Freda threads some Eyecandy in Cape Town

"The moment the eyes meet can be more provocative than a handshake or a smile"

When Freda Isingoma lived in London as an investment banker she was spoilt for choice with eyebrow threading salons galore at branches of Harvey Nichols and Selfridges but when she moved to Cape Town to pursue a career in investment banking she found that threading was not available to people living in the city centre.

Armed with the belief that alluring eyes, particularly the brows, are the key to seduction Freda boldly left investment banking to open the first dedicated threading and lash bar in South Africa.

"Facial grooming concept Eyecandy is based on the ancient Indian art of threading," explains beautician Sonia, "You get a much cleaner look in the sense that it also targets the white fluffy hairs found around the eye brows. Waxing and tweezing can be quite harmful on the skin whereas threading tends to be kinder and the effects last longer."

As I enter the white, clean and bright salon I'm greeted by reassuring smiles from Freda and Sonia. All flashbacks of my feet soaring towards the ceiling as I yelped in pain whilst one waxy strip was brutally ripped from my brow and the embarrassment of the time when I inadvertently made myself look permanently surprised with a pair of tweezers slowly dissipate as I discover my beautician's weapon of eyebrow destruction. Some thread.

A slight but not unbearable pinch that is over in a flash

As I recline on a comfortable bed and pull the skin around my eyebrows tight the hair is pulled from the root using twisted thread. My eyes water and yes there is a slight pinch but the pain is not unbearable and the process is over in such a flash you could have threading done during your lunch break. When I look in the mirror at my right eyebrow I'm amazed at how clean the result is and even small blonde hairs have been removed. Furthermore, I'm told that the results will last for up to three weeks. I might be inclined to resist the temptation to revert back to au natural in future.

My skin is left feeling a little sensitive as my pores have been opened but Freda has designed an exclusive range of skin products with the help of a friend in Johannesburg who specialises in natural products. My beautician massages a soothing aloe cream into my brows which will rid of skin irritation post treatment. Eyecandy's other products include a pepper essential oil for male grooming and oils to assist in eyebrow re-growth.

"Threading is beneficial for older women who want to rid of facial hair on the upper lip, whilst their daughters might come with them to have their eyebrows shaped," adds Freda, "Most of our male clients are either gay or their wives have insisted that they get rid of their mono brow but I think that the concept of male grooming for Capetonian men is definitely getting there."

Threading left my eyebrows looking clean and accentuated my facial features at R80. Male grooming is equally important and image conscious men in search of a natural or kinder way of getting rid of their mono brow pay just R50 for the luxury. Other treatments include brow, lip, chin and whole face threading for women, brow, half face and whole face threading for men and lash lengthening using silk lash extensions, filling, perming and tinting. Eyecandy have now opened a threading and lash bar in Woolworths, Cavendish, and their second in Woolworths, Canal Walk, will open soon.

By Lisa Nevitt

Eyecandy
99c Kloof Street | Tamboerskloof | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 422 0046
Opening Times: Between 10:00 and 18:00 Monday to Friday and between 09:00 and 16:00 on Saturdays.

Woolworths | Cavendish Mall | Claremont | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 670 7111
Opening Times: Between 10:00 and 19:00 Wednesday to Friday, between 09:00 and 19:00 on Saturdays and between 10:00 and 17:00 on Sundays.

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