A few months ago, my mom told me that she and my sister had gone to get their eyebrows threaded at this kiosk in the King of Prussia Mall. I had been dying to jump on the threading bandwagon, but didn’t really imagine my first foray into this ancient art of hair removal going down in the middle of a congested shopping center. I mean, no one needs to know about my moustache maintenance. I exaggerate, but you get my point. So at the end of my mother’s threading kiosk narrative, she tells me that, while standing in line, she met a woman with the most amazing eyebrows. “Did she get them done at the kiosk?” I breathlessly asked. My mom said no, that she had just opened her own day spa downtown. As is usually the case with Mama Spoiled Pretty, she couldn’t recall the pertinent details, like the name of the spa or the location. But she remembered the woman’s name…Dara. So I started sleuthing and soon solved the mystery.
For forever, if you were a phillie from Philly who wanted her arches threaded, it used to entail a trip to New York. And for years, Dara King made the 100 mile trip to maintain her enviable eyebrows. Weary of making the trek, this former Temple University business student hatched a plan for Philadelphia to catch up to her trend-setting big sis, NYC. Not only would she open a threading salon, she would become proficient in this art – and teach every one of the technicians who worked there. She would add manis/pedis, facials, and makeup application to the menu of services – using a range of botanically-based products. And as the icing on the proverbial cake, forget about scheduling a treatment in advance…because appointments aren’t necessary.
So thanks to Dara and her entrepreneurial vision, we Philly girls can save ourselves a trip on NJ Transit, Amtrak, or the Chinatown bus – because Thread Beauty Bar is right in our backyard!
Thread Beauty Bar, located at 1903 Chestnut Street, opened to rave reviews this spring…so on my lunch break one day, I walked on over to see what all the hype was about. The spa isn’t the easiest to find; the entrance to the 2nd floor walk-up is a little obscure. But once you ascend the stairs to this modern and spacious beauty oasis – you’ll fall in love with this hidden gem.
Even without an appointment, I waited less than ten minutes. My eyebrow shaping and upper lip threading took less than five. And, here’s the kicker – it only cost $20!
If you’ve never been threaded or haven’t seen how it’s done – here’s a crash course:
The process involves a piece of thread, and the ends are knotted together to make a circle. The thread is then twisted to form the shape of a bow tie and glided along the skin. As the unwanted hair comes in to the twist of the thread, it is lifted straight from the roots. Threading is an all natural method of hair removal and far superior to waxing because it doesn’t necessitate the use of nasty chemicals, which can burn and irritate skin. It’s also more precise than waxing, and you’d be amazed at how a simple piece of thread can result in such expertly shaped brows.
The sensation is beyond words…I can’t even begin to articulate. Oddly fascinating is the only way I can describe it. I’ve been waxed a ka-trillion times, so that process (and the pain that accompanies it) is old hat for me. And in the discomfort category, threading beats waxing every time. It’s a TKO. I wouldn’t even describe the feeling as pain…and it’s over so quickly that even big babies will be able to bite the bullet.
Thread Beauty Bar is open late (check the website for days and hours of operation) – so even after the hour strikes 7pm and Rittenhouse boutiques kick your shopaholic ass out, you can walk down the street and get prettified. And for parties of six or more, Thread offers birthday, bachelorette, bridal, girls night out, and corporate parties.
Because I can’t keep a good thing to myself, Spoiled Pretty is partnering with Thread Beauty Bar for a giveaway! If you live in the Greater Philadelphia area, enter to win a $50 gift card to Thread Beauty Bar.
To enter, send an email to spoiledprettycontests@gmail.com. Be sure to include your full name. The subject line should read “Thread Giveaway.” The contest ends at midnight (EST) on Friday, September 12th. One winner will be chosen at random from among the entrants. On Saturday, September 13th, I’ll announce the winner’s name. Please, only one entry per person; duplicate entries will not increase your chances of winning.
Good luck!
