HOW would it feel to have tiny fish nibbling on your feet as you relax in a beauty saloon for a pedicure? Or to have your hair styled at an exclusive hair spa? Sounds too good? But that is what makes the difference in Naturals beauty salon which opened its branch in Kochi on Monday.

Everything about the unisex salon spells uniqueness. From fish pedicure and reflexology to bridal make over and hair styling, Naturals offers a variety of beauty treatments for men and women.

揥e feel that the beauty market in Kerala has great potential as people here are eager to experiment with style. Chennai was a bit conservative five years ago.

Now it has changed and we feel we can make a difference to the style statements of Kochiites,� says K Veena, CEO of Naturals, who opened the first Naturals saloon in Chennai in 2000. It now has 20 centres in Tamil Nadu and this one in Kerala.

It offers services in hair styling, body care and skin care, with the signature services being MAC bridal make up, the high-end demalogica treatment, reflexology and skin whitening facials.

揥e have fish pedicure, body painting and nail art in Chennai salons and they will be introduced here soon. Though the salon is unisex we have a separate section for women with exclusive rooms,� says Veena.

The salon uses high-end beauty products like MAC for make up and Schwarzkopf and L扥real for hair care. Internationally acclaimed hairstylist Nipun Conso will be heading the salon at KP Vallon Road, Kadavanthra.

揚eople in Kerala are yet to wake up to the vast possibilities of hair styling. And the fashion savvy often go outside Kerala for hair colouring and styling. So we will focus on colouring, straightening, hair cuts and styling,� says Nipun.

In Chennai, the salon is frequented by film stars like Ajith and a host of TV personalities. And the Kochi centre, which was opened by actor Kavya Madhavan on Monday, is all set to woo celebrities here too.

GUILFORD - Walking into A Breath of Fresh Hair at 1060 Boston Post Road is like walking into a family living room, not a beauty salon.

Owner/hairdresser Marjorie Demet and a staff that includes nail and pedicure specialist Tisha Marshal and hair stylists Louise Romada and Robert Bomba create an atmosphere in the 600 square foot shop that turns its name into a breath of fresh air.
You are made to feel welcome, but not in a “how-much-money-can-we-make-from-you-today” fashion that is the hallmark of many salons. The banter, conversation and warmth are genuine; it is almost as if all four of these people are friends or family members you can trust and have known for a long time.
While the formal grand opening took place Sunday, A Breath of Fresh Air opened in April.
“I was a hairdresser in Branford of 20 years,” Demet said, “and had my eye on this location (right across the street from CVS) for some time; it had been unoccupied for about a year. Everything fell into place and as I suspected, this is truly a wonderful spot for us.”
Demet said the name of her salon is part of its mystique and an approach that attempts not only to help make clients feel good about themselves but to treat them as individuals, not just customers.
Clients Nancy Hopkins of Branford and Nancy Dillon of Guilford agree the approach is not just an attempt but a fait accompli.
“I would follow Tisha anywhere - no one does nails the way she does,” Hopkins said last week. “And this shop has a caring, relaxing atmosphere in which you are made to feel beautiful.”
Dillon added: “This shop is a blessing for Guilford and is clearly the hottest thing on the block.”
She raved about the staff and the hairdressing techniques they employ and both women said the experience is different than they have found anywhere else.
“This is like socializing, not like a job,” Bomba said.
Romada agreed, adding: “I love coming here; it’s not like those big, big salons. We are here to make clients feel good about themselves.”
“I love it because every day is different and so is every person who comes here,” Demet said. “There is never a dull moment.’
Demet didn’t go to hairdressing school until she was 30 because she was busy raising her two daughters. But the Guilford resident always had an interest in hairdressing and a vision of one day opening a different kind of beauty salon.
She attended the Branford State Academy (now closed) for two years at night and then launched her career.
Demet is looking to add another hairdresser to her staff and makes it clear that to her, A Breath of Fresh Hair is more than a job, more than a way of making a living.
“It is something I love to do every day and so do the people who work with me.”
While her shop is small, her vision is big - and if you talk to customers you will find they share a common reaction to what goes on there.
“It is a place you want to keep coming back to,” Dillon said. “You are treated like family.”