Published: Tuesday, 8th June, 2010 3:50pm

Treat of the Week

Well, with a girlie meet up on the cards, think Sex and the City midlands style, an invite to the fabulous surrounds of Beehive Hair and Beauty salon in the Left Bank Mall to try out their Fabulous Friday package couldn't have been more timely.

Hair, nails and make-up all taken care of in one visit, I'm impressed and all for the princely sum of €60, definitely a treat I can stretch to!

Welcoming me to the bright confines of Beehive Hair and Beauty salon, the only Aveda salon outside Dublin and Galway, owner Imelda Geraghty, got my treat off to a great start with a cuppa and a some glossies. Then I was up to fabulous shiatsu massaging chair for a bit of fantastic relaxation on my back, while at the same time receiving a fantastic head massage using an essential oil essence. The oil, customised for dry skin smelled fantastic and aided the whole chillout process with gorgeous aromas wafting all around me as I drifted off in to a haven of relaxation.

Afterwards, my hair was shampooed and conditioned with the Aveda products, which if you don't know are actually 95% chemical free, drawing on the powers of essential oils, herbs and organic ingredients from environmentally friendly and sustainable sources. All fresh and clean, Imelda then got down to work to tame my unruly tresses, a real job I can tell you!

After a chat about styles, I decided to go for a bit of 1940s inspired look, where my hair would be blowdried straight and then curled at the bottom for a soft set, ladylike style and that is just what it proved to be. I was absolutely delighted with the result, a real revelation in my book and perfect for my date with the girls later that night. The only question now was do I have an outfit to go with this style or will a quick visit to the shops be necessary afterwards? Hmmm.

Anyway, hair taken care of, now it was time for the second part of my treat, make-up and nails yippee! Beauty Therapist Anglelina Treglia from nearby Coosan, who is based in Beehive on Fridays and in Circle of Life, Roscommon Road, the rest of the week, started with a gentle cleanse and then used a mixed balancing infusion, customised for moisturising dry skin before we had a chat about what kind of look I'd like.

"While the products are 97% chemical free, people can be assured that the Aveda beauty products give great results," Angelina told me, adding that the lipsticks use crushed berries for colour and the mascaras are actually derived from mosses so they are suitable for anyone with sensitivities or allergies to other products.

Playing up my green eyes, Angelina used a mixture of gold, browns and green to great effect on my peepers, something I can never quite master myself at home. A matt effect foundation for a very natural effect was next with a lovely apricot blush to give my cheeks definition. Not usually one for lipstick (more of a gloss fan) she used a Crystal lip tint with a shine and then it was the big reveal! Wow! I hardly knew myself when I had a glance in the mirror.

Finally, the experience was concluded with a lovely file and polish with French manicure nail polish, a great way to ensure it's a fabulous Friday for me, and bodes well for the weekend ahead.

Angelina is available for skin consultations and is also on hand in the salon on Fridays to give complimentary hand massages to everyone getting their hair done. She is also available for treatments, will cater for weddings, special occasions or just for that special night out. For an appointment or a free skin consultation call Beehive Hair and Beauty salon Unit 5, Left Bank Mall, Pearse, Athlone 090 6493702 Email: info@beehivesalon.ie or check www.beehivesalon.ie

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