referring to Strands.

Although it has quite possibly the largest clientele on the Island, its technicians are experts in creating an intimate and personalised atmosphere, giving patrons their strict attention and meeting each need with meticulous training and years of experience.

According to managing director William Mayo, association with one of the world's premier beauty institutes means there are certain standards which must be maintained.

"Strands is a very plush salon and the standard of service is very high,'' he said. "All the girls are trained to City & Guild or a similar standard, a certification that is recognised worldwide.

"Its standards are very high, and as a result, the quality of service we offer here is very high.

"We are a full-service spa with ten stylists and ten beauty therapists, but we're very much individualised. We take people by appointment only and the emphasis is on privacy.'' The Reid Street day spa offers every luxury imaginable in beauty and skin care. Its employees are masters at aroma therapy, electrolysis, reflexology, nail care, facials, make-up and, of course, massage.

"Strands offers a full service to its clients; specialised hair care, relaxers, perms, cut/blow dry, colour treatments, face, body and skin treatments,'' said Mr. Mayo.

"Our Skin Clinic/Day Spa, is a complete facility for relaxing and finding relief from today's stresses that everyone finds in today's world. Our Salon/Day Spa are ideal both for men and women.

"The ultimate place to relax,'' Mr. Mayo says of the spa, which includes a state-of-the-art whirlpool, steam room and sauna. The spa enables clients the utmost in relaxation and stress-relieving comfort; the dry heat sauna forces the body to cleanse the skin and its pores.

"Impurities are removed from the body as well as lactic acid build-up from physical exertion,'' he added.

"By raising the body temperature and increasing blood circulation, tired muscles are soothed and pain can be relieved. The dry heat is a superb stress reducer.

"The spa generally takes only one to two people at a time, and they are generally friends and the only thing we don't offer that a full spa does is exercise facilities and accommodations.'' The facility also offers sports therapy, electrolysis, red veins and skin tag removal as well as Computer Aided Cosmetology Instruction (CACI) which uses very passive current to probe the face in various ways, exercising the facial muscles and giving them a lifting effect.

The Clarins products and its techniques were conceived by Frenchman, Jacques Courtin-Clarins. Armed with a strong medical background and years of experience and knowledge in massage techniques and physiotherapy, he was able to develop a unique treatment method, the Paris-Clarins Method.

As a result of his success, he was able to open his first Institut de Beaute m in 1954, enabling him to listen to client comments through which he was able to better develop and perfect specific products and salon treatments.

"Clarins is still a privately owned company,'' said Mr. Mayo. "It's still run by its founder. That's very unique. The French are very discriminating.

"What Clarins does is first do research on women in France; find out what they want, develop that and then test it on the French population first to get their response before taking it to the rest of the world.

"Mr. Courtin-Clarins has six trainers in France whom he trains personally.

They then go out to certain regions and train selected therapists in those The Clarins-Parish Method In fact they come here once or twice a year to do just that for our therapists. So he really plays a big part in everything we do.'' Although all Clarins-affiliated companies offer a high calibre of service, Strands is distinguished amongst even those, according to Mr. Mayo.

"Even though numerous Instituts de Beaute m work with Clarins,'' he said, "because the Clarins-Paris Method is a complex association of specific massage movements, whose success depends on the expertise of the person executing the treatment, only the most proficient Clarins beauty specialists receive training in the Method.'' The Clarins-Paris Method consists of a combination of several massage techniques, making up approximately 80 different movements with a very specific action on the skin. The effectiveness depends on the skill of the hand, creating an effect unmatched by any machine-based treatment.

"The Clarins-Paris Method face treatment is not merely a basic cleansing treatment, it is a complete series of purifying, moisturising and revitalising massage techniques using specific products,'' explained Mr. Mayo.

"Results are immediately visible: restored radiance, reduced signs of fatigue, and smoother, fresher looking facial features. Puffiness and dark circles are minimised. The face appears fresh and rested, glowing with radiance.

"Like the face treatment, Clarins body treatment consists of specific massage movements, each with a precise action.

"Some tone, while others combat water retention or enhance slimming benefits.

The Clarins-Paris Method exfoliating treatment refines the skin, and therefore maximises easier application of other specific Clarins treatment products.

"The Clarins-Paris Method bust treatment includes personalised advice regarding posture and deportment, essential to maintain beautiful bust contours, as well as specific exercises which are easy to include in a daily beauty programme. From the very first treatment, the bust feels lighter and more toned.'' All of the professional treatments, he added, result from the superiority of Clarins products, created from plant extracts with all their natural, aromatherapeutic benefits. And of course, they are never tested on animals.

"We offer a free analysis of skin, but we don't force our products on clients,'' he added.

"We give a professional consultation and samples to try at home and if they like it, they can come back. The difference between Clarins and other products, is that we have a good follow-up programme for clients and each is given a consultation even if they just walk in off the street.'' Today, women are leading more stressful lives but they're also taking care of themselves.

"Massage really does relieve stress. Even facials, pedicures and manicures are helpful because there is massage involved in them as well. And at the end of the day, all of our clients say how glad they are that they decided to take the time and do something for themselves and how they must do it more often.'' Strands skin clinic beauty therapists: Sharon Greenfield (left) and Jacqueline Adams.

Setting direction: Tim Horan, Strands salon director, with a client.

Strands stylist: Steve Smethurst Skin care specialists: Strands skin clinic staff and beauty therapists, from left: Jai Black, Katya Carmichael, Melissa Gibbling, manageress Christine Pearman, Karen (Nicole) Robson and Claire Christie. Missing from photo: Wendy Vincent and Lisa (Beth) Burns.

Spa-cial place: Strands' whirlpool will soothe and relax you.