I have been planning to extend my non-existent eyelashes for a damn long time! I'm glad I made my decision and did it BUT IT'S GONNA BE THE LAST TIME FOR ME! 

It's DEFINITELY gonna be falsies over extensions from now on! 

Here's why.

I chose to do it at Milly's because I had previously done my hair extensions with them years ago and was satisfied with their service and product quality. Of course, I'd chosen the better quality hair extensions, despite the dryness, friziness and split ends... But overall, I guess it  was alright. 

So anyways, I was rather disappointed when I first saw the area where the eyelash extensions were done. I went to the Bugis outlet because bf wanted to head down Sim Lim Square to check out something and I'd thought I could perhaps rush down to Suntec again to collect the nail dryer. (Read my previous post on Groupon's services) 

There were 2 ladies who were in-charge of the eyelash extensions and bf said that both of them are from Vietnam. They were speaking in a foreign lang (which I reckon must be Vietnamese?) and although my spoken mandarin is kinda half past 6 (since it's just gonna be just elementary standard), I still had a difficult time communicating with them!!! OH GOD. In my opinion, if FT's are gonna be employed and in such service industry where the English standards are not gonna be that commendable, at least, get those who understand simple Mandarin, no? 

So, nevermind. That too shall pass and we proceeded with the session. 

One thing I had to compliment is that, they have really comfortable satin mattress sheet as well as a comforter! Definitely come in handy for those who worn a skirt/dress, which I did. 

So we discussed on which model/style I preferred and of course, I had a difficult time communicating with my beautician (Ai ling - AL) and also the other lady who was occupied in her own session with another customer (who is a regular/returning customer and I know because of their conversations). 

If you would take look at Milly's website, you would see stuffs like 'Dolly lashes', 'Korean lashes' and the unlimited promo, but no. I was told that they do not have any catalogues or pictures (as what they said) and when I had mentioned to them 'Dolly and natural lashes', they looked stunned and didn't understand what the hell I was referring to. I requested for the catalogues so that I could have a clearer picture of the outcome as well as to show my bf which is more appealing. Well, another disappointment. Although high raved by many, personally I think Milly's should take note of such details. It may be minute details but in the shoes of the customers, it matters. It's just like how hair salons have those catalogues as well, or at least mags or whatever. 

I told the beautician that I preferred natural looking ones because it's gonna be inappropriate for work if I were to wear such dramatic dolly ones. Of course, our conversations weren't as smooth as me typing these all. It was a 1 chicken 1 duck conversation. 

In the end, I had chosen the 8 and 10mm ones. I was told that they will be joined and placed together. They cost me $55...

AL then proceeded to paste some scotchtapes under my eye (I know as I had manage to see the other customer's ones beside me) and I was told to close my eyes from then onwards. Not sure how she started out but then the nightmare begins...

She started to stick on the eyelash extensions and the glue she had used caused extreme itchiness! I'm not sure if I was allergy to it because it was really really itchy and you just had to tolerate with it. It went to the extent of my goosebumps popping out and I was kinda fidgety because I.was.dying.of.the.itchiness. 

I'd asked if it's due to any allergy or perhaps I might be sensitive to the glue used, but after figuring out what I was trying to say, AL told me that because it's my first experience, hence I'm just not used to it. I was told the same old story again and again as well as by the other beautician. 

It was also stinging and I just could not rub my eyes...!!!

When it was all done, suddenly, I was taken aback by this strong wind which I so shock that I actually opened my eyes a little but could not fully due to the glue. I wasn't informed of the procedures and I had difficulties in breathing when the strong wind first came. I felt that she should at least inform me of what she was doing or gonna do beforehand? Like what Bare Aesthetics did which I praise them for because they understand the insecurity when one has their eyes blindfolded. 

I was then asked to open my eyes or at least try to open them up. Had some difficulties with this though and AL helped to remove some glue which went all over my eyes, preventing me from opening them fully. The glue was even stuck to my lower lids on my left eye. After getting that settled, I was then asked to hold on to the mini fan to blow dry the glue. 

Nobody entertained me thereafter and it was getting late. Poor bf had to wait for me throughout the whole session on his own and was already starving... :(

I laid there for around 10 to 15 mins on my own and I had to ask the other beauticians whom I guess were in charge of other services who had then called out for the other beautician (not AL). She asked if it felt alright and I told that I still experience some pain on certain parts of the eyelids. She helped me to remove some glue (I'm not sure?) and it did not really feel any better.

