Health & Beauty
Health and beauty services, treatments and shops in Melbourne
Beauty in Melbourne
The Nail Art Shakedown
From likenesses of your favourite pet to burgers you've loved, you can get nearly anything painted on your digits these days. Nail art became popular in the ’80s and ’90s, but it was also super tacky (hello, claw hands). Luckily, things have progressed since then, and Melbourne has embraced the nail art revival, hard. But does one nail art salon hold the upper hand? For more pampering and primping, visit our guides to Melbourne's best massages and waxing salons.
The best cosmetic clinics in Melbourne
If there's one thing that anti-wrinkle injections, laser treatments, tattoo removal and chemical peels have in common, it's that you wouldn't want to put your faith in the wrong hands. We've searched the city to bring you the most reputable and bang-for-buck cosmetics clinics in Melbourne – now all you have to do is make an appointment. For more pampering ideas, try these top massage parlours and spas and bath houses.
The best waxing salons in Melbourne
Waxing is a delicate operation – you're dealing with sensitive areas and hot products, not to mention the fact that you don't want to be pencilling in your brows forever after because some overzealous beauty therapist went wax-happy on your face. It goes without saying that a good waxing establishment needs to be hygienic – that's a given, but diplomacy and skill are also essential. If you're in the need of some post-wax relaxation, you may want to visit one of our favourite bath houses and spas. Or maybe you just need a quiet beverage, in which case check out our guide to Melbourne's best bars.
Where to get pierced in Melbourne
Thinking of adding to your collection of stylish piercings? Finally ready to brave your first? Melbourne is full of body mod salons, but these are our favourites. If you love rocking a unique style, then check out our fave alternative fashion shops.
Wellbeing in Melbourne
Where to try hot yoga in Melbourne
What is it? Yoga, practiced in a room heated to 37-40°C. Usually it will be Bikram Yoga – that 90-minute, unvarying set of 26 postures – but there are studios popping up where you can also sweat through a little Hatha and Iyengar. You'll need to drink two litres of water before class and it will all end up on your towel. Bring a spare for showering, or rent one along with a mat, and wear as little clothing as possible. It sounds awful, why should I do it?Hot thighs! Better discipline! All of your skin sloughed off in a tidal wave of sweat! Some yogis claim Bikram doesn't have enough inversions and that the hot room makes you push dangerously beyond your natural flexibility. But the whole idea of yoga – any kind – is to have your own journey, and to work sympathetically with your body's abilities. So tell them to suck it. We like it hot because warmer muscles really are bendier muscles (so you can get your rear closer to your face), and because the sweat session leaves you as smooth and soft as a mango pancake. Also because we'd rate this on par with bear wrestling in terms of exercise extremity, yet we always feel some inner-peace despite the outer turmoil.
Amara Wellness Centre
Dr Zara Celik is passionate about holistic health and wellness, and believes that beauty is reflection of our inner wellbeing and health. She believes in organic, natural, non-invasive treatments that aims to improve wellbeing and health of individuals and makes them beautiful as a result. The rear of her Amara Wellness Centre in Brunswick is a hammam, providing a nurturing steam, massage and bathing ritual to Melbourne’s tired and weary, in time-honoured Turkish tradition. The front section is all about skin renewal and tightening, courtesy of the LPG Endermotherapie and Endermolift treatments. The hammam After a day of first-world problems I’m feeling pretty drained and not in any mood to be taking my clothes off. Thank god I’m here to do a job, because after three hours in this Sydney Road hammam, experiencing an authentic and wellness Turkish and Moroccan bathing ritual is now top of my advise-everyone-to-do list. Zara Celik, a chiropractic doctor, came to Australia from Turkey when she was 15 years old, and found she missed the ancient bathing rituals of her country. Determined to introduce the experience to a wider Australian audience, she toiled away on creating this beautiful hammam, decorated from top to bottom with intricate mosaic tiling (Zara looks a bit pale when we speculate on how long that must have taken). Each steam room has domed ceilings and heated marble slabs on which to lie. Customers strip down to a bikini – or shorts – and are joined in the ro
Beyond Rest
Have you ever felt truly, and absolutely, weightless? When staying afloat takes no effort at all, to the point that you begin to lose any sense of your own body? If you’ve visited the Dead Sea, then these feelings might be familiar. But add total darkness, silence and stillness into the equation and things start to get a little more… interesting. I find Beyond Rest in an alleyway just off Chapel Street, where I’m greeted by owners Nick and Ben Dunin. The space – clean, curved lines, low lighting and scented candles – imbues a sense of calm that the brothers have taken care to create using principles of 'sacred geometry' (patterns found in nature that make up all living things). I’m led through this temple of relaxation until I reach my private room, which is dominated by a huge, white tank, filled with 1000l of purified water and 500kg of Epsom salt and magnesium sulphate. The door locks behind me. I take a deep breath. Floatation tanks haven’t always enjoyed the best (or most accurate) reputation. The concept was developed in 1954 by American neurophysicist Dr John C Lilly, who was interested in the meditative effects of sensory deprivation achieved by floating in ‘isolation tanks’ (and, to be fair, by taking LSD). Dolphins were also involved; I’ll let you Google that one yourself. Floatation theory became popular in the ’70s, but took a downturn in the ’80s during the AIDS crisis, when public health fears caused public pools, spas and tanks to shut down. In the mainstrea
Natural beauty tips from Richie Angelo
