The invitation to try out Fast Beauty couldn’t have landed at a more appropriate time. I was in the middle of a project at work and running out of time. I had basically given up on my beauty regimen, which is criminal for a beauty blogger to admit, but when you’re trying to meet a deadline, night blurs into day and weekends become an extension of your working week. My nails were still growing, however, as were my brows, in a distinctly haphazard manner. Such is the cycle of life.
I loved the concept from the get go. Efficient and targeted – a little “wham bam, thank you, ma’am!”. An offshoot from the Sense of Touch spas, Fast Beauty comes with the tiniest staircase I’ve ever encountered, befitting of its function over fashion philosophy. I squeezed in three (or four – depending on how your count it) treatments in a little over an hour: a back scrub, an eyebrow threading and a mani/pedi.
If I had to sum it up for all you time-starved ladies, it would be that this place does what it says on the tin, without the added frills. Some treatments work better in a short time than others: you just need to pick and choose the right ones.
The Express Back Scrub
The back scrub was as effective as any protracted Balinese massage; involving (you guessed it) a scrub with fruit acids paired with practiced hands. 40 minutes is about the right amount of time for a back scrub, I figured. It certainly wasn’t long enough for me to doze off, although it did not feel rushed in the least. The treatments offered a measure of relaxation and a reminder of how much I love pampering. I was halfway to getting my beauty mojo back.
Verdict: Yay for express back scrubs!
Eyebrow Threading
In some circles I am known as the brow fascist, a title which I gladly embrace. I think you need to be a little feisty when it comes to protecting your brows, as I’ve had therapists who ignore instructions and choose instead to tweeze till kingdom come. In Fast Beauty, my brows were threaded deftly and expertly. In 15 minutes, I had the cleaned up, but not over-plucked look I usually go for.
Verdict: A firm stamp of approval. I don’t know what they put in the water but these therapists were good and super speedy!
Mani and Pedi Express
I had two therapists working on my hands and feet simultaneously, which always affords one the feeling of omnipotence. It involves a quick trim and shape, followed by two coats of Dazzle Dry polish. The colour options are somewhat limited but the pale champagne polish I chose dried in two minutes flat. Impressive!
Verdict: OK for polish but don’t expect perfection as there is no cuticle trimming
Fast Beauty operates a membership scheme for HK$99 a month, which gives you 12 months of members’ prices. They also cater to those who live life on the medium-speed lane with treatments that take up to an hour.
Fast Beauty, 83A Hollywood Road (corner of Aberdeen Street), Central, 2517 0939
Open Mon-Fri 10am – 8.30pm, Sat 10am – 7pm, Sun 10.30am – 6pm