Best of Melbourne 2019: city’s top 10 beauty therapists revealed
It was a tough job plucking out Melbourne’s best beauty therapists, with a huge list of polished outfits primping to win. Now, it’s time to reveal who scrubbed up the best as we announce your chosen top 10. SEE THE FULL LIST OF WINNERS
The Best of Melbourne
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They may be the ones who primp and pamper our outsides, but for many of you the big difference beauty therapists made was boosting your self-confidence and positivity on the inside.
We’ve trimmed your nominations, counted your votes and can now reveal our top 10 Best of Melbourne beauty therapists.
They are all polished outfits, who know how to primp and pluck out the best in you.
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WHERE TO FIND MELBOURNE’S BEST HAIRDRESSERS
10. DERMAL AESTHETICS, MORNINGTON
1/76 Main St
Staff at Dermal Aesthetics know healthy epidermis is often (very) skin deep.
The clinicians and nurses often approach a client’s treatment starting from their guts and working their way out.
“We know the gut acts as your second brain so how that is feeling can be reflected on the outside,” business developer Melissa Di Mieri says.
“It’s not a quick turnover and we can often be putting people on a three-month to six-month journey to transform their skin.”
The boutique-style skin clinic started as one nurse working out of Peninsula Hospital, but the service was so popular she outgrew that and clients wanted to keep having the treatment.
Ms Di Mieri gives a shout out to founder Mirielle Schreuders and part-partner Kylie Mumby.
“Across the business we’ve got about 30 years’ experience with our health coaches, skin coaches, nurses and clinicians,” she says.
“The girls here are very passionate and truly understand skin science.”
Most importantly, Ms Di Mieri says they want to be able to educate and empower people to look after their own skin properly.
With the clinic tucked away on the Mornington Peninsula, Ms Di Mieri says they also cater to seasonal tourists with things such as mindfulness sessions.
Loyal client of 15 years, Kathleen Beary says each appointment is tailored to her needs.
Many voters praised the team for being knowledgeable, professional and dedicated.
“You can always tell when people are passionate about their work,” client Bianca Alessi says.
Meanwhile, Nermeen Hussein says their facials make her feel “like a goddess”.
Vicki Barker says: “Mirielle is the loveliest and most highly skilled person I’ve met in this industry”.
More: dermalaesthetics.com.au
9. EVODIA BEAUTY CARE, CAMBERWELL
2/1386 Toorak Rd
Eirini Tzortzis says everyone deserves some time to pamper themselves.
“I love looking after people and seeing a positive change in them,” the owner and senior beauty therapist at Evodia Beauty Care says.
“Something as simple as eyebrow shaping can give someone confidence.
“I genuinely love being a part of that change for people and seeing them leave with a smile on their face.”
She has been in the industry for more than 16 years but started Evodia to set the tone of what she wanted her business to be.
“I wanted to have a salon that was welcoming and had a really good atmosphere but also able to provide the best products and treatments,” she says.
“It’s important to make people feel comfortable.”
But the flexibility also allowed the mother of two to spend more time with her children, aged eight and 10.
The Camberwell salon has a team of four and specialises in skin care and acne treatment, as well as offering traditional beauty treatments such as waxing, lash and make-up services.
Client of two years Kelli Batchelor, who visits Evodia for facials and eyelash tints, says Eirini’s customised treatments are “second to none”.
“My skin has never looked better,” she says.
Michelle Kramer calls her talented, professional and authentic.
“Pampering and great skin are always the main goal at this chic skin clinic!” she says.
More: evodiabeautycare.com.au
facebook.com/pages/category/Beauty-Salon/Evodia-Beauty-Care-1846515928918730/
8. LIGHT AS A FEATHER BEAUTY, BAYSWATER NORTH
661 Dorset Rd
Running her business from home, Sarah Robin may not have any colleagues but she says her clients are as dear to her as family and friends.
She studied a diploma of beauty therapy and has been in the industry since she was about 21.
