Eyebrows Created , Professional Nurse Service .
Meet five Cork women working to meet the needs of cancer patients.
06.02.2020 14:5 'Women on Wednesday'- Evening Echo feature.
Eileen McCarthy, Hair Counsel at Glanmire Hair Studio; Ethna Hickey, Supreme Silhouette, Bra and Prosthesis Fitting Service Cork; Michelle Waters Amare Wig Specialist; Olive O'Sullivan SRN Browtique Cork. Com and Susan Watson, Pranic Healer. Picture: Ger Bonus.
Meet five Cork women working to meet the needs of cancer patients
By Chris Dunne
FIVE Cork women have clubbed together to offer a wonderful support service to cancer patients.
“We just want to make people feel good about themselves and restore some semblance of wellbeing back into their lives,” says Susan Watson, who is a Pranic Healer, a practice that involves cleaning out the body’s energy channels to encourage the body to help heal itself.
“People going through a cancer journey can do with a well-deserved boost,” she added.
Ethna Hickey, Supreme Silhouette, Bra and Prosthesis Fitting Service Cork; Susan Watson, Pranic Healer; Olive O’Sullivan, SRN Browtique Cork; Eileen McCarthy, Hair Counsel; Michelle Waters, Amare Wig Specialist. Picture: Ger Bonus.
Susan’s companions are:
Michelle Waters, a wig specialist, dealing with hair-loss, alopecia and thinning hair.
Ethna Hickey, who provides a bra and prosthesis fitting service dedicated to women post mastectomy or lumpectomy surgical treatment for breast cancer.
Olive O’Sullivan, who offers a microblading service, restoring eye-brows.
And Eileen McCarthy, who specialises in various stages of hair growth throughout cancer treatment.
They all know that anyone who receives a cancer diagnosis is knocked for six. It can be a hard fight when a bit of something dies inside of you and you want to keep on living.
“Cancer is a physical and emotional issue affecting those around you. Relieving degrees of stress and anxiety can help everyone around you,” says Susan.
“I see the benefits when people are open to Pranic Healing, which helps the body heal itself.”
Everyone needs a circle of friends like Susan, Michelle, Olive, Ethna and Eileen, who are all willing to help to make things a little better and a little brighter when life seems grim.
Olive O'Sullivan SRN SCM Browtiquecork.com.
Olive, who owns Browtique Cork, has helped many cancer patients feel a little more human.
“Losing your eyebrows as a result of aggressive treatment for cancer is a massive deal,” says Olive, who started her own business from home.
“It’s like part of your identity is gone. You look sicker than you feel when your face is so bare. I had a lady in with her daughter the other day who was going through treatment for cancer. When mum had her eyebrows microbladed, the little girl said ‘Mummy, you don’t look sick anymore!’ Mum felt a whole lot better and much more reassured that something small in her life had once more been restored.”
Feeling isolated and confused, away from the labyrinth of investigations, surrounded by sick people and the maze of medical experts, from care-givers who give good advice but who know they can’t heal cancer; who are you gonna call?
“We all came together to meet the ancillary needs of cancer patients,” says Olive.
She and her cohort of colleagues are the go-to girls to bring healing hope to the increasing number of people who receive a cancer diagnosis every day. Knowing that cancer patients will be feeling vulnerable, this group of women, each with their own unique skills, want to offer them the best services they can.
“We are like the helping hands, a support team that show up when we’re needed,” they say.
When a cancer patient loses their hair, they can lose their dignity and self-esteem as well.
“Suffering from alopecia, thinning hair, or loss of hair due to chemotherapy treatment or radiotherapy treatment can be detrimental for a woman” says Michelle Waters, who is a wig specialist.
Michelle Waters Amare Wig Specialist.
“When a client feels low and less attractive suffering from hair loss, coming to our boutique wig rooms, Amare, Midleton, for a consultation and choosing a wig that suits them, is transformative.
“And they enjoy the process of trying on various styles of wigs. It can be a bit of light-hearted fun too,” says Michelle, who obviously enjoys job satisfaction.
“Losing one’s hair is a life-changing, distressing experience. Wearing a wig and looking glamorous and feeling feminine again is a great boost. Looking attractive, feeling confident, ready to go out into the world once more is a fabulous feeling.
