Mystery Shopping #10 – What did our Superhero find?

Article compiled by BR Natalie

Being one of our three Superheroes has some perks. The most enviable (other than the cape) has to be the chance to mystery shop a beauty counter, salon or shop.  Oh yes, we give our Superheroes some spending money and send them undercover in the beauty industry.  

We sent BR Superhero Sylvia for an Eye Trio - here's how she got on!

What was the assignment you were given?

To head to RubyWaxx Auckland for an eyelash and eyebrow tint and shape.

Describe your first impressions when you walked into the salon?

Setting up the appointment was really easy and painless. I was able to book online, which, as someone who hates phone calls, is something that I appreciated greatly. I received a confirmation email immediately, and then a text reminder the day before the appointment. Located on Victoria St in the middle of the city, the salon was really easy to get to.

If you're a Les Mills member you can use the gym carpark; however I just bussed straight from uni (there are a number of buses that stop by Victoria Park, and it's just a couple of minutes walk away from there). The salon is located in the Les Mills building, to the right of the gym entrance. It was very easy to spot, with the bright pink sign and colourful window.

I was surprised with how small the actual salon was, however it had a welcoming and friendly feel to it, and all the furniture was arranged so that it didn't seem cramped.

There was only one staff member working, and she was finishing up with a client when I arrived, however she came out and welcomed me, and offered me a seat in the reception area while I waited. There was some music playing softly, the room smelled of the nice salon products (not in an overpowering way) and it was overall a pleasant first impression.

What questions did they ask you before commencing your consultation?

Chloe asked me how dark I wanted the eyelash and eyebrow tints to be.

I told her that I wanted the eyebrow tint to be quite natural, just a little darker than my hair, and I wanted my eyelashes as dark as possible.

Describe what happened during your consultation. Talk about the environment, how you felt during the appointment, your consultant’s attitude:

The treatment room was quite small, with a bed, sink and shelves – and plenty of hot pink towels!

Chloe asked me lie down on the bed, which had towels over the pillow and sheet, and was nice and comfy (I had to work hard not to fall asleep, especially once my eyes were closed!) To start off with, Chloe placed two cotton shields under my eyes and wiped a solution around my lashes (to prevent the dye from staining my skin), and then asked me to keep my eyes closed while she mixed and applied the tint to my lashes. Once she’d done that she wiped around my brows and applied a tint to them also.

After a few minutes (I’m not sure exactly how long it was, but I think it was less than ten) she wiped the tint away from my lashes, and used a type of rinse to get all the excess colour away before I opened my eyes. During all of this she asked several times if I was feeling all right to make sure no irritation was starting. Then she wiped the tint from my eyebrows.

Before she waxed them she asked me whether I wanted them waxed above the eyebrow as well as under. I said I just wanted them tidied up, not thinned out at all. She then applied the wax and shaped my eyebrows. She was really quick at the actual waxing, and although it stung a bit when it happened, it was really not as painful as I was expecting. Finally, she applied some soothing lotion around my eyebrows, and showed me the result in a mirror, to make sure everything was how I wanted it.

How experienced/professional did you think they were?

Chloe seemed really efficient and experienced, and I definitely felt comfortable knowing that my eyebrows and lashes were in her hands, so as to speak. It wasn’t a particularly chatty appointment, apart from the odd question or comment about how the treatments were progressing, and for me that was something I was quite comfortable with, but it’s maybe something to bear in mind if you normally like to have a nice long chat with hairdresser, etc. She was definitely not unfriendly, and I didn’t feel like my appointment was rushed, so for me it was a nice environment.

What did you like about your experience?

I really liked how efficient the whole appointment was. Even though there was a client before me my appointment started right on time, and was finished in half an hour like stated on the website. I’d definitely feel comfortable going back if I had a busy schedule, as everything was reliable and quick.

I also really liked how quick Chloe was at waxing my brows: it made what is (unavoidably) a slightly painful experience much less unpleasant than it could have been. In terms of results, I absolutely love my eyebrows now. The tint is the perfect colour, just like I asked for, and the shape is lovely. I feel like they’re natural but defined, and I couldn’t be happier with the results. I’d definitely go back for the waxing, and if I feel like splurging I’d also get the tint again.

Anything you didn’t like?

Unfortunately, I’m not outstandingly keen on the eyelash tint. Chloe recommended the blue-black tint, as she said it was darker than the regular black, but I just feel like it’s not super dark, and doesn’t really do anything for my lashes. They’re definitely darker than their usual blondish-brown selves, but I don’t think I’m going to skip the mascara. That’s not really a fault of the salon, but it’s not a treatment I’d probably go for again.

Were you happy with the outcome from your experience?

Yes. I am really happy with how my brows look, and how that whole part of the treatment was carried out. I felt like my brows were in safe hands, and they weren’t in danger of being ruined (oh the horror!). Even though the lash tint isn’t something I’d do again it has still made a bit of a difference to how my eyelashes look, and I can see it working well for others

Would you visit this place again, if you were paying for it yourself?

Yes, I would definitely visit here again, specifically for the brow wax and tint treatment. It was a really efficient and well carried out procedure, and I’m obsessed with the results.

Would you recommend this experience to a friend?

This is absolutely a salon that I’d recommend to others. I think it’s in a really handy place (close to the city centre/unis, etc), and it had really reliable and efficient service: something that is important if you’ve got a busy schedule! Most importantly, the treatment results were great, so I’m definitely telling my friends about this place.

Is there anything else would you like to add?

This was such a fun mystery shop to complete! I have to admit that I went into it with a bit of fear and trepidation (what if my eyebrows are waxed into oblivion?!?), but all those fears were well and truly allayed. Not only will I be recommending Rubywaxx to others, I’ll also be returning there myself, I have no doubt at all. Thank you so much BR for this amazing opportunity! You’re the best! xox

Thanks superhero Sylvia for a fabulous write up of your Mystery Shop!  

What are your experiences with eyebrow and eyelash tinting, dear readers?  Share them below!