Bohemia Village Voice

Skin rejuvenation at The Haven

Teresa Clark, 42, of the The Haven health and beauty rooms in Bohemia’s London Road, says ‘Practically everything is false these days: hair, nails, eyelashes, tan – fake is in’.
The Haven is Teresa Clark and Jacqui Murphy’s first venture into the world of the beauty salon, although both have done lots of similar work calling on people in their own homes. They opened last summer and now offer an impressive range of treatments from massage and ‘sun showers’ to manicures, pedicures, facials and waxings.
COUNSELLING Teresa (42) who lives in Ore, has studied numerous beauty treatments over a seven year period at Hastings College and at some private establishments. “I even did a counselling course, which I find extremely useful when talking to clients during massage sessions for example. People like to talk and confide during treatment”. Teresa also works as a volunteer admin assistant for Cruse, the bereavement charity. “Business is good and has increased a lot – since Ab Fab closed in the town”.
BETTY BOO Waxings can be for arms, legs, back, chest, lips, chins and eyebrows; prices range from £4 (lips) to £16 (full back). Intimate waxing range from £9 (bikini) to £18 (playboy). A basic manicure will set you back £15, a Thai manicure is £18 and a paraffin wax manicure is £20. Prices for pedicures are the same. Teresa has produced a range of original gel nail designs, a full set is £20 – you can even have Betty Boo on your nail.
AROMATHERAPY Full body aromotherapy is offered at £25 and reflexology at £15. Remedial and sports massage is also provided. A basic facial costs £15, a Thai facial or galvanic facial, £20. Sun tanning treatment is provided by a ‘sun shower’ stand-up tanning booth at 50p per minute. If you don’t want to expose yourself to UV rays £15 will buy you a ‘Tan Truth’ treatment, giving the appearance of a sun tan. “We plan to introduce false eyelash inserts later this year; they’ll cost about £20 for a full set; the treatment involves setting individual lashes in between the client’s own eyelashes; they last for a couple of months”.
AGE SPOTS Latest treatment to be launched at The Haven is ‘microdermabrasion’, (picture). “It’s great for removing lines and wrinkles; the method involves using very fine crystals, which literally rub off some of the outer, dead, layers of skin”, says Teresa, “It can remove age spots and smooths out acne scarring”. Prices start at £15.  
MEN Haven partner Jacqui (51) from St Leonards says “Although our customers are mostly women, we do get some men, of all ages – for massages, back waxes and the occasional eyebrow treatment. We offer a businessman’s manicure. We also do a ‘back facial’ (£20), including steam treatment for the hard-to-reach area that is prone to acne, blackheads, greasy or dry skin. And for rough, dry, cracked or sore hands we offer our ‘Hard working hands’ treatment”. As the Voice was leaving, we spotted on the counter a small selection of sparkly ‘toe rings’ for sale. What are they? “They’re rings for your toes”. Of course.
o The Haven, 241, London Road, St Leonards. 435355.

Teresa Clark