“I so enjoy relieving the added stress of people who suffer hair-loss. It is a difficult time. We meet the person at all different stages of hair-loss and build up a trust and rapport together. It is a feelgood process. The stigma attached to being a bald woman is removed.”
Ethna Hickey, Supreme Silhouette, Bra and Prosthesis Fitting Service Cork.
Our breasts, like our hair, define our femininity. Enter Ethna Hickey.
“Like Olive, I have a lot of surgical experience working in hospital for more than 30 years,” says Ethna, who provides a bra and prosthesis fitting service, Supreme Silhouette, for women post-surgery and for women who may have breast discrepancies.
“Having breast surgery or a mastectomy procedure is a very stressful time for any woman,” says Ethna, who has many years’ experience in the pre and post operative care of ladies undergoing surgical treatment for breast cancer, from the beginning of their treatment right through to recovery.
“I was inspired to set up a private service that offers post surgical fitting of bra and prosthesis for women in the Munster region.”
Courageous women going through, and surviving, cancer continue to have the desire to live life to the full.
“There are wonderful lingerie garments available for active people who want to go to the gym or who want to go swimming,” says Ethna.
“The bra and underwear garments I provide are both feminine and discreet. The bamboo products, which are breathable, are very popular.”
Ethna says every woman is unique.
“I take care to build up a relationship with the lady who only wants to be a woman and look lovely. I can help with that!
“All I want to do is to make them look and feel better. Their world has fallen apart during a gruelling cancer journey,” says Ethna.
“Their femininity is lost and when they feel like a real woman again, wearing flattering underwear, it is a wonderful feeling. They leave the clinic walking on air.”
Ethna also helps take the pain out of the paperwork involved.
“I do all the paperwork to do with entitlements and can help complete applications for medical cards and supply invoicing for private health insurance.”
Eileen McCarthy, Hair Counsel at Glanmire Hair Studio.
Three woman in Eileen McCarthy’s family were diagnosed with breast cancer. One didn’t survive.
“Yes, it is a horrible disease touching families everywhere,” says Eileen, who along with her sister survived breast cancer and who is a hairdresser at the Glanmire Hair Studio, where she operates the Hair Counsel for women going through a cancer journey as well.
“Often, people on a cancer journey are not comfortable going to their usual hairdresser,” says Eileen, who undertook an oncology course to understand her clients’ needs better.
“There are certain hair and make-up products cancer patients can or cannot use because of sensitivity or side-effects from treatments,” says Eileen.
“I go through options with the women and I use organic products.”
Is a visit to the hairdresser a hairy experience when you’re changing image due to cancer? Eileen smiles.
“Some people are afraid they will look completely different. Having once had a head of black curly hair, they now have short grey hair. It can be hard to deal with.”
They are in expert hands.
“We experiment with styles and colour to work the magic,” says Eileen.
“Making the most of what you’ve got takes the taboo out of it.”
Do people get upset?
“Oh yes!” says Eileen. “I’ve had wigs thrown at me!”
And she’s treated those wigs with tender loving care.
“I blow-dry the wigs so that the person feels like she’s having a special treat at the hairdresser’s.”
Eileen was able to manage her own hair-loss journey with aplomb.
“I was every colour under the sun! I embraced it all.”
Six years on from her own brush with cancer, Eileen is embracing being able to offer some light to people in their dark days.
“It is all about the person, the individual who is not just a number.”
Susan Watson, Pranic Healer.
Susan Watson is there for people who want to re-discover their mojo and mobility after injury or illness.
“Attitude is key to responding to Pranic healing,” says Susan.
“Restoring energy to clogged up channels in the body is hugely beneficial. Illness is a physical, emotional, anxious issue. Pranic Healing is a complimentary treatment, not nd a cancer diagnosis. They are intent on rescuing the resilient human spirit, making life worth living again. They are a force to be reckoned with, supporting, consoling and cheering up those who feel down, but not out.
“It was meant to be that we all linked up together,” says Olive.
“Every six weeks we meet up to brain-storm and we can refer people to each other depending on the person’s needs.”
There is safety and solace in numbers.