A hardcore beauty regime feels like an efficient way to keep your skin in good nick, but when you can find some of the same ingredients in manufacturing processes – it can’t be good, right? Richie Angelo, an experienced beauty therapist and natural skincare expert, says no. Richie’s passion for natural and organic skin care coincided with her first pregnancy. First, she became more interested in what she was ingesting and later curious about what she was absorbing through her skin. Her journey led her to become an advocate for natural skin care – skin care made from naturally occurring ingredients as opposed to compounds made in a lab. Richie primarily uses Sodashi and MV Organic products, both of which are high performance Aussie brands that use only plant-derived ingredients and no synthetic chemicals – no parabens, petrochemicals, preservatives or fragrances. Richie shares some of her skin care wisdom with us. Tip #1: Your nan was right You’ve gotta be regular. “You need to poo daily,” Richie says. “A lot of skin issues, especially acne, happen because your body is not eliminating as it should. If you’re not having a daily poo, toxins get reabsorbed and expelled through the skin.” Tip #2: Don’t strip your skin It’s oddly satisfying to wash your face until it squeaks, but don’t do it. “If you use skin care that over-strips your skin you remove the natural oils that your skin is supposed to have and it creates a pretty chaotic chain reaction,” Richie explains. “A clean
Beauty and grooming for men
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Euro Winter Brewfest
It's Christmas in July every day down at Fed Square because Beer Deluxe is transforming its beer garden into a European inspired market. Beneath huge warming marquees, there will be plenty of festive cheer, European beers and street food snacks. On the taps, you find brews from Boon, 3 Fointeinen, Duvel, Omnipollo and Weihenstephaner, and there will also be $8 mugs of mulled wine and cider. You'll need to fill your belly as well, and to this end, they'll be frying up pierogis (little Eastern European dumplings) with bacon, spring onion and burnt butter; smoked Andouille sausages; and warm twisty pretzels. They'll also be screening major games of the World Cup and you can reserve a table for you and your mates to ensure you get a sweet spot.
A Lightness of Spirit is the Measure of Happiness
Part of the Yalingwa visual arts initiative, the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art's new exhibition features new works by ten leading Aboriginal artists about everyday, contemporary Indigenous life. Expect an up-to-the-minute exploration of life across Australia, drawing in humour, family, community all drawn together with connections to the artists' Indigenous ancestors. The exhibition is curated by Hannah Presley. The artists involved are: Benita Clements, a Western Arrernte artist from Hermannsburg, based in Alice Springs. Clements will present a new suite of watercolours in the form of autobiographical tableau, narrating her daily life, family, hunting and painting. Vicki Couzens, a Gunditjmara and Keerray Woorroong artist from the western districts of Victoria. Couzens’ new commission will incorporate a soundscape sharing a nostalgia for home, family and a nice cup of tea. Robert Fielding, a Western Aranda and Yankunytjatjara artist from Mimili community on the Anangu Pitjatjantjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands. Fielding has created a new photographic essay for the exhibition which re-contextualises everyday objects. Jonathan Jones, a member of the Wiradjuri and Kamilaroi nations of south-east Australia, based in Sydney. Jones is best known for his site-specific installations, but his new commission subtly acknowledges 60,000 years of connection by evoking a sense of nostalgia and celebrating a commonly known, native, seed-eating parrot. Vincent Namatjira, a W
Circus Extravaganza Family Rave
Thought your partying days were over? Think again. The award-winning Big Fish Little Fish (BFLF) Family Rave has been throwing kid-friendly dance events in London to increasingly large crowds since 2013, and hit Melbourne last winter with sell-out events. The first thing to know about BFLF is that it's a real-deal rave, with grown-up music like house, techno and rave classics, and this time around the event will be held at Chasers Nightclub on the party central Chapel Street in South Yarra. Don't worry though this matinée rave will be strictly age-appropriate, with the BFLF team transforming the club into a circus-themed extravaganza for kids aged zero to eight and their parents. Headlining the rave is Anthony Pappa, who will be dropping serious club bangers (albeit at a much lower volume). The environment is designed to give big and little party animals an equally good time: there will be mesmerising performers, bubbles, balloons, face painting stalls, a play area with tents and tunnels to explore and a chillout zone for any babies who need some downtime. All that raving is sure to work up an appetite so BFLF is running a circus-themed cake stall to refuel at, while parents can order from the fully licensed bar. Crafty kids are catered for as well, with a dedicated crafts corner where tots can add to a giant mural, make themed crafts or get busy with some Playdoh. For the rave's grand finale there will be a parachute dance on the multi-sensory dancefloor so stick arou
Stay warm this season at College Lawn’s winter warmer beer garden
Hear that noise? That’s the blustery winds of winter blowing into Melbourne, and with it comes a whole lot of sport. Summer is great, but there’s no doubt that winter is the best time to enjoy a match, whether that be on the field or on the television. And since there’s no better time to enjoy sport, College Lawn Hotel in Prahran is making sure their beer garden is one of the best places in town to enjoy it. Head into College Lawn and chill out in their Winter Warmer Beer Garden. The team at College Lawn are passionate about their sports, both at home and at the international level. It’s the sort of place you can expect to catch the best of the international rugby season, starting on Saturday June 9 when Japan and Italy, New Zealand and France, and Australia and Ireland face off. They’ll also be screening matches on June 16 and June 23. For those who prefer their footy homegrown the College Lawn beer garden will also be screening their pick of matches starting from round 12, Geelong Cats versus North Melbourne. To get punters in the mood the bar will be serving free pots of Furphy beer between the first bounce and the first goal for selected matches (you can check out the list of selected matches on their website). The beer garden is dog-friendly so you can even bring your footy-loving canine. Then on Sunday you can round out your weekend with one of Melbourne very first Sunday sessions, Unplugged Sundays, with live music from 3pm to 10pm. Perk yourself up with a $15 Espr
