Because You're Prettylicious!

"You create beauty with your attitude, your behavior, and your actions."

Sooo deep. I can't fathom it. Haha! Well, it's more of the explanation for the concept of putting value to the beauty inside all of us (aka personality and character) instead of the beauty outside. We say, we can have them both! Because we're 'shallow' (no, not really), this entry will concentrate on the outside beauty. Hahaha! It's not rocket science nowadays to be beautiful in our physical appearance. Especially in Riyadh where salons and ladies centers are frolicking. But which is which? Which is a good salon? What about the affordable ones? Are there ladies centers that offer beauty and fitness services?

There are! And one of them is tucked in Building 7 of the Iskan Almaather Building (aka Kuwaiti Housing) near the intersection of Dabab and Al-Matther streets. The salon is located in front of the parking space just off Dabab (map below). 

Prettylicious Ladies Center might be the answer to our beauty and fitness problems. It's a one-stop place that offers beauty and spa services and fitness packages. It has a gym and also a place for aerobics classes. Granted that it's not as big and grand as most of the fitness centers in Riyadh, they're certainly more affordable! Also, with the smaller number of members, you'll feel right at home! All of their beauticians and fitness instructor are Filipinas too. 

The gym area

Prettylicious Salon has been in business for years. It's not exactly new and their space shows that but it does what it says it offers: good hair services and a fitness and aerobics center that can help you lose weight or tone your bodies. It's pretty much a straightforward and simple salon. A lounge welcomes guests while the rooms inside are divided into the aerobics room, the gym, the sauna/jacuzzi area, and the salon. 

Get your fit on!

I can totally hear the treadmills calling me.

The gym area is not too wide but it doesn't get too crowded so it's still conducive for your fitness regimen. You can use the exercise machines anytime you want if you're enrolled in their gym membership program.

The aerobics room 

Mirror mirror on the wall as walls.

You can use some balls! Haha!

The aerobics area is clean and has enough room for a fun and engaging class. They usually conduct two aerobics classes per day. Lockers are available for members too. Prettylicious offers a different membership for aerobics alone but you can combine both in their mixed membership package (rates, promos, and types below).

Time for some jacuzzi

The sauna

You can also relax in their sauna and jacuzzi. Pamper me time! Mix enrollees can avail of the jacuzzi and sauna twice a week for free! ;)

The salon area

Prettylicious Salon offers a lot of hair services like cuts, coloring, blow drying, and rebonding. The prices depend on the hair length. They also do hair styles and makeup for your special occasions. There's also a room for your waxing needs. Their spa list includes the usual mani and pedi and foot massage.

I had my hair trimmed when I visited and I must say that Edina, one of their hair stylists, did a good job. And she went beyond the call of duty when she blow dried by hair really, really well! When I stepped out of the salon, I felt like going to a party pronto because my curls were so perfectly in place. But then, I have no party to attend to that night. Hahaha! 

Prettylicious comes up with promos monthly. And look at their December promo! Sulit!

Sometimes, you create beauty with a good ladies center! ;) ~ Sundrenched

Prettylicious Ladies Center

Ground Floor, Building No. 7

ISKAN Almaather Building, Dabab Street

T: +966-11-466-0423

Opening times:

10AM to 10PM from Saturday to Thursday

1PM to 10PM on Fridays

Website: https://prettyliciousladiescenter.shutterfly.com

Map:

Pink always marks the spot.

Directions: 

If you're coming from King Fahd Road, take the roundabout (aka Cairo Square) to go to Khurais Road. Once you reach the intersection of King Fahd Medical City, turn right in Dabab Street and go straight. Stay on the right side (don't take the underpass). You'll find the Iskan housing on your right. Find number 7 and turn right towards the parking area. You'll find Prettylicious in your right. (It's always right huh! Hehe!)

The cluster of similar building is the ISKAN Housing aka Kuwaiti housing

Price List for Salon Services:

What would you like madame? ;)

Here's a Heads Up!

We've been hearing about Heads Up Salon for quite some time now so I decided to visit them one Thursday morning months ago for some nail pampering and eyebrow threading. The violet and white scheme of the salon is already evident in their signage outside. So it wasn't a surprise for me to see the violet interiors when I entered. I was greeted warmly by the staff, who were still getting ready when I arrived. Talk about being such an early bird. Excited ateh?!

The reception area, with outdated magazines to read

The waiting area

I think it's the massage chair that I loved the most in my experience with Heads Up. Haha. While sitting pretty and my nails being groomed by the efficient nail technician, I can feel the chair automatically kneading and massaging my back. It provided additional comfort and relief for my tired, stressed body. This is such a wonderful free service that I forgot I was there for a manicure and foot spa. 

The lovely massage chairs, haaaay...

My nail technician was gentle with my nails and cuticles. The foot spa entailed the usual foot soak, scrub and a little bit massage plus nail grooming. The soak and scrub were nothing special; you can even do it at the comfort of your homes. The foot spa was a little bit bitin, as most foot spas are. I mean, who can get enough of such a good thing? If it's possible, I would spend a day in a spa having my whole body subjected to all kinds of pampering. Wouldn't you? 

Heads Up Salon is where I get my eyebrow threading too. The ate who does this is very skilled with the thread. It's pretty much painless compared to other salons I've been in. She does the job fast and she listens to me when I say I don't want my eyebrows to be too thin. For SR30, I say it's worth it. 

The eyebrow and facial wax area | Various products

A friend was brave enough to try the Brazilian Wax in Heads Up. I cringe at the thought of this procedure because I cannot imagine the pain but she said it didn't hurt as much as she expected it to be but it does hurt. I actually tagged along weeks ago when she did her second Brazilian to hear her scream . This time, she wasn't that pleased with the wax used. It hurt and her attendant was a little bit less energetic and attentive but still trying her best.