The ladies are the best of friends and they can ‘go to’ each other at any time.
“We are all really good friends who support each other and those who need supporting the most.”
CONTACT DETAILS
Olive O’Sullivan, SRN, Browtique Cork, Clonakilty, 021-4193011
Ethna Hickey Supreme Silhouette bra and prosthesis fitting service, Ardfallen Medical Centre 086-8290784
Susan Watson Pranic Healing, Midleton, 087-1205829
Michelle Waters, Wig specialist, Amare Midelton, 087-3843845
Eileen McCarthy, Hair Counsel, Glanmire, 086-8290784.
The five ladies are on a mission to restore the human spirit. dehumanised by the endless rounds of biopsies, scans, targeted treatments, confusion, and fear that surrounds cancer.
RSVP magazine feature of April 2020;
Below.
MICRO-BLADED EYEBROWS- The new thing! Is it what it's cracked up to be ? A researchers review on the Independent Newspaper Jan 2016
The now brows - does eyebrow embroidery give fuller eyebrows?Sick of non-existent eyebrows that were over-plucked in her teens, Vicki Notaro was prepared to go to extremes to get the on-trend Cara Delevingne look. But would eyebrow embroidery - aka semi-permanent tattooing - be the answer?In the 1990s and Noughties, the global trend in eyebrows leaned towards thin, pointy arches. Big brows had gone out of style, so the tendency around the world was to overpluck. The result? Generations of women lamenting their skinny brows and coveting the arches of Cara Delevingne, Keira Knightley and Jennifer Connelly.
I've always had a difficult relationship with my eyebrows. Being part-Italian, as a child I had dark hair and something of a monobrow. When I was a teenager, a friend who could no longer stand the sight of two bushy slug-like things above my eyes held me down and plucked them to almost non-existence. As was the trend, I continued to overpluck, to the point where large portions of my brows simply stopped growing back.
Fast forward a few years, and I started working in the magazine industry where I was introduced to the concept of filling in my now sparse eyebrows. In my role as a beauty editor, I was exposed to countless wondrous products claiming to correct my baldy brows, and many of them did - albeit temporarily.
But give a girl who wants Brooke Shields-esque brows a licence to draw her own on, and you're asking for trouble. I went from brow-less to Brow-my-god! giving Cara a run for her money by day, and then wiping them off by night. The older I get, the more aware I am that having a clean, flattering brow shape is really important to the entire face.
"There is a good reason why fuller, sculpted brows is not just a passing beauty trend," says Weekend beauty columnist Andrea Byrne. "People now realise that the right brow shape can transform a face, adding proportion and symmetry, opening the eye area, flattering the face, and best of all, shaving years off our age. If your brows are right, everything else looks more polished."
he trouble with drawing them on is that they can look different from day to day, and a wonky brow can destroy even the most fabulous make-up look. And there's also the fact that when I went make-up free, people got a fright at the sight of me with no brows. I was mortified even going to the gym without drawing them on. It was time for some professional intervention.
I'd heard a lot about the seven-step HD Brows treatment available in salons all over the country, but was sceptical. Why the need to trim, wax, tweeze and thread the brows when surely one hair removal method would do? To me, it sounded like an expensive tinting treatment - and having it done didn't change my mind.
The final step of the treatment, which costs from €40-65 depending on the salon, was to - wait for it - draw on my eyebrows. When I washed my face that night, the strong arches disappeared and I was left with my own patchy brows dyed a couple of shades darker. I was disgusted.
I'm told that after a year or two of these treatments, brow growth can be stimulated and you'll see lasting results. I wasn't prepared to wait so it was time to try a more drastic measure: eyebrow embroidery.
I'd heard about semi-permanent brow embroidery from friends in the industry, but when I realised that it was essentially eyebrow tattoos, I initially went off the idea. I was terrified of it all going wrong and the idea of it being painful frightened me - plucking is bad enough
Still, the more I heard about the practice, the more interested I was. Then I met this brow guru , so I went for a consultation.
Eyebrow embroidery is relatively new to Ireland, but practised all over the world. My Brow artist promised to transform my brow shape and density by measuring my facial parameters and drawing a new arch, as well as filling in all my little bald patches. The fact that the entire procedure is done with little needles lined up in a row is daunting, but when I saw her clients' results, I was in.