The only thing I was delighted about was the double eyelids that came with them. I have single eyelids and whenever I use falsies, I have double eyelids, which I really yearn for. Plastic surgery is just too scary and more importantly, expensive. Also, 2 to 3 weeks of resting and swollen eyes would smash my rice bowl. 

But the only thing was that, the double eyelids weren't parallel. (Sorry, didn't manage to snap pictures of both eyes for comparison and for the pinkish colour due to my hp casing) The side which is more painful had the double eyelids I wanted but not for my left eyelid, which usually gave me no problems with falsies compared to the right one. 

The eyelash extensions were too long for the inner part the eye and made it look fake. Really disappointing. Throughout the session, I was tearing like mad because of the pain due to the glue and I guess perhaps due to contacts. I suggest that if you girls go for eyelash extensions, try not to wear contacts. Half of the time, I was also worried that my lenses would get stuck at the top of my eyelids and won't come down because my eyes were closed for too long. But I'd read other blogs that mentioned that wearing contacts help to save time drying the glue. And don't forget how uncomfortable it is to have strong wind blowing at your eyes with your contacts on. :(

Asked bf for opinions and he said actually there's not much diff compared to falsies, only that it's shorter. 

I spent at least an hour or so trying to remove the painful part whilst trying to find out the reason why. I failed to. 

Had difficulties washing and face as well. 

Woke up this morning, only to discover that my double eyelids are GONE!!! The only thing that still kinda pacify my unhappiness and disappointment is NOW GONE !!! 

LOOK AT THESE PICTURES!!! 

And I look hideous with single eyelids and having long lashes. Sorry, that just doesn't work for me. Double eyelids are a must if you want big alluring eyes. Double eyelids help to "open" up your eyes and makes you look more alert with brighter eyes! 

And I'm having problems wearing specs! I know this sounds dumb because you're not supposed to wear specs if you're having your extensions on right? But can't do. Eyes are tired and contacts dry out real fast under air-con room, so I only wear them on TGIFs! :D Either that, will just bring along to change at the end of the day if I'm heading out. 

The eyelashes on my left get stuck to the specs lens whilst the right one doesn't. What does this show? That the length of both sides are unequal! My specs are relatively new and so it's not loose. But because of 1 side of the lashes are giving me problems and hurts because when stuck, the lashes get pushed back INTO MY EYE (ohgoddamit), I have to wear my specs a little lower and I feel damn silly. Look like some tikopek, ya?

And I'm having problems wearing specs! I know this sounds dumb because you're not supposed to wear specs if you're having your extensions on right? But can't do. Eyes are tired and contacts dry out real fast under air-con room, so I only wear them on TGIFs! :D Either that, will just bring along to change at the end of the day if I'm heading out.  

So, I've decided... I'm going to have them removed this evening after work.. which is the reason why I might not be able to redeem my nail dryer although Bugis and Suntect are within close proximity. But if I were to head down to collect the nail dryer first, might not have enough time to rush to Bugis because of the massive crowds? 

Anyways, just rang up Milly's and they said I'll have to reach by 8.30pm if I wanna get the extensions removed. 

Gonna get both things done (redemption of nail dryer + removal of eyelash extensions) today. I don't wanna run around like some crazy people, wasting my time, effort and transport $. 

I've already wasted $55 on this stupid eyelash extensions...!!! 

Will update this space on the removal. See if they are capable of not upsetting my further. 

Stay tuned!  

As previously mentioned in my first entry, I'd bought a Groupon voucher for Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) treatment for underarm hair removal, sponsored by this Beauty Salon known as Bare Aesthetics (BA). Unlimited sessions for $88. :)

Before buying, I did my homework, trying to search for reviews on BA but as mentioned, couldn't get any except for one girl who blogged on behalf of her bf's experience with them. However, in the process, I did find out about other beauty salons that provided such services, and actually, there are plenty of them! I think it's kind of an 'in' thing now... More and more ladies (and men) are seeking painless, hassle-free and fast experience on hair removal that only technology can fulfill. 

