Whether you’re a bit of a mani-pedi addict or you fancy a few minutes quiet time (with the added bonus of beautiful nails and restored sanity at the end), Dubai is choc-full of nail salons and spas in which to get buffed and polished.
We’ve made choosing one a little easier with a round up of our favourite spots to get your digits and tootsies looking gorgeous mamas! Just in time for summer too – perfect!

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Forever looking for that magic answer to a head of hair that’s been damaged by everything from sun to sea plus color changes galore and three pregnancies, hearing that celebrity hairstylist Rossano Ferretti (who’s responsible for the Duchess of Cambridge’s luscious locks) had opened a hair spa here in Dubai meant a glimmer of hope for my lackluster mop. Set in a gorgeous villa just next to the Four Seasons Hotel on Jumeirah Beach Road, the thing which sets this salon and its team of stylists apart is an innovative hair technique called ‘The Method’, created and fine-tuned by Rossano and his sister over years and said to be THE best way to get the perfect style to suit your hair type. I was sold. Kids at school and a few hours ahead of me, I booked in to be transformed.

Firstly, the salon offers a complete experience that helps you relax – spa like – in a calm space that’s flooded with natural light, designed like a boutique hotel and filled with little extras from delicious coffee to a menu of beauty treatments if you fancy getting a head-to-toe overhaul. I was led to a dark-walled waiting room where my stylist, Yana (who’s worked with Ferretti for years and is a fully trained ‘Method’ director) chatted to me about what I hoped to achieve. I don’t know about you but for me, it’s simple. I need a hair style that’s easy to maintain, that doesn’t require blowdrying with a roller brush (because there’s just no way I could ever master that) and which I can feel confident about not having to hide and scrape back at any opportunity.

The secret to The Method system is that stylists use a patented pair of texturizing scissors and cut just 18 percent of your hair instead of the typical 30 percent. And it’s all about making the best of the way your hair falls naturally rather than trying to force it to do anything else, giving you a style that flatters your face and that brings out the best of what you’ve been blessed with. Intrigued by how my hair  (which is more a curse than a blessing) could possibly have anything good about it to enhance, I decided to let Yana dictate how my hair should be cut and what would suit me the most.

A luxurious wash and scalp massage later, my hair was in her very capable hands while I sat back and watched the magic happen. Instead of combing and snipping, Yana almost danced around my hair, fluttering her scissors and making tiny cuts here and there before switching to long fluid strokes. Occasionally she’d run her hands through to inspect her work, making suggestions about what foods I could eat to improve my hair texture and explaining how every stylist trained in The Method was required to refresh their knowledge every year to make sure that they were staying true to Ferretti’s technique. With plenty of broken hair around my face, Yana chopped a long fringe before drying my hair and standing back to admire her work. I have to admit, it  was shorter than usual (and if you go to get your hair cut here then make sure to tell them you don’t want it too short….unless you do of course) but it fell beautifully and I bounced out of the salon with with my equally bouncy hair. The test though, would lie in whether my style would stay true to the cut once I washed it at home with zero blowdrying skills or time to make it do what it should . And the result? Hair which looked as good the next day and the day after and the one after that too – hooray! I actually love it even more now that it’s grown out a little bit and I can jump out of the shower/sea/pool without having to do anything mega special plus chase after three kids and get them all ready in the morning with a minimal hair routine. Yup, at least now there’s method to the madness. I’ll be back to The Rossano Ferretti Hair Spa soon – apparently if the main man himself is in town he’ll often treat you to a free cut! See you there, mamas!

For bookings and enquiries contact Rossano Ferretti Hair Spa
Jumeirah Beach Road (next to The Four Seasons Hotel)
Tel: +971 (0) 4 330 0073
www.rossanoferretti.com/world/salon-dubai/

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Hey mamas! Cooler weather and dark mornings making you want to cozy up under the covers a little longer? Now you don’t have to hesitate on hitting the snooze button in the morning because we’ve got 5 hacks that will cut back your morning beauty routine so you have a lie-in (that’s if the kids don’t get to you first!).

The post 5 Hacks To Get You Out The Door Quicker In the Mornings! appeared first on Sassy Mama.

Some people want their salon visits to be quick/no frills affairs so that they can get in and out of the chair pronto. I’m definitely not one of them! Regardless of how big my ‘to do’ list is, I want my salon experience to give me that little dose of zen and a good few minutes to escape the kids quarrels and household chores – and I’ve found just the place.

The Aveda flagship salon on the rooftop of the uber lux Galleria Mall is an absolute treat. Light, bright – with views across the city and a huge urban roof garden where sunlight filters through green leaves, this place allows for instant calm even before you get into your chair.

If you’re not familiar with the Aveda concept, in an (organic) nutshell this brand is all about using plant-based products and pure essential oils plus a (genuine) commitment to the environment. Based on Ayurvedic principles, all treatments are ritual-based and designed to promote complete holistic beauty. Heavenly.

My visit started with a tea ritual – a soothing cup of caffeine free tea created to calm and relax before a scalp/neck massage with my choice of oil (stress fix – no surprises there!) – the prelude to all treatments at the salon. Chilled to the max, the next step is a chat with your stylist to nail down exactly what you’re after – in my case a little balayage to perk up some dark roots and a trim/tidy up to get my length out of that awful ‘inbetween’ stage.