I'm not going to lie, the treatment - which costs €xxx - hurts like hell at first.
The process involves a hand held tool with a microblade in it- dipped in ink. When this breaks the skin the ink settles in to the stroke, so it's like a semi-permanent tattoo that fades over time. Each brow gets about a dozen strokes with topical numbing cream, and you can hear the scratch of every incision. But once the cream goes on, it's far more tolerable.
The first appointment lasts about two hours, where the new brow shape is created. You then go away for about three to four weeks and let the area heal, and new skin tissue form. After the first session my brows were swollen - to about the same level as though I'd had them waxed - and it was sore to raise them for about 12 hours. But beneath the swelling I could already see that I had even, defined arches.
The brows fade a lot between sessions, but don't fret - once you return for round two, more strokes are added, the colour is deepened, and it'll last for 12-18 months.
I'm not exaggerating when I say that this treatment has changed my life. I feel like I've had plastic surgery, such is the difference to my face. I don't need to fill my eyebrows in at all, and each little stroke looks like real hair, unlike the powdery, harsh lines I used to draw on myself.
There's no more smudging or sweating off my brows, but the best part is that for the first time since my teens I look absolutely normal without make-up. I can swim, work out or even just go make-up free without looking like I've accidentally shaved off my eyebrows. This treatment has given me the confidence to be seen make-up free.
I will admit that I still fill my brows in a little with a pencil if I'm wearing full going out make-up, because I like them dark - once a brow obsessive, always a brow obsessive.
If that's you too, then I'd recommend eyebrow embroidery. More than Botox, facials or finding the perfect shade of lippie, it will change your face for the better.
Too scared to tattoo? Try these temporary measures instead...If you don't like the idea of semi-permanent brows, or simply don't need an extreme method of eyebrow therapy, you won't go far wrong with these buys - the best of the wash-off bunch.
Eyebrow embroidery is relatively new to Ireland, but practised all over the world. My Brow artist promised to transform my brow shape and density by measuring my facial parameters and drawing a new arch, as well as filling in all my little bald patches. The fact that the entire procedure is done with little needles lined up in a row is daunting, but when I saw her clients' results, I was in.
I'm not going to lie, the treatment - which costs €xxx - hurts like hell at first.
The process involves a hand held tool with a microblade in it- dipped in ink. When this breaks the skin the ink settles in to the stroke, so it's like a semi-permanent tattoo that fades over time. Each brow gets about a dozen strokes with topical numbing cream, and you can hear the scratch of every incision. But once the cream goes on, it's far more tolerable.
The first appointment lasts about two hours, where the new brow shape is created. You then go away for about three to four weeks and let the area heal, and new skin tissue form. After the first session my brows were swollen - to about the same level as though I'd had them waxed - and it was sore to raise them for about 12 hours. But beneath the swelling I could already see that I had even, defined arches.
The brows fade a lot between sessions, but don't fret - once you return for round two, more strokes are added, the colour is deepened, and it'll last for 12-18 months.
I'm not exaggerating when I say that this treatment has changed my life. I feel like I've had plastic surgery, such is the difference to my face. I don't need to fill my eyebrows in at all, and each little stroke looks like real hair, unlike the powdery, harsh lines I used to draw on myself.
There's no more smudging or sweating off my brows, but the best part is that for the first time since my teens I look absolutely normal without make-up. I can swim, work out or even just go make-up free without looking like I've accidentally shaved off my eyebrows. This treatment has given me the confidence to be seen make-up free.
I will admit that I still fill my brows in a little with a pencil if I'm wearing full going out make-up, because I like them dark - once a brow obsessive, always a brow obsessive.
If that's you too, then I'd recommend eyebrow embroidery. More than Botox, facials or finding the perfect shade of lippie, it will change your face for the better.
Too scared to tattoo? Try these temporary measures instead...If you don't like the idea of semi-permanent brows, or simply don't need an extreme method of eyebrow therapy, you won't go far wrong with these buys - the best of the wash-off bunch.
DO THE RESEARCH GIRLS - Olive is a Registered Nurse, Midwife, and trained with the best in the industry - European Institute of Permanent Makeup.
