manicure is probably a staple for some of you in everyday life and not just vacation season so this isn’t anything revolutionary, however it does make your life a lot easier when you’re on vacation and it finishes off your look perfectly.  If you don’t usually indulge, then give it a go right before your next vacation.  If you don’t have a Wax Bar salon near you then go by word of mouth; a good salon and a great Nail Technician won’t damage your nails with gel.  I always have a gel manicure before travelling, I ask for my nails to be trimmed down short and sweet to avoid snags and tears and also because suncream down the underside of long fingernails is just gross.  When I’m taking a Summer vacation I shun my usual black nail polish for something uber bright.

Point of note Voyeurs, if you’re based in either Newcastle or Edinburgh, you’re lucky enough to have some of the most talented manicurists around, right on your doorstep.  A gel manicure from The Wax Bar is extensive; cuticles are cut back, hands are massaged, nails are trimmed, filed and buffed, and they’ve discovered the best combination of gel base, colour and top coat to give you the longest lasting manicure you’ve ever had.  Trust me, I’ve been there many, many times and my last one lasted six weeks and two days before the fist chip.  Yes, I know, mind blown right?!

This time I opt for a sunburst orange with an ocean blue on my toenails.  I’m not a fan of anything pastel or bland, I’m either a gothic queen or a Rainbow Bright (if you get this 80’s reference then can we please be friends?) and there’s no in between.  Short, sweet and super sassy, I feel like if a mermaid had toes, this is what she’d wear on them.

2. LVL LASHES

LVL Lashes Immediately Before & After

Wearing mascara on vacation sucks.  The air is different so our eyes can be prone to watering more, we’re dehydrated so our eyes are more dry and to be honest it’s just a pain in the ass putting on a full face of makeup when you just want to look like a boho fairy.  What if I told you there was treatment that would leave you with thick, dark and luscious lashes negating the need for mascara completely?

LVL Lashes are bomb and The Wax Bar are bomb ass at doing them.  The procedure is simple and should be the same no matter which salon you go to.  The objective is to Lift, add Volume and Lengthen.  Simples.  It’s a 45 minute treatment that’s completed with your eyes closed whilst various solutions are applied to your lashes to achieve a soft, natural looking bombshell effect.

When you’re done you sometimes get that momentary sting that you get after a tint but the difference is amazing.  The reason the treatment works so well with your own lashes, is that whilst our lashes often point straight ahead, the LVL solution breaks down the bonds in the lash hair, changes the shape of the natural lash to point upwards instead of forwards, and then reseals the bond.  Et voila, instant doll eyes with no crunchy lash extensions or fiddly strip lashes.  Straight after the treatment they can ‘clump’ together a little but this is temporary and the day after treatment you’ll look like a freaking Barbie doll.

If you do indulge in a spot of pre-vacay LVL remember that they’re just like Gremlins: you must not feed them after midnight, do not expose them to bright light, and never get them wet.  Actually only the latter is true, for 24 hours you gotsta keep those lashes dry so no washing, no crying and definitely no jumping in pools until your 24 hour settling period is up.  Follow these rules and all eyes will be, errr, on your eyes.

3. BROW TINTING

Feeling Smug with this Brow Game
Brow Tint 5 Days After

Thanks to Cara Delevingne (and me of course – maybe…) we now live in an age where brows are king.  A wise and beautiful lady once appeared in my mirror and told me that a good set of brows can open many doors and it’s actually true.  After a painstaking gazillion years of growing them back in, I am now the proud owner of a set or brows to rival Ms Delevingne and I do nothing at all to them except a fortnightly tint.

I’ve had my brows tinted at many, many salons up and down the country and The Wax Bar is home to one of the best.  Different salons use different brands of tint and they often switch up their brands regularly in order to find the best one for their clients.  If your regular salon uses a tint that doesn’t last very long then tell them, they’ll appreciate the feedback and have access to many different suppliers so you’ll be doing them a favour.  I opt for the deepest brown with the tiniest touch of black because my natural brows are very dark.

Take a wax pencil with you on vacation and if it starts to lighten up towards the end of your trip, you can use this to fill in the gaps and create the shape under the arch.  My top pick and handbag essential is Tom Ford’s Eyebrow Sculptor in Espresso which costs £42.