Read More: Why Balayage Is Best 

Colour formulas here are made from 99% naturally derived plant ingredients (with a little help – if you want to go much lighter then you gotta expect some amonia) and are personalised and created especially for each client at a ‘Colour Bar’. Oh and they’re much better for your hair as a result – bonus given that so much of mine has fallen out since having babies…

And given that the product is much gentler, it may take you a little longer in the chair to achieve the results you’re after (but that’s ok with me – meant more tea and more relaxation!).

After the stylist delicately painted sections of my hair and then left the colour to do its thing, it was time for a complimentary hand massage before the next stage.

Every step of the Aveda experience is designed to promote wellbeing – from the products to the complimentary add-ons plus extras including special filters on all showers and recycled one-use towels to minimize negative impact on the environment while also maximizing on hygiene – I swear even the hairdryers seemed quieter to allow for a much less frantic salon floor. And as for the wash basins? Utter bliss, fully reclined on a massage chair (mama heaven?! I almost fell asleep!).

Read More: 5 Ways To Beat The Dubai ‘Hair Loss’ & Sort Your Thinning Locks 

After a couple of hours, I felt relaxed and happy to leave with much shinier, healthier hair – flecked with golden hues and scented with essential oils. Am looking forward to my next visit already.

www.aveda-me.com
Top Roof Galleria Mall, Al Wasl Road
Tel: 800AVEDA (80028332)

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There’s plenty that comes with getting older. Wisdom (mostly…), maturity (hmm…), experience… and then there are those pesky wrinkles and tell-tale signs that our skin may not be quite as youthful and forgiving as it once was. Living with sunshine every day of the year is great but also needs to be treated with caution which is why our friends at CosmeSurge recommend that not only does EVERYONE over the age of 18 needs an annual skin check to screen for skin cancer but that we should all start maintaining the health of our skin regardless of how old we are. We can’t reverse time (oh to be cellulite free and peachy again!) but we can make sure that we look like the best version of ourselves at whatever stage of life we’re at – and the best way to start is with a glowing complexion (because nothing makes wrinkles look even wrinklier than dull, dry skin).

Dr Lana Kashlan is an American Board certified dermatologist at CosmeSurge who’s about so much more than trying to fight ageing with procedures including Botox and fillers (although she very much believes that these are excellent options when used correctly), by focusing first on the health of your skin. Starting with a full skin exam including mole mapping, she’ll examine you head to toe for any spots that are suspicious for skin cancer, rashes, acne etc before asking about how each of her patients feels when they look in the mirror. And then? Your skin will be evaluated based on her findings and on a unique 4-point Skin Scale that will form the basis of a customised plan combining home skin care with in-office treatments including lasers, botox and fillers if necessary – to make you look your very best. Fabulous.

If you want to look rested and fresh even when you’re not (sleep-deprivation isn’t the friendliest to our faces), Dr Lana will help you get there with a simple, quick plan that doesn’t involve complicated skin care routines but rather a few steps to suit your lifestyle.

Sound good? We definitely think so. Now to make that appointment…

CosmeSurge are offering all Sassy Mamas a free consultation with mole mapping. Simply call their Dubai Marina branch on +971 (0) 4 447 1777 to and mention Sassy to book. Offer expires October 31^st, 2017.

If you’re interested in finding out more about the most up to date advanced technology to rejuvenate your skin, please sign up below so that we can send you a personal invite to an exclusive event with CosmeSurge.

The post Tempted By Botox, mamas? Read this first… appeared first on Sassy Mama.

Life as a mama can be exhausting, so every now and then it’s important to take time for yourself, do something that you enjoy and get some much-needed rest!

I’ve found just the place to relax, unwind and feel like me again, a little oasis of calm in the city (and away from the craziness of mama life). Yes, mamas, the moment you drive into the Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club you see horses, big open spaces of green (coming from the UK this is my little bit of ‘home’) and complete tranquility. Bliss. The Polo Club offers so much – from horse riding to a huge family swimming pool, restaurants, and gym – but there’s also a hidden gem – The Spa!

The whole spa experience from start to finish is what every mama needs occasionally! Not only are the staff really friendly, experienced and knowledgeable, but there’s no rushing and the setting is gorgeous – dimly lit, calm, quiet (seriously the perfect antidote to a noisy household and the chaos of the school run!) The spa staff take their time to really help you relax and unwind and the products, natura Bissé which are used smell utterly amazing! One of my favorite treatments is a 30min back massage and mini facial which is just long enough to help you unwind and forget about making packed lunches in the morning or what meeting you have to plan for but not so long that you’re panicking about how much there’s still to do. And after your treatment, you can chill in the relaxation room or fully indulge and use the Jacuzzi and steam room in the luxury woman’s locker room.

If you’re a Mama in need of a little pampering than The Spa at the Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club this is the perfect place, especially because from now until October 31^st you can choose from the following 50min packages for only AED 295

1. Relax & Rejuv – 5^th Chukka back massage + booster facial (my favorite!)
2. Renew & Refresh – Body scrub + body wrap
3. Release & Revitalize – Reflexology + 5^th Chukka back massage

For more information please contact The Spa at +971 4 362 7892 or email thespa@poloclubdubai.com
Opening hours daily from 9:00am – 9:00pm

My top tip – get the kids to bed early and go and have a wonderful chilled evening – you deserve it – and you might catch a few winks too!

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