She will willingly show you her portfolio .
She will willingly show you her portfolio .
TATTOOED EYEBROWS, THE TRUTH , THE LIES AND ALL YOU NEEC TO KNOW ABOUT IT.
Have a read here.
A beauty journalist tries the Eyebrow Microblading treatment .
This time last year I made a big decision. Well a big decision for me that is. I decided to get a tattoo but this wasn’t going just anywhere, I was going to get this on my face!
When my friend told me she was going to become a Semi Permanent make-up artist I had visions of harsh block brows and tadpoles. Little did I know she would go on to become one of the best in the business, achieving feather light hair strokes that blend seamlessly with your own. As soon as I saw her portfolio I booked myself in for appointment one of the two part treatment and from that moment many of you wanted to know more.
SHAPE & SHADE
The most fundamental part of the brow tattooing process is the shape and colour. It needs to compliment your natural shape as well as your face shape and complexion, your therapist should ensure both factors are perfect.
Getting the correct shade tends to be the easy part where as getting the shape right is where all the appointment time goes and it is important to remember the age old saying
“Eyebrows are sisters & not Twins.”
It is unlikely the other brow will be the mirror image of the other but neither is your face so that really is a given, however, and I speak from experience here, your eyes will lie to you. I spent the best part of 45 minutes getting The Brow Artist to correct something I saw as wonky in the mirror, but when she took a picture they were in actual fact, perfect. What you see looking in the mirror is quite different to how they look to the outside world and in my honest opinion I’d hate to think people were looking at my wonky brows just so I could see them for what I thought was perfect.
Once the outline has been pencilled in, which I must admit is very scary as it looks very bold and harsh, your Therapist will begin the art of creating hair strokes which merge with your natural brows.
These hair strokes will look quite bold to begin with but within 2 weeks they will fade out to a perfect natural shade.
DOES IT HURT?
Is it painful is one of the most common questions and I guess rightly so, you are, after all getting a tattoo on your face. And the truth is, it might do a little, but the therapist applies a layer of numbing cream to begin with, then does a small amount of tattooing to break the skin and then applies another to ensure it goes as deep into the skin to prevent as much pain as possible. But I’m not going to tell you that you don’t feel a thing as everyone is different and everyone’s pain thresh hold is different and you are reading the blog of the girl who thoroughly enjoyed her post op experience following cosmetic surgery.
ARE THEY PERMANENT?
The real answer to this is both Yes & No. As mentioned previously everyone is different and some skin reacts differently to others. Some can be left with a small trace of the tattoo and others can lose all pigment completely. Sometimes your skin will reject pigment in areas and only for it to return later on. It’s very odd but is most definitely normal for this to happen. I treat my tattooed brows as the general shape, and seeing as I had been drawing in my left brow 3mm higher than the other, this is very welcomed, and then depending on how I feel I either add some volume or simply leave au naturale.
BROW FASHIONS
Whether you love a perfectly plucked fine brow or a Cara Delavigne power brow, a good Therapist won’t be following trends. Instead they will be following your natural brow and face shape to create a style that compliments you. Fashion evolves so quickly especially when it comes to brow trends and you don’t want to be stuck with something so fleeting. These are the aspects that can be added to your brows with the amazing products currently on the market but a good Therapist will always go with whats natural.
BLACK BROWS
I asked- what are the most common questions she’s asked are and is definitely up there. Unfortunately as with every industry there are the good, the bad and the disastrous and the reason brow tattooing is so scary, is because of the latter two. We’ve all seen some bad workmanship at some point when it comes to eyebrows and we don’t want to end up in the same boat so it’s important to thoroughly asses the Therapist’s work, you intend to book in with and ensure you are happy with them to do your treatment.
COMMUNICATION
These brows are going to be on your face for a long time so it is important that YOU communicate what it is that you want effectively before hand to ensure you receive the eyebrows that you want. If you aren’t happy with the outlined shape then you have to vocalise this and work together to create the shape you are both happy with . I left a very happy bunny with a cracking pair of brows.
Some questions to ask yourself before going under the needle;
Is she Qualified?
Does she come across as professional?
Did she perform or supply you with a patch test?
