Thursday, February 21, 2008
[Article] NST: The Gentler Touch
The gentler touch
SOOTHING: A slice of Greece in Ampang.
K. RAHMAH visits a 'boutique' spa to have her nails done and gets over her phobia of overzealous manicurists.
CHARMING: Geraldine knows a wealth of information on nails.
SKILLFUL: Applying polish requires a steady hand.
THERAPEUTIC: Hot stone therapy allows blood vessels to expand
NESTLED within Ampang in Kuala Lumpur is a little slice of the Greek Islands. Tucked away, Mu and I, to use its own tagline, is a “boutique experience” spa incorporating a beach house experience of Mykonos or Santorini with brilliant white walls and cerulean accents that make you wonder if you haven’t just stepped halfway round the world.
Established by Sharon Teh and her business partner, Mu and I was envisioned as a place where patrons can relax, revitalise and indulge. And indulge they do, being groomed in an environment that is bright, relaxing and anything but clinical.
Although far from being just a nail spa, they are nevertheless famous for their manicures and pedicures, and with good reason.
In fact, as I write this, I have to keep myself from admiring my nails.
My manicurist was a lovely woman named Geraldine who seemed to know everything I'd ever read about proper nail care.
While she sterilised her tools, I moaned about my cuticles having been cut by overzealous manicurists and the subsequent infections that led me to shun most nail bars.
Geraldine tutted and shook her head. She told me each person's nails are different and that it isn’t necessary to clip away at the protective cuticle. I remember reading this in magazines. Geraldine merely gently pushed my cuticles back instead.
I’m sure, like me, you've also perused beauty advice columns and wondered why when the professionals advice against a particular thing, like having your scalp scraped by fingernails in a hair wash or your hair dried with an incredibly hot blow-dryer, salon assistants nevertheless do just that.
Not the case this time, though. Geraldine massaged my pre-soaked nails and gently scraped away old layers so that my nails were gleaming naturally, completely happy to be looking the way they were meant to.
Geraldine and the other staff at Mu and I are not the type who have surly conversations with their colleagues while you sit there squirming uncomfortably, wondering what they're saying about your state.
Instead, she was more than happy to recommend what I could do at home to prolong the life of help me pick a colour that would complement my two-piece swimsuit after I confessed that I have holiday planned.
I changed my mind about my choice of colour at least five times. Ordinarily this drives everyone else around me half mad, but not her.
In the end, Amy, another customer who was also getting her nails done, showed me her colour and I liked it so much I chose it too — “The Grape Lakes”. Geraldine recommended “Tropical Punch” for my toes. Sharon dropped by to see which colours we were getting.
When talking about how she set up the spa, something Sharon mentioned stuck with me, “You are nothing without your staff.” It is such an overlooked aspect despite our Asian sensibilities of politeness and service and yet it is incredibly true.
I’ve never seen more relaxed workers than at Mu and I’s. It’s just the way things are run, with members of the staff have their own client base and are thanked by name.
After 10 years in advertising, Sharon wanted to create a place that was an extension of her personality, something which would nourish people and restore what they'd lost surviving city life.
This idea is carried through out from the location to the general approach. Mu and I is accessible and fun. The comfort level is constantly monitored, so that it is not too cold or the music too jarring because Sharon believes that “the details are everything”.
Apart from fantastic manicures and pedicures, they also offer body therapy. The massage is a blend of Swedish, Shiatsu, and Malay with some focus on pressure points.
An oil massage, their base oil is an odourless blend of almond, jojoba and vitamin E. Some of her clients though have specific ailments and for this they’ve concocted an assortment of options.
For example, the “Relaxing” blend has additions of lavender oil added to the base oil. My masseuse was Abelle, who found knots in my back I didn’t even know I had.
Abelle is another member of staff who possess her own cult following.
Earlier she’d performed a Hot Stone therapy for a client who needed to relax and sought relief from muscular aches.
Hot stone therapy is one of the better ways to help blood circulation while stimulating the nervous system.
The stones, when heated and placed on certain points of the body, allow blood vessels to expand. They can be very comforting once you’ve decided on the temperature that best suits you.
Afterwards, if you want to extend the calm feeling all the way home, you can purchase aromatherapy oils from the same range carried by Mu and I.
Aromatherapy oils have more benefits than just helping you to relax.
Lavender, for example, also kills germs and prevents colds, not to mention inducing a good night’s sleep. But to really feel the full benefits a massage has to offer, it’s recommended that you devote yourself to a few regular treatments.
Understanding this, Mu and I offers a package where, after five body therapy treatments, the sixth one is on the house.
Sharon makes it a point to be around to catch up with everyone, and is a mine of information on which oils may work best for you.
The aromatherapy range also has body butter and atomising sprays, so you can keep smelling lovely and feeling silky smooth well after you’ve left.
If you happen to be suffering from a nasty hangover, there is also a special treatment exclusive to Mu and I called “Hair of the Dog” which is worth checking out. It’s designed to take the edge of that piercing migraine.
Honestly, a girl could get use to this kind of thing.
Mu and I is at 18, Persiaran Ampang, Kuala Lumpur. It is open every day from 10am till 8pm. For reservations, call 03-4252-2686. Its website, www.muandi.com.my, has an extensive catalogue of its products as well as a map.