The waxing specialist decided to open her own business from home about eight years ago so she could start a family, and now has two children aged two and four.
“Being able to work from home gives me great balance but I really want to thank my mum Kerry and husband Jonathan for their support and the time they spend with the kids – I wouldn’t be able to do this without them,” she says.
Light as a Feather Beauty offers a range of services including spray tans, massage, lash and brow tinting, manicures and pedicures – but it’s waxing that Ms Robin is known for.
She says she loves that beauty treatments can give people that: “little boost of confidence that helps them go out into the world.”
Clients couldn’t help but spread praise on the small business owner’s professionalism and kindness.
Emma Barker has been visiting Light as a Feather for 10 years and says Ms Robin is “awesome”.
Laura Ramadge, who attends for waxing, eyebrow and lash work, says: “Sarah is bubbly and always takes such great care and pride to ensure your visit is exactly what you need”.
To Elise Warters, Ms Robin is an “absolute perfectionist”: “She is always extremely friendly, comforting and professional”.
“Sarah always gives her clients the best personalised service & keeps up to date with new beauty trends & products,” client of seven years Kerry Marrinon says.
More: facebook.com/LightAsAFeatherBeauty
7. MISS DEMEANOUR BEAUTY + BODY, LILYDALE
Shop 69/33-45 Hutchinson St
There’s nothing untoward about this popular Lilydale beauty spa and body piercing salon, despite its clever name.
Owner Lauren says they’ve been open for 10 years, originally operating out of Eastland.
They moved to Lilydale about four years ago and, although a bit of a one-stop shop, specialise in facials.
“We have five staff members, we’re like a little family here,” she says.
The owner has been in the industry for 14 years and, after managing a salon for someone else, she said branching out on her own was “the next step”.
“I just love making people feel good about themselves,” she says.
Client of seven years Nieske Libbis says Lauren is an amazing business owner and provides fantastic service every time.
Emma Doyle, a Miss Demeanour client for more than two years, says: “The girls are attentive and caring. They go above and beyond for each and every client”.
Michele Patalas says the team makes her feel like family for each and every visit.
More: missdemeanour.com.au
facebook.com/MissDemeanourBeautyAndBody
6. THE FACIAL BOUTIQUE BEAUTY AND BROW ARTISTRY, MELTON WEST
3 Panorama Drive
When you walk into Lauren Wells’s beauty bar, she says your eyebrows become hers.
Which isn’t to say the tiny hairs secede from your head and land in her possession.
“I treat them as carefully as I treat my own, I wouldn’t do anything unnatural or to upset the follicles,” she says
The Melton West eyebrow specialist has always been fascinated with the beauty industry, and recalls doing facials and painting nails at sleepovers with her friends.
There was no other career path for her – she went on to become a beautician straight out of year 12 and hasn’t looked back in 10 years.
This year the new mum was so eager to get back to work, she only took three months off after giving birth.
But working for herself means she is also able to devote a lot of time to her 11-month-old.
“I decided to branch out because I was working for a very money-based business and I wanted to become more customer-focused and give people a quality service,” she says.
It also means she can focus on using natural and organic treatments.
“A lot of what you put on your skin is absorbed into your bloodstream, so why wouldn’t you want it to be natural?” she says.
Ms Wells says she couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
“I think I’ve just always loved facials, they just make you feel fresh and can change your attitude.
“When people leave I just want them to feel relaxed and more confident in themselves.”
Client of more than four years, Neisha Ashley, says she’s constantly stopped in the street with compliments for Ms Wells’s work.
“I now carry her business cards to hand out,” she says.
More: thefacialcoskincare.com
5. SOAK BAR + BEAUTY, SOUTH YARRA
657 Chapel St
Fancy a prosecco while being pampered?
Open for just four and a half weeks, this South Yarra hotspot is also touted as Melbourne’s first fully licensed bar and beauty spot.
SOAK may be the new kid on the block but the owner and business manager Carlie Lansdown has more than 11 years’ experience in the industry.