Is her treatment room/Salon clean and sterile?
Are you happy with her portfolio?
Are you comfortable communicating openly with your therapist?
Have a read here.
A beauty journalist tries the Eyebrow Microblading treatment .
This time last year I made a big decision. Well a big decision for me that is. I decided to get a tattoo but this wasn’t going just anywhere, I was going to get this on my face!
When my friend told me she was going to become a Semi Permanent make-up artist I had visions of harsh block brows and tadpoles. Little did I know she would go on to become one of the best in the business, achieving feather light hair strokes that blend seamlessly with your own. As soon as I saw her portfolio I booked myself in for appointment one of the two part treatment and from that moment many of you wanted to know more.
SHAPE & SHADE
The most fundamental part of the brow tattooing process is the shape and colour. It needs to compliment your natural shape as well as your face shape and complexion, your therapist should ensure both factors are perfect.
Getting the correct shade tends to be the easy part where as getting the shape right is where all the appointment time goes and it is important to remember the age old saying
“Eyebrows are sisters & not Twins.”
It is unlikely the other brow will be the mirror image of the other but neither is your face so that really is a given, however, and I speak from experience here, your eyes will lie to you. I spent the best part of 45 minutes getting The Brow Artist to correct something I saw as wonky in the mirror, but when she took a picture they were in actual fact, perfect. What you see looking in the mirror is quite different to how they look to the outside world and in my honest opinion I’d hate to think people were looking at my wonky brows just so I could see them for what I thought was perfect.
Once the outline has been pencilled in, which I must admit is very scary as it looks very bold and harsh, your Therapist will begin the art of creating hair strokes which merge with your natural brows.
These hair strokes will look quite bold to begin with but within 2 weeks they will fade out to a perfect natural shade.
DOES IT HURT?
Is it painful is one of the most common questions and I guess rightly so, you are, after all getting a tattoo on your face. And the truth is, it might do a little, but the therapist applies a layer of numbing cream to begin with, then does a small amount of tattooing to break the skin and then applies another to ensure it goes as deep into the skin to prevent as much pain as possible. But I’m not going to tell you that you don’t feel a thing as everyone is different and everyone’s pain thresh hold is different and you are reading the blog of the girl who thoroughly enjoyed her post op experience following cosmetic surgery.
ARE THEY PERMANENT?
The real answer to this is both Yes & No. As mentioned previously everyone is different and some skin reacts differently to others. Some can be left with a small trace of the tattoo and others can lose all pigment completely. Sometimes your skin will reject pigment in areas and only for it to return later on. It’s very odd but is most definitely normal for this to happen. I treat my tattooed brows as the general shape, and seeing as I had been drawing in my left brow 3mm higher than the other, this is very welcomed, and then depending on how I feel I either add some volume or simply leave au naturale.
BROW FASHIONS
Whether you love a perfectly plucked fine brow or a Cara Delavigne power brow, a good Therapist won’t be following trends. Instead they will be following your natural brow and face shape to create a style that compliments you. Fashion evolves so quickly especially when it comes to brow trends and you don’t want to be stuck with something so fleeting. These are the aspects that can be added to your brows with the amazing products currently on the market but a good Therapist will always go with whats natural.
BLACK BROWS
I asked- what are the most common questions she’s asked are and is definitely up there. Unfortunately as with every industry there are the good, the bad and the disastrous and the reason brow tattooing is so scary, is because of the latter two. We’ve all seen some bad workmanship at some point when it comes to eyebrows and we don’t want to end up in the same boat so it’s important to thoroughly asses the Therapist’s work, you intend to book in with and ensure you are happy with them to do your treatment.
COMMUNICATION
These brows are going to be on your face for a long time so it is important that YOU communicate what it is that you want effectively before hand to ensure you receive the eyebrows that you want. If you aren’t happy with the outlined shape then you have to vocalise this and work together to create the shape you are both happy with . I left a very happy bunny with a cracking pair of brows.
Some questions to ask yourself before going under the needle;
Is she Qualified?
Does she come across as professional?
Did she perform or supply you with a patch test?
Is her treatment room/Salon clean and sterile?
Are you happy with her portfolio?
Are you comfortable communicating openly with your therapist?