Total Make Over at De Cliént
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Oh the sacrifices we make to deliver you the best stories and the articles most fun to read! When I spotted the poster of De Cliént's Total Make Over, I knew immediately this was something I had to try out. After all, wouldn't Antwerp visitors like to know what to expect before they booked themselves the ultimate treatment at Antwerp's renowned celebrity salon? Find out after the jump...
De Cliént is known for having the Flemish celebrities as their most loyal customers, so the place has acquired somewhat of a hype status. But that doesn't mean you have to be tall, blonde and famous to even walk into the salon. De Cliént's philosophy is "treating every customer as royalty". And that's exactly the sort of treatment you get.
When you're going for your make over, the first person you meet is Anne Sannen. As a beauty specialist, she has a luxurious treatment room hidden behind the mirrors of De Cliént. It's almost as if you enter a secret haven of peace and quiet, in the midst of the trendy and busy hairsalon. I turned up at De Cliént with no make-up on and sleepy eyes, so I was happy to escape the unforgiving mirrors and the gaze of the other clientele. All stress ebbed away when I settled myself onto Anne's table. Anne has been a wellness and beauty expert for many years now, as you quickly find out once you deliver yourself to her care.
After an analytical look at your face and skin, Anne rubs ethereal oils onto my face. The texture feels great, though the smell was a little overwhelming at first. After removal of the oil, Anne starts the micro dermabrasie treatment. Tiny diamond crystals take away the top layer of your skin to reveal a fresher looking you. A little worried because of all of the Renée Zellweger pictures that have been doing the rounds, I ask her how safe the method is. "It all depends on the professionalism of the person who uses it," Anne replies. "If I see you have a sensitive skin, I won't go at it for twenty minutes, and I'll use a different strength." Reassured, I enjoy the movement of the little suction cups on my face and neck. The procedure is followed by a peeling with soft brushes.
Afterwards, Anne applies a hydrating mask with natural plant extracts, which gives a tingly feeling not at all unpleasant. When all is washed off, my skin feels more soft than it has in a while, and when I look in the mirror I am pleasantly surprised. Of course I don't see baby skin all of a sudden, but it seems like the tiredness has disappeared from my features, and I love the rosey complexion it has given me. Anne gives me a few samples of the products she used on me, asuring me that I won't use anything else again. The 457 products are used in anti-aging clinics, because even after the most drastic treatment, these products won't agitate your skin.
Two hairdressers fussing over which look would be the right one for you... It's quite the experience, especially when they are the energetic duo Glenn and Michel. Both experts in their profession, they have special methods to determine the haircut to go for. They loved my idea of going for a bob, a bold move considering the length of my hair before. However, both agreed it would make me look more fresh. As they were discussing the specific cut, they proposed to add a couple of highlights. "Some subtle highlights one or maybe two shades lighter than your own colour would make the new hairdo a definite success", as it sounded in stereo. Unfortunately for them, I wasn't up for it, so Glenn and Michel gave up trying to convince me. "At the end of the day, we want the customer to be happy, so it means you have to be able to give advice but also accept it when the client doesn't want to follow 100%", says Glenn.
Then it was on to the washing tables, where Michel explained to me the different massaging techniques he was applying. I had trouble listening, as the experience was so relaxing I could have fallen asleep right there. I think I remember him saying something about shiatsu, right before I drifted off. When he seated me in my chair again, Michel explained the haircut he was going to give me. "I always try to look at the client as an individual, and I try to determine what kind of look would fit them", he says. "You say you are a classic kind of girl, but at the same time you com off as playful and energetic, so we'll have to work that into your hair as well."
Needless to say, I was both curious and nervous as hell. It didn't quite help when Michel threw me the first of my locks he had cut off. I had to refrain myself from asking him to quit right there and then.
As he proceeded, though, I began feeling more and more confident it wouldn't turn out to be a fiasco after all. Even drying to the air, my hair looked so much better and more voluminous than before. I couldn't wait to inspect it, but I had to be patient for a little while longer.
The finishing touch would be up to Lene, who would turn me into a more glamorous version of myself with the Smashbox products. First she applied a primer, which in my case was one with a slightly bronzing effect. "A primer is actually something many people forget, but it forms the barrier between your skincare products and the make up, so it is a vital part of any make up routine", Lene explained. Afterwards she applied a little foundation, followed by some concealer to cover up red spots. She also had a special primer for eyes and lips, that would help later products settle onto your skin. A little powder fixates everything, and some added color to the eyebrows drastically changed the way I looked. Lene finished off the 'casual' day make up with a bit of eyeliner, a pretty eye shadow and a red lip. Old school glamour, quoi!
It probably has something to do with Lene's enthusiastic and professional explanations, but I fell head over heels for the Smashbox products. It's a brand that focuses less on being fashionable, and more on truly bringing out the best in you. Its primers are supposedly famous all over the world, and I have no problem believing that many a Hollywood celebrity settles for nothing less than Smashbox. Even with the rather unforgiving hairsalon lighting, I looked superb. And the make-up still looked smashing (pardon the pun!) when I went to an opening that night, almost five hours after it had been applied. Genius.
If you couldn't read it between the lines yet, I'll repeat it loud and clear: this make over was awesome. I was treated like a princess for a full three and a half hours. It's a wonderful experience having so many people truly pay attention to you, especially since they're all committed to making you look your best. I can't really say which I enjoyed more, the beauty treatment, the hair cut or the make up, as it all blended into one majorly fun afternoon. For the price of €129, this is truly a bargain, and it makes the perfect gift for girlfriends, moms and BFF's.
xx Steph
