Ancient Beauty Technique Revived

Wednesday, 25 January 2012 04:27

It is known as the art of threading.

Threading involves a piece of coiled thread and steady hands that swiftly glide across a person's face snatching the hair up several pieces at a time.

 "It is the hands that control the thread. The hands give the eyebrows shape and remove facial hair," said Syamala Garnham, co-owner of Asian Eyebrow Threading at the Foothills Mall, 7401 N. La Cholla Blvd, in Tucson, Arizona.

Garnham recieved her license and opened the shop in 2009, two years after making the move from India to the United States. Last year Garnham and her husband opened a second location at the Tucson Spectrum, 1209 W. Irvington Rd.

In October of 2011 the Arizona Board of Cosmetology decided that threading does not need an aesthetician license from the state like other hair removal processes.

Though some wouldn't mind if threading was taught at a cosmotology school in the future.

"It would be great to be enlightened by new techniques and a beneficial skill to have," said Jessica Durnil, a graduate and now performance floor manager for the Regency Beauty Institute, 7225 E. Broadway Blvd.

With no formal education available, many interested threaders turn to observation and hours of practice. Without proper practice  or understanding you can pinch the skin off, said Garnham, who quickly learned the skill within a few months.

Garnham began threading in India when she accompanied her cousin to a salon. "I took one thread and went around practicing on laborers, cousins, sisters. I became more interested in the field so I attended a beauty school in India."

"For every 1,000 eyebrows I thread only one person experiences a serious reaction which can be from anything," says Garnham. " But with threading there is no permanent damages." Reactions to threading can include but are not limited to red bumps resembling pimples, breakouts around the eyebrow and redness.  

Because threading uses no chemicals, there is a reduced chance of an allergic reaction, said Durnil.

While waxing also results in redness that usually goes away, some speculate that over time the ripping of skin could cause wrinkles. "Wax can make your skin loose and form wrinkles early. It is better to use thread," said Garnham.

Threading is also a hair removal option for people with sensitive skin or those using Accutane or Retin-A medications who are unable to wax. People who do not believe in chemically based products could consider the more natural use of threading as well, said Durnil.

While threading is traditionally used for facial hair, it is possible to thread other parts of the body though it is much longer and more painful, said Garnham.

Just like with any beauty treatment, pain can be lurking.

"With threading sometimes it feels like a ripping other times nothing at all. It all depends on how often I keep up my eyebrows," said Michaela Birchak, a customer of Asian Eyebrow Threading. "It is less painful than waxing."

Though the majority of customers who receive threading are women, more men are taking interest.

"We get about six or seven male customers a day," said James Garnham.

As some are jumping on the threading bandwagon, others are still hesitant.

"Threading makes me nervous but I am not opposed," said Durnil. "But honestly I don't know where to go and that's another issue for people."

Thanks to Asian Eyebrow Threading, owned and operated by the Garnhams, threading is now accessible for the Tucson area.

Threading is still a relatively new concept to western culture but word is spreading about this ancient beauty remedy. "Maybe not in the next five years but if there is enough places that offer the service it could become just as popular as waxing," said Durnil.

Written by Rachel Kolinoski You are reading Ancient Beauty Technique Revived articles