“I just have a massive passion for making people feel great about themselves,” she says.
She’s lived in Melbourne for just 12 months and wanted to bring the skills she honed at Brooklyn Beauty Bar in Queensland, to unleash the new concept on our city.
“There are places where you can get a drink while getting your hair done but something of this scale hasn’t really been done before in Melbourne,” Ms Lansdown says.
“It’s also the look and vibe of the place – it can have a bit of a party vibe when we’ve got groups of ladies coming in for spa treatment.
“We wanted to create an experience for people.”
The South Yarra business offers a range of services including waxing and other hair removal, nails, lash work and tanning.
“The team also adds to the atmosphere – we all get along really well and support each other,” Ms Lansdown says.
Client Isabel Keeton says Carlie uses high quality products and has amazing attention to detail.
“Best part is having a cocktail while being pampered,” she says.
Beth Morgan says she’s started getting a lot of compliments about her eyebrows after seeing Carlie.
Rhys Ferguson says: “Incredible space and welcoming environment. Staff are all incredibly talented – plus it is the only fully-licensed salon in Victoria!”
Meanwhile Deb Seiler says: “This is one fabulous team who provide an incredible, unique customer experience both with their treatments and hospitality”.
More: soak.bar
4. ESSENTIAL BEAUTY NORTHLAND, PRESTON
Northland Shopping Centre
Sometimes the most rewarding thing for beautician Rebecca Frazier is to hear the client she’s giving a facial start snoring.
“It sounds funny but it means I’ve been able to make that person completely relaxed,” she says.
The manager at the Northland salon, which has been open since 2010, says she almost became a massage therapist.
“As a kid I used to love massages, I would always give my dad a back rub.”
But the self-proclaimed “jack of all trades” was instead drawn to the beauty therapy side of things and has been in the industry for almost 11 years.
Ms Frazier praises the small team at Essential Beauty Northland, which offers services such as waxing, laser hair removal, piercing, facials and teeth whitening.
“There is some compassion that comes with the job,” she says.
“Sometimes people take the ‘therapist’ in ‘beauty therapist’ literally and open up to you about their insecurities.
“I’m a very face-to-face kind of person so it’s great to be able to make people feel good about themselves. It makes you want to come in to work every day.”
The salon’s motto is “Walk-ins are welcome” to accommodate today’s time-poor clients, but Ms Frazier said they weren’t just about convenience.
“We see ourselves as part of the local community,” she says.
Client of three years Jessica Micallef says the staff are “amazing with a good work ethic”.
Courtney Harris, who visits the salon for an eyelash lift and tint, calls Ms Frazier the “eyelash queen” and the “only person I trust” with her brows, while Erin Carbone says she travels further just to see her.
Client of four years Marita Rees says: “I love visiting the salon because I feel so pampered and looked after!”
More: essentialbeauty.com.au/beauty-salons/northland/
facebook.com/EssentialBeautyAustralia
3. PENINSULA LIFE MEDISPA, MORNINGTON
109 Tanti Ave
For Miranda Burmeister, sometimes the best kind of spa treatment involves knowing when her clients want to talk – and when they don’t.
“For me it’s all about making people comfortable, which may mean they want to open up to you or they may just want this time to relax,” she says.
“Not knowing the difference could make or break the treatment for someone.”
Peninsula Life Medispa has been open for 12 years and, Ms Burmeister says, is known for its high level of customer service.
‘We’re very good at making people feel special and important,” she says.
“But at the end of the day people also want to see results so when they do they keep coming back.”
They specialise in skin treatments, such as for pigmentation or acne problems, day spa and dermal fillers.
She has been working at the business for more than seven years and says the beauty industry was always a calling for her.
“At school I either wanted to do beauty or hair. I did some work experience at a salon and realised that hair was definitely not for me,” Ms Burmeister says.
“I think you’ll find with a lot of people who’ve been successful in the industry that is was a calling for them from a very early age.”
