Beauty Corner featuring Ashu Shetty
The art of "facial threading"
by Laura Salinger
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Practitioners use the piece of thread to pull out whole rolls of hair, rather than plucking hairs one by one like with tweezers. The
process, when used on areas of the face like eyebrows, allows the practitioner to shape the hairline, rather than creating standard
hairlines that result from practices like waxing.
"The art of threading involves the twisting of a special type of cotton thread that is gently rolled along the surface of the skin in a
quick motion, creating a clean, precise hairline by the expert," Shetty explains. "Threading is the best natural substitute to waxing and
tweezing."
Threading proponents extol the many benefits of threading. Long-term threading does not cause wrinkles or the skin to sag, while
repeated waxing can increase the chance of wrinkles. The process is totally natural, with no chemicals or heat applied to the skin.
Also, according to threading practitioners, hair grows back finer after the threading process.
"It is very natural," Shetty said. "You don't use anything but the all-cotton thread and sometimes powder. The skin is not being
stretched or chemicalized. In the long run, there is no chance of wrinkles."
Because of these attributes and its artistic variation on standard tweezing and waxing, threading has been dubbed the new beauty
phenomenon. While it has been a common practice in India for centuries, it is just now becoming the hip trend in Western cultures. It
has gained popularity in large cities and Hollywood stars have even boasted its benefits. But with virtually no beauty salons or spas in
the area offering regular threading, it has yet to become the rage in Madison.
Shetty hopes to change that. She has recently opened Moments-The Facial Spa in Salons, Etc. at 7940 Tree Lane on Madison's
west side. The spa is exclusively devoted to facial threading. Tucked into a building featuring an array of spa services, Shetty's suite is
a comfortable and cozy space on Salons Etc.'s first floor.
Shetty greets customers with a relaxed attitude and, while simple, her suite exudes a soothing atmosphere. Tea light candles are lit
and float alongside flower petals in a large glass bowl of water, while what sounds like New Age Indian music lingers on the air.
Customers recline on a cushioned chaise during the process and afterwards are treated to a massage of the area where the hair
was removed.
"I want my customers to leave feeling soothed and refreshed," Shetty asserts./While new to the Madison area, Shetty is in no way
new to the threading process. Born and raised in Mumbai (formerly Bombay), India, Shetty has been threading since she was 12.
"I've always had a passion for threading," she said. "Threading is like knitting, it's passed down through the generations."
Shetty learned the art of threading from her aunt, who ran a salon out of her home in Mumbai. She fondly recalled the time she spent
with her aunt -- watching the procession of clients and learning the art from her familial teacher. Part of what enthralled Shetty was the
transformation in appearance that occurred after the threading process was complete.
"We Indians really have thick brows," Shetty said. "Threading really creates a different look. The eyes are widened up and
brightened."
The look that is created is also completely up to the customer, although Shetty will make recommendations about what shape of
eyebrows will best compliment the shape of a client's face.
"The best part about threading is that you can shape the eyebrow anyway you want," she said.
The whole process takes only about 6 to 10 minutes and is modestly priced. Eyebrows cost $12, while the forehead, upper lip, chin,
and neck are $10 apiece. Sideburns are $5 apiece. Full facial threading costs $40 dollars and takes around 20 minutes.
Shetty, whose spa is just a few months old, hopes to spread the word about threading. To her, it's not just a beauty technique, but
also a unique connection to the Indian culture.
"Threading is a religion in India," she said with a smile. "This is a very age-old technique that is very unique."
While Shetty works to boost her customer base, there are already a few customers who are completely sold. Abba Nucback, a
customer at Moments, works the Chanel counter at West Towne Mall. She says she'll never go back to waxing again.
"I tried threading once and I was sold," she said.
Gone are the days of painful eyebrow waxing and tedious tweezing. Licensed aesthetician
Ashu Shetty has recently introduced a revolutionary method of facial hair removal to the
Madison area. Well, revolutionary for Madison that is.
Shetty's method of hair removal actually dates back many years, originating from parts of
India, and the Middle and Far East. It is called facial threading and it is a completely natural
and artistic approach to hair removal.
The process of threading entails rolling a thin, twisted cotton thread over unwanted facial
hair.