Some of the results that popped up, such as Musee Platinum Tokyo and Bella Skin (Fann Wong as the spokesperson) appeared, with reviews. I have to first clarify that as I have not personally experienced their services and hence, am in no position to comment on their service quality, but if you'd googled it yourself, Musee has several negative feedback (except for the one by a blogger Silver Ang who replied to her readers that she had no idea of such poor service quality as she was treated with awesome service standards by them and suggested that perhaps it was because she had to write up a sponsored review on them... Hence, the "better treatment".) I must first applaud Silver for her honesty, because most reviews by famous bloggers are somewhat not accurate. They may have to well, tell a lie or the experience they had were offered on a biased note. And for Bella Skin, it was extremely pricey though I do know most permanent hair removal treatments are expensive (ranging from $1.5k to $2k+). 

I know I'm gonna sound a little silly here, but my impression on BA was form based on their location at Raffles Hotel (Somewhat highclass right? Since there's shops for branded and designer stuffs) and the only worrying issue was whether they would try to psycho me to purchase their products/packages, i.e. hard selling. 

Ask anyone on the streets and they would most probably tell you that hard selling doesn't work for them. It's annoying and potential customers are sometimes put off with such desperate acts. 

Reading from the one and only blog on BA reviews (but for men's hair removal) mentioned above, I was really delighted to know that there were no hard selling involved! More importantly, no gimmicks too, for example, in order to be entitled to the treatment, you would need to top up additional $$ to purchase particular products or you are given the lousiest package of all which you would be left with no choice but to sign on for the best package for the most effective results. 

BUT NO! 

I was treated reasonably, though I felt that the specialist who served me was a little hostile. Maybe it's her face, maybe our 8 characters don't really tally? Haha, I don't know. But overall, I am impressed and satisfied with BA. 

I took a half day leave (sniffs) just to attend my 1st session, which had to be redeemed before the expiry date 20th Dec 2012. Do note that the expiry date does not mean that the voucher is deemed to be invalid after that, but simply means that your redemption and 1st session must be redeemed before 20th Dec, a 6 mths validity after you had bought the voucher. 

So, during the 1st session, I was asked to fill some questionnaires on personal particulars such as if I had experienced any other hair removal methods and on which areas, and if I am on any medication or having my period. There are some restrictions which you can't do before and after treatment sessions, such as avoiding suntanning, applying lotions containing vitamin c, applying deodorants etc. You can't pluck and tweeze before and after treatments as well, at least for a few days...

The interval between each session is 2 months, as I was told that this would well, increase it's effectiveness. 

So here's my experience with BA in detail.

After filling up the form and signing the undertaking agreement, I was brought to a room with the usual bed and was asked to remove my top and wrap myself with a towel like tube dress. Then the specialist started to shave my underarms a little more though it was already shaven. After that, she tested the treatment on my left underarm and drew some red markings on it. My eyes were covered with a piece of tissue with googles over it. I guess the light is harmful to the eyes. The sound of the machine scared me a little but when she zapped, it felt like just tiny ants bites, still tolerable. 

After the testing went well, she proceed with full swing on both underarms. 

On a side note, during the treatment, there was alot of drilling going on in the other unit next door and I heard the specialists complaining about it outside during the wait in the room. Guess BA can't be blamed for that right? Haha!

I was informed that the level of pain actually varies from individuals and those with thicker hair would hurt a little more. 

She zapped twice on each underarm and I was then given some cooling pads for me to hold under my underarms. 

Total time taken was less than an hour, rather fast actually. 

Satisfaction level of treatment: 3.5/5 stars (as it's not effective yet, hopefully the level would increase as the sessions go by)
Satisfaction level of service : 3.5/5 stars

Will update on them again when I attend my 2nd session in Sept! :)

I might want to try other services they provide as well if they prove to be satisfactory - IPL on arms/legs and perhaps facials? :)

This idea of blogging on reviews popped into my head recently, only because I was frantically searching for reviews on a certain service for Intense Pulsed Light Treatment for hair removal, and more specifically for underarm hair removal. 

However, I could not find any review except for 1 pathetic 1 from some girl's blog but she blogged on behalf of her bf who did an upperlip hair removal with this beauty salon. Not very useful for someone who wants more info on this newly opened beauty salon on the specific service they provide. 

Without further ado, I went ahead to purchase my Groupon voucher for this treatment (I know, groupon, online deals etc somehow spark off skepticism, especially for someone like me who is generally skeptical and cynical). 

And tadah! I've undergone for my first treatment session with them and will be blogging on it on my next entry post, so do keep a lookout! :)

Thanks for reading guys! Do lookout for more upcoming reviews too! :) 

*Comments (ONLY POLITE ONES PLS) are welcomed ! :D