Published: Wednesday, 14th October, 2009 4:50pm

Get to grips with hair and beauty at Medussa

I have been known to be a bit lazy on occasion, shock, horror, to those who know me. So I absolutely love things that require less effort and save time especially when it comes to grooming.

Well, Medussa Hair Studio and Carrie's Beauty in Church Street certainly fits the bill, it's a real one-stop-shop for girls on the go as I found out on Thursday last popping in for a mini-facial and a fabulous back massage and then downstairs to the talented stylists to treat my frazzled locks, all without leaving the building!

A bit sniffly and ever so slightly sleepy when I arrived, I was given a warm welcome by Carrie Cunnane, who brought me through to a gorgeous purple draped treatment room. Kudos to those responsible for interiors by the way, it's a real instant relaxer. Suitably chilled, therapist Nicola Quigley got to work on my back and shoulders, working expertly to iron out and loosen the many, and I mean many, knots and tense areas getting right down to the deep tissue.

The sensation of the warming Yonka massage oil on the skin, full of essential oils, was absolutely fabulous especially for the tender areas where I was holding tension and once in your circulatory system will keep working all day. Nicola told me I have worriers shoulders (check) and I should consciously to stop myself hunching or clenching my shoulders if I feel myself getting under pressure or stressed and just stretch out instead. Understandably, the right side of my back and shoulders were in the worst shape as this is the side I use most writing, on the computer and driving. Again, she told me just to become a little bit more aware of my posture and not to sit forward to avoid any future problems in that area.

Additionally, Nicola did some work on my sinus drainage working on the points at the back of my head, eyebrows and forehead to clear my blocked sinus (bringing an end to the fuzzy head), something she told me also lessens the puffiness and dark circles of the eyes. Ear candling is also fantastic to alleviate sinus problems, Nicola added, concluding the massage, before handing me over to Carrie for the next piece of a luxury - a Yonka mini-facial.

With the recent change in the weather, my skin has taken a bit of a battering so the intense facial massage and sumptious French products was a most welcome boost to my dehydrated complexion. After an intense hot towel cleanse and tone, Carrie used the Yonka Paris Optimiser Advanced cream or fluid and then a sweet smelling fruit masque that really aided the hydration process to leave me with baby soft skin, reduced dark circles and natural, glowy complexion.

At present, there's a great special offer in Carrie's Beauty for ladies out there, for every full facial booked you get a 15-minute pressure point back massage absolutely free!

Well, feeling transformed bodywise, next stop was downstairs to Medussa Hair Studio to take care of my unruly gruaig with owner Roisín Carlin and her team planning an intense treat for my locks, which wasn't at its shiniest or bounciest by a long mile, I'm afraid to say. She told me a Midollo Intense Repair treatment with the hydrating properties of bamboo would do the trick for dry, damaged and heat treated hair.

Undaunted by a challenge Christine Westgarth got to work massaging my scalp with a Midollo restructuring shampoo and conditioner after which, she utilised a Pro-Concentrate protein treatment.

A green ceramic straightener was then applied to my hair helping to work the product right in to the cortex, Christine told me. Afterwards, it was back to the basin for a rinse and then a Cauterization Serum was added and I went under the heat dryers for ten minutes. Another shampoo and rinse and out it came from the hairdryer shiny, shiny, soft hair, straight off a Pantene hair advert!

Roisín explained that they have had fantastic results with the Midollo treatments and would highly recommend them to anyone who heat styles their hair a lot or colours it regularly.

She said one lady came to them had actually damaged her hair within an inch of its life with chemical straightening and highlights and it literally brought her hair back to life.

A shine treatment, particularly popular with brides, is also available at the salon and baskets of Midollo products will available for Christmas. Home visits can also be arranged.

Leaving the salon, for the very first time I had something in common with a Greek goddess. Medussa's crowning glory was her magnificent long hair, so much so she desired and courted by many suitors. Hmmm hope it has the same effects for me!

For more information call Medussa Hair Studio and Carrie's Beauty at 090 6479833.