Eye-lectric! The place for picture perfect eyebrows. By: Barbi Jo DiMaria “Eye” live for pink accessories, well-heeled stilettos preferably pink and voluptuous curves — referring to my eyebrow anatomy of course! I positively must be eye-licious! So, panache myself at the hottest eyebrow party in town, Salon Panache, located at 1076 Park Avenue, Cranston. Past plucking and weary of wax, Salon Panache boycotts ugly methods of hair removal, Interestingly, this beauty shop is a shrine to the hair removal technique called threading, the healthiest alternative to eyebrow care and any unwanted facial hair. Eyebrow Threading is an ancient Indian tradition that uses a special cotton thread to remove hairs closest to the root. Only the fashion-forward, like me, know threading is the all-natural facelift of the future. So, here’s a Barbi PSA, a Public Style Announcement, for the fashionably challenged: ‘Trash your tweezers and rid your cabinets of wax. Help support beauty survival by making a visit to the Threading Gurus of Salon Panache — they’re truly EYE-LECTRIC!” Who are these brow-savvy beings? Only the most fabulous of all the most fabulous -Vinay and Sangeeta Dharod, who introduced threading to little Rhode Island in 1988. the year Salon Panache opened. Born to thread, this couple hails from India and they could author the BIBLE on eyebrow care. Sangeeta, an eyebrow aficionado since age seven, first practiced with her sisters and friends in their hometown of Bombay, India. “1 learned by removing lines of hair on my sisters’ arms and legs, and eventually I graduated to shaping eyebrows,” said the 40-year-old stylist while quickly wrapping a piece of thread into a letter Y formation, the first step to threading. Thick, thin, soft, or round, Sangeeta’s shaping catalogue is vast. “Shaping is something I just know,” beamed the threading mogul, “It’s hard to explain. It’s about bone structure and framing arches to match a person’s face.” Nonetheless, threading has been my most promising approach to reaching a shapelier brow. I swear, Sangeeta has the MIDAS TOUCH! One look in the mirror once she finishes her magic and suddenly life has new meaning. Plus, there’s no more “OUCH” factor. Eyebrow threading is the gentler alternative to plucking and waxing. “Waxing removes a layer of skin, and plucking only removes a hair at a flme,” said the beauty-guru. The “Discomfort Factor,” left by other forms of hair removal will leave you with irritation or bumps, but the Dharod’s method is eyebrow-friendly saying goodbye to swelling and redness. Nevertheless, on occasion a pair of abused brows enter Salon Panache, but even the battered deserve a second chance. Just ask the Dharod’s and they’ll tell you, “It’s never too late to have nice eyebrows.” Hrnmmrnmm, the perfect example would be...my sister, totally jealous of my kick-butt arches. Recently, sis decided to face her brow behavior once and for all. Pluck-happy, she was determined to achieve brow-beauty and asked for Sangeeta’s expertise. “It’s not too late. You’re young. There’s still time,” chuckled the award winning stylist. Lucky for sis, Sangeeta salvaged her sparse eyebrows — a transformation that was nothing short of heavenly. Transformation aside, eyebrow threading is very popular among men because it only takes five minutes. It’s very precise and hair does not grow as fast, It also removes any short or fine hair. I have seen lots of male customers getting their eyebrow threaded at salon panache. Speaking of customers, the Dharod’s clients are amongst Rhode Island’s crème de Ia crème. Really, Vinay might as well roll out the red carpet for this star-studded group of radio and television personalities, like Kim Zandy, host of 92 PRO-FM’s “Giovanni and Kim in the Morning,” and Heidi West, mid-day DJ on Life Rock 105. The list doesn’t end there, April O’Dell, Frank Campagna, Wendy Cicchetti, and Sorboni Banerjee, all of ABC6 News are regulars to Salon Panache. And trust me, on one or two occasions you’re bound to talk eyebrows with one of them. With their eyebrow empire attracting celebrity customers daily, the Dharod’s continue to treat everyone like royalty. “This isn’t a deli line. You know, take a number. This is more personable,” said Sangeeta while dying a pair of eyebrows, just another service that Salon Panache offers. Walk-ins are always welcome at SalonPanache and 45-year-old Vinay is the man of the hour tracking customers and personally greeting each one with his sensational smile and heart of gold. Something I just can’t fathom is remembering every customer’s name, but somehow Vuiay manages. He truly has an eye for detail — no pun intended. Really, who else would love their customers so much as to dedicate walls of photos to them? He’s a class act offering customers beverages and refreshments and accommodating them in every way. What else can I say Salon Panache is truly where service and style come hand in hand. Oh, and I almost forgot about the best part of all! Eyebrow threading is only $10! Now that’s stylishly inexpensive! Plus, Salon Panache offers an exclusive Frequent Client Card, get your eyebrows threaded ten times and get your eleventh FREE! Salon panache has the most friendliest and talented staff. |