Source: http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/Streets/Thursday/Stories/20080220181604/Article/index_html
SOOTHING: A slice of Greece in Ampang.
K. RAHMAH visits a 'boutique' spa to have her nails done and gets over her phobia of overzealous manicurists.
CHARMING: Geraldine knows a wealth of information on nails.
SKILLFUL: Applying polish requires a steady hand.
THERAPEUTIC: Hot stone therapy allows blood vessels to expand
NESTLED within Ampang in Kuala Lumpur is a little slice of the Greek Islands. Tucked away, Mu and I, to use its own tagline, is a “boutique experience” spa incorporating a beach house experience of Mykonos or Santorini with brilliant white walls and cerulean accents that make you wonder if you haven’t just stepped halfway round the world.
Established by Sharon Teh and her business partner, Mu and I was envisioned as a place where patrons can relax, revitalise and indulge. And indulge they do, being groomed in an environment that is bright, relaxing and anything but clinical.
Although far from being just a nail spa, they are nevertheless famous for their manicures and pedicures, and with good reason.
In fact, as I write this, I have to keep myself from admiring my nails.
My manicurist was a lovely woman named Geraldine who seemed to know everything I'd ever read about proper nail care.
While she sterilised her tools, I moaned about my cuticles having been cut by overzealous manicurists and the subsequent infections that led me to shun most nail bars.
Geraldine tutted and shook her head. She told me each person's nails are different and that it isn’t necessary to clip away at the protective cuticle. I remember reading this in magazines. Geraldine merely gently pushed my cuticles back instead.
I’m sure, like me, you've also perused beauty advice columns and wondered why when the professionals advice against a particular thing, like having your scalp scraped by fingernails in a hair wash or your hair dried with an incredibly hot blow-dryer, salon assistants nevertheless do just that.
Not the case this time, though. Geraldine massaged my pre-soaked nails and gently scraped away old layers so that my nails were gleaming naturally, completely happy to be looking the way they were meant to.
Geraldine and the other staff at Mu and I are not the type who have surly conversations with their colleagues while you sit there squirming uncomfortably, wondering what they're saying about your state.
Instead, she was more than happy to recommend what I could do at home to prolong the life of help me pick a colour that would complement my two-piece swimsuit after I confessed that I have holiday planned.
I changed my mind about my choice of colour at least five times. Ordinarily this drives everyone else around me half mad, but not her.
In the end, Amy, another customer who was also getting her nails done, showed me her colour and I liked it so much I chose it too — “The Grape Lakes”. Geraldine recommended “Tropical Punch” for my toes. Sharon dropped by to see which colours we were getting.
When talking about how she set up the spa, something Sharon mentioned stuck with me, “You are nothing without your staff.” It is such an overlooked aspect despite our Asian sensibilities of politeness and service and yet it is incredibly true.
I’ve never seen more relaxed workers than at Mu and I’s. It’s just the way things are run, with members of the staff have their own client base and are thanked by name.
After 10 years in advertising, Sharon wanted to create a place that was an extension of her personality, something which would nourish people and restore what they'd lost surviving city life.
This idea is carried through out from the location to the general approach. Mu and I is accessible and fun. The comfort level is constantly monitored, so that it is not too cold or the music too jarring because Sharon believes that “the details are everything”.
Apart from fantastic manicures and pedicures, they also offer body therapy. The massage is a blend of Swedish, Shiatsu, and Malay with some focus on pressure points.
An oil massage, their base oil is an odourless blend of almond, jojoba and vitamin E. Some of her clients though have specific ailments and for this they’ve concocted an assortment of options.
For example, the “Relaxing” blend has additions of lavender oil added to the base oil. My masseuse was Abelle, who found knots in my back I didn’t even know I had.
Abelle is another member of staff who possess her own cult following.
Earlier she’d performed a Hot Stone therapy for a client who needed to relax and sought relief from muscular aches.
Hot stone therapy is one of the better ways to help blood circulation while stimulating the nervous system.
The stones, when heated and placed on certain points of the body, allow blood vessels to expand. They can be very comforting once you’ve decided on the temperature that best suits you.
Afterwards, if you want to extend the calm feeling all the way home, you can purchase aromatherapy oils from the same range carried by Mu and I.
Aromatherapy oils have more benefits than just helping you to relax.
Lavender, for example, also kills germs and prevents colds, not to mention inducing a good night’s sleep. But to really feel the full benefits a massage has to offer, it’s recommended that you devote yourself to a few regular treatments.
Understanding this, Mu and I offers a package where, after five body therapy treatments, the sixth one is on the house.
Sharon makes it a point to be around to catch up with everyone, and is a mine of information on which oils may work best for you.
The aromatherapy range also has body butter and atomising sprays, so you can keep smelling lovely and feeling silky smooth well after you’ve left.
If you happen to be suffering from a nasty hangover, there is also a special treatment exclusive to Mu and I called “Hair of the Dog” which is worth checking out. It’s designed to take the edge of that piercing migraine.
Honestly, a girl could get use to this kind of thing.
Mu and I is at 18, Persiaran Ampang, Kuala Lumpur. It is open every day from 10am till 8pm. For reservations, call 03-4252-2686. Its website, www.muandi.com.my, has an extensive catalogue of its products as well as a map.
Source: http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/Streets/Thursday/Stories/20080220181604/Article/index_html