She said the spa was “super lucky” to have great owners, such as Alana, who kept staff and clients well-looked after.
“We’ve always got the most state-of-the-art equipment,” she says.
Ms Burmeister says it is a great honour to be named a Best of Melbourne finalist.
Client of nine years Alecia Duke says: “The staff are fabulous, they make your whole experience a relaxing one even when your appointment isn’t designed to be!”
More: peninsulalife.com.au
2. EBONY BELLE BEAUTY, CROYDON SOUTH
498 Dorset Rd
Ebony Pargeter tried different beauty therapy fields before she found her niche – now she calls herself a “lash nerd”.
She initially didn’t know what she wanted to do and was inspired by her tanning lady to try the beauty industry.
When the Croydon South entrepreneur heard about eyelash extensions, which at the time were really only being done in the US and UK, she started on one of the few courses available.
“It’s one of the best things I’ve ever done,” Ms Pargeter says.
“I’ve never been particularly dexterous or co-ordinated, but I found that when I’m doing lashes I find that I’m ambidextrous. It became so natural to me.”
“And you get such an endorphin rush when you see how they can really open up a person’s face.”
She started Ebony Belle Beauty in 2012 as a way to work from home after having children and later moved from a rented space in Lilydale to her current salon.
“The day I came here the landlady told me the space was up for sale. I remember telling my mum in tears,” Ms Pargeter says.
In the end, it was mum to the rescue – she bought the space where Ms Pargeter runs the beauty side of things and her sister looks after LQ Hair and Beauty.
Ebony Belle Beauty specialises in eyelash extensions and Ms Pargeter’s two staff members are former clients, who she hired based on their personalities first and then got them formally trained.
“I think a lot of our clients feel they can confide in us – they call it their counselling session,” she says.
She says she was “blown away” by being named a Best of Melbourne finalist and it came down to her great staff and her strong family support network.
“I just really enjoy what I do and I’m lucky to be able to work with my sister.”
Client of eight years, Kirby Talbot, says Ebony, Bek and Jess are “the best in the business”.
“I love our fun chats and their quality work,” she says.
Lisa Field, who has been a client for two years, says the ladies always make her feel so welcome.
“You’re immediately made to feel so comfortable and pampered to the max!,” she says.
Leanne Sujevic – a four-year client – says: “Ebony Belle Beauty never fails to deliver a happy environment and a professional service”.
More: ebonybellebeauty.com.au
1. NATSPA – CLINICAL SKIN HEALTH AND BEAUTY, ESSENDON
29 Woodland St
They are a beautiful crew inside and out at Natspa, as evidenced by the lashings of votes that poured in for them.
“We have a two-pronged approach here – we treat people’s skin on the outside but we’ve also got a naturopath here who takes care of the insides,” co-owner and skin aesthetician Rennae Irvine says.
The Essendon business has been around for almost 30 years, with Ms Irvine clocking up 15 of them.
“I’m becoming part of the furniture,” she laughs.
She says today’s fast-paced lifestyles and stress can have an impact on one’s skin, and acne can have a range of causes
“There’s no self care for so many people these days, we really need to take a moment and be kind to ourselves.”
Natspa’s beauty and body services include hair removal, waxing, spray tans and massages.
Ms Irvine gives a shout out to her team Marie and Michelle – “We’re a little family here” – and says she was shocked when the business was named a finalist in the Best of Melbourne series.
“I still haven’t found the sneaky rascal who nominated us, no one has admitted to it,” she laughs.
“It’s not the reason you come in to the industry but it is a nice pat on the back to recognise what you do.”
So what is the reason she got into beauty therapy?
“The pinnacle for us is being able to help people feel happier and more confident in their own skin again – that’s what brings job satisfaction for us,” she says.
“I love being able to put a smile back on their face.”
Client of 12 years Julie Nunns, who visits Natspa for skin care, waxing and massage says: “(They are) absolute professionals, so friendly and a beautiful environment!”
More: natspa.com.au