4. LYCON BIKINI WAX

The Aftermath
Totally Worth It

Put down the strip wax, this isn’t the 90’s and step away from the Veet, there’s only one way to wax your bikini area these days and that’s with Lycon Hot Wax.  If you’re a virgin to hot waxing then read this, it’s an indepth review of hot waxing that will tell you all the benefits.  Basically you’ll get a smoother finish, no redness or irritation and way less ingrown hairs.  What’s not to love?  There are a whole range of options with Lycon waxing, you don’t have to go sans bush like me, you can opt for a little off the sides, a landing strip or even a lightning bolt.  Whatever your waxing jam, do it with Lycon, nobody wants an itchy foof on vacation.  If you find a great Waxer then follow her, they’re hard to come by, mine is formerly of Newcastle Hair & Beauty Clinic and her name is Gemma if you’re thinking of booking in with her.  I’ll follow her to the ends of the earth until my dying breath.  Oh, and I’m not anti-bush, if you wanna rock the full Jackson 5 then that’s ok too.

These are my top picks, the essentials I wouldn’t go on vacation without because they make things so easy once you’re out there.  There’s no ongoing maintenance with these treatments, except maybe having a nail file on standby for emergencies, and I don’t know about you, but I don’t wear makeup on holiday so LVL just gives me a bit of polish.

There are other treatments I occasionally book if I can find the time pre-vacay, I like to book in with my chiropodist in the week that I’m travelling to get my tootsies in tip top condition.  There are foot clinics in every major town and city who will be happy to give your feet the once over and you’ll leave feeling like you’re walking on air.  Sadly my schedule didn’t allow this pre-vacation, so I’ll be doing this pre-London Fashion Week instead.

I’m off to Menorca, I’ll see you on the flip Voyeurs..

Pixie xo

 

Categories: Beauty, North East, Uncategorized

Levoi Champagne Nail Bar: Newcastle’s Secret Beauty Hideaway

Hold up Voyeurs, there’s a secret champagne nail bar in the centre of Newcastle that you need on your radar…..

This one’s a little bit special, it’s a hidden gem in the city of Newcastle that’s a haven for all things beauty and you’ve probably walked past it a hundred of times already.  When you find a place like this, you face the decision to either keep it to yourself and revel in your new found knowledge, or share it with the world.  When it’s this good, it’s impossible not to share, these small, independent businesses that get us a little bit more excited than the big franchises that scream at us from the sidewalk.

Levoi – pronounced Le-vwah – is one such place.  Right in the heart of Newcastle, it’s a basement level champagne nail bar with a colour scheme to die for.  Aiming to bring a friendly feel back to nail grooming after the influx of conveyor belt nail salons to the city in recent years and with a focus on old school glamour, Levoi brings a touch of 50’s class to personal grooming.  There’s not a Dremel in sight at this friendly nail salon so you know from the outset that your nails are in safe hands.

Hidden away at ankle level on St Mary’s place, close to the Haymarket, Levoi is a friendly welcoming salon that prides itself on not only its flair for creative nails, but also its service.  I’m greeted on arrival by owner Ann who tells me that the name Levoi is a simple anagram of her mother’s name, Olive.  Already pretty cute, right?  The colour scheme is a subtle tribute too, with soft muted greens and a signature nail polish created in her honour, it’s clear that family is at the heart of this business.

With a bar stool nail bar as the focal point of the first room in the salon, I take my seat and before my butt has touched the leather, I’m handed a glass of champagne and a strawberry dipped in chocolate – the staple diet of Levoi clients.  My nails are prepped and sanitised before the cuticles are trimmed back and the tips shaped.  I’ve opted for a service called “One For The Road” which is the salon’s most popular treatment.  It includes cured gel that lasts up to three weeks and it’s Levoi’s own bespoke gel in a range of colours mixed and selected by the staff themselves, each one named after a cocktail, natch.

Now you know me pretty well by now Voyeurs: pastel hair and glossy black nails, that’s my jam, but today I’m throwing caution to the wind and I let Kayley Ann, my Nail Technician for the afternoon, decide on the colour.  I know, shocking.  She seems to have the measure of me as she selects a deep navy blue shade called Kir Royale, topped with a subtle glitter fleck, the finished product is called a Royal-Tini & it’s pretty fitting that they’re blue, as it’s Autism Awareness Month.  Winning.  After each nail treatment, hands are massaged with an own-blend of lavender infused olive oil which leaves my hands smelling flippin’ lush.

The big difference you’ll notice with Levoi, is its laid back LA vibe;  Nothing is rushed, chat isn’t forced, and it’s a relaxing environment.  It doesn’t have that feeling of being turnover orientated, staff take time to chat and they’ll mix bespoke colours for clients if there’s something in particular you need to match.  Ann recently created a bespoke tartan checked nail for a client to match to a dress and says she loves a challenge.

There’s a simple menu of services and it’s not just about the nails, Levoi offer a range of waxing services in a private room at the back of the salon, and even ear piercing.  There’s also the option of exclusive use of the salon for birthday or bachelorette parties, or times when you and your squad just want to monopolise the place like the girl bosses that you are.  Prices are competitive for a city centre salon and there’s parking close by meaning that you can ‘hit and run’ when you just need a polish for a big night out.

Wanna see the place for yourself?  Course you do.  You can find Levoi at 6 St Mary’s Place, Newcastle, and make sure you ask for a Bubbles Card which gets you your 6th treatment free.  You’re welcome Voyeurs.

Pixie xo

I was given an on menu nail service called One For The Road which takes 45 minutes and costs £35.

To book an appointment with Levoi call 0191 2305859

Categories: Beauty, North East, Uncategorized

The Wax Bar Newcastle Official Launch Party

You’ll have heard me waxing lyrical (see what I did there?) about The Wax Bar, a recent addition to the beauty scene in North Jesmond and you’ll know that I’ve visited the salon for intimate waxing and LVL Lashes (two essentials for your beauty maintenance regime).  Now the salon may have been operational since December 2016, but after establishing a loyal North East client base, The Wax Bar threw open their doors this weekend for their official launch party and I was invited along. Obvs.

A live DJ provided the tunes and the salon was set up to provide complimentary treatments including nail polish and stencilling, HD Brows, threading, tinting and my favourite, a braid bar, with added glitter station.  Fresh pizza, pasta and doughballs from Pizza Express Jesmond were served, from Pizza Express along with sweet shop sweets and super cute bespoke cupcakes (of which three mysteriously appeared in my kitchen the next morning).  Prosecco and Pimms were on tap all night and the party was in full flow when I rocked up fresh com a runway show.

First stop: The braid bar, I was sat in front of a lit mirror and given a selection of styles to choose from, I opted for two top Dutch braids into wrapped ponytails which the Stylist did in record time. Sidebar, The Wax Bar will have a resident hair braider working in the salon once each month offering single or add on appointments. I can vouch for her talent too, she’s young, hip and dresses like a rockstar, oh yeah, she does awesome braids too.

If you haven’t already visited The Wax Bar, the salon is modern and minimalist.  With it’s cool grey and white colour scheme (with added Wax Bar branded metallic balloons for the party) it has a fresh, urban feel and the pop of fuschia pink in the branding is uniform throughout the each salon.

New and existing clients had a chance to chat about the treatments and products on offer at The Wax Bar as well as putting forward suggestions to the business – a real nice touch to involve potential clients in shaping the business to suit their needs.  Kudos.  Owner Nicole Peterson and Area Manager Claire travelled From Edinburgh for the party; saying they’d been nervous and excited for the past four weeks.   Nicole told me that after doing some research on Jesmond and learning about its huge student population, she wanted to cater for that because it’s unfair to price out such a huge chunk of the market, to combat this, The Wax Bar offer 25% discount to students on qualifying days.

I chatted to the staff who told me that throwing a launch party works so well in beauty because it offers a great opportunity to meet potential new clients and learn more about existing clients.

These guys are the holy grail of hot waxing; resident hot waxer Gemma has her technique nailed and can have you stripped, Hollywood waxed and out again fuzz free in 20 minutes.   The salon also offers a range of other treatments including men’s waxing, gel nails, LVL Lashes, HD Brows and lash extensions amongst other things.  Each Therapist has her own specialty so you can rest knowing you’re in good hands.  All treatments booked at the official launch party were offered at 50% off but fear not Voyeurs, there are regular rotational offers on treatments and there’s a loyalty club too which allows clients to collects stamps leading to free treatments.

So, long story short, aces launch party, friendly professional staff, free parking outside the door and good coffee. What’s not to love?!

Pixie xo

To book an appointment at The Wax Bar call 0191 2812183

Follow @pixietenenbaum