The hair salon

What hair style will you be having today?

I'm sure you're dying to hear how my hair cut in Heads Up went. Unfortunately, I haven't been there for a haircut. You might be wondering why would I feature Heads Up without trying their hair cut first. That's like going to KFC without ordering their chicken. (Kung maka-relate sa food pa talaga?!) Well, their lone hair cutter was having her day-off so maybe next time. Have you had your hair cut in Heads Up Salon? Give us your feedback in our comment section, please. :)

The violet interiors

Heads Up offers hair coloring, hair treatments, nail designs, waxing, sugaring (halawa), bleaching, facials, massage, and make-up. Their prices are pretty much affordable when it comes to the standard fees of salons here in Saudi Arabia. Foot spa is SR120 while plain manicure is SR60. A haircut is SR50 to SR60 while hair color is SR200 up depending on the hair length.

Book an appointment by calling their number below so you won't have to wait that long in case the salon is busy or the personnel are on leave. Most of the staff are Filipinos.

It also amuses us when we enter a salon and they pretty much has a solid color theme. I was telling the fellow tarhas that when we open our own salon, it wouldn't be hard to guess what our chosen color is if that comes into fruition. ;) ~ Sundrenched

Heads Up Salon
Near RKH/Military Hospital and Al-Rajhi Supermarket
Suleimania, Riyadh
T: +966-1-476-1484

Fab Four

*** This entry is written by our friend and contributor, Jamila, and Sundrenched. 

You know what they say about nails? "You can tell a lot from a person's nails. When a life starts to unravel, they're among the first to go." So don't let others see your nails in such a desperate state. Invigorate them in Four Nail Spa and Salon! 

The new nail salon found in the center of one of the newly-renovated amenities center in King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre has an inviting interior, though small, that makes you want to hang out and stay all day. Even though they offer facials and hair treatments, we like the idea of a place that focuses on nails. It sets Four, simply named after the owners' favorite number, apart from other salons. Four Nail Spa and Salon is indeed a little sanctuary in this hectic city. 

Shabby chic interiors

This spot is for you.

Four Nail Spa and Salon has a signature manicure/pedicure that costs SR110 and SR140 respectively. We tried both one afternoon and found them engaging and delightful. We were asked to dip our hand and feet in water with rock salts. 

The basin where thou feet are washed.

Rock salts to soften the skin.

They use Green Bar, Inc. products in their services. Both the manicure and pedicure started with an application of Green Bar's Flower Polish that acts as a cuticle remover using botanical oils such as organic castor and lemongrass. Loved the flowery, herbal scent! It was something new as we're used to using the pink liquid cuticle remover at home and in other salons.

Q&A Portion 7

Miss our question and answer portion? We've received questions over the weekend and two today that prompted us to publish our 7th compilation. Here yah go!

1. As a single female in Saudi with an iqama, if I want to fly to Riyadh, do I need to book transportation in advance? Will they let me out of the airport alone? Could you recommend a taxi driver? Great blog by the way.

Eyecandy traveled from Riyadh to Jeddah via Saudi Airlines before for a business trip and she did not have any problems so we're guessing you're allowed to do so. Only married women without their guardians (husbands) are probably questioned but if you're single and your iqama is that of an employee (not a dependent), then you're allowed to enter other KSA provinces and there's no interrogation counter in the airport to ask you. You will, however, go through a local customs stall for stuff you need to declare. There's a taxi service in the airport and you can just approach the concierge for your transpo needs. We also know of Hala, the taxi service used mostly by hospital employees but can also be used by visitors (or anyone in Riyadh). You can call them in advance at (01)442-7244. Thank you very much for reading our blog and we hope you enjoy your stay in Riyadh!

2. Hi! Mabrook! I love your blog. Keep it up! Anyway, I just want to ask you if you can suggest any affordable and nice flower shops in Riyadh. Thanks.

There are a lot of flower shops in Riyadh and most of them are found near hospitals (i.e. Military Hospital in Abu Bakr Ar Razi Street). A single long-stemmed rose from these flower shops go for SR5 each. A nice bouquet is SR50 and above. For imported and first class flowers, there's Gardenia (01-2166886). We happen to pass by the store in one of our forrays into Tahalia Street, the busiest, most popular cafe street in Riyadh. We got curious and went inside. The shop sells elegant black roses which go for SR60 a piece! (You also need to buy them in bulk.) The roses are so expensive but you get what you pay for. The roses are beautiful and exquisite. They also have tulips from Holland. For flower arrangements for events, try Unique Brothers (01-8101631). Thank you for reading our blog!

3. I am searching for Olay Regenerist Microdermabrasion Kit. Can you help me where to purchase it. I'm from Al-Kharj. Thanks.

We've seen a lot of Olay products in groceries and hypermarkets in Riyadh, particularly in Hyper Panda. There are also some in the nearby bakala (stores). But we haven't seen the Olay Regenerist Microdermabrasion Kit anywhere. Or maybe, we were not also looking hard enough because no one among us uses it. We also looked at the Olay Arabia site and the kit is not available there. To be sure, you may want to contact Olay Saudi Arabia's consumer service at 800-244-0039 or +966-2-657-4751 (Jeddah). Good luck! When we happen to not find in the Kingdom the beauty products or tools that work best on our skin, we ask friends who are going home to the Philippines to buy them for us and take the products with them back to Riyadh or... we just buy them in Ebay. Lol. Please keep reading our blog! :)

4. Hey, I love your blog. Do you know any tattoo artists in Riyadh? Good ones?

Hi there, thanks for liking our blog. Nope, sorry. We do not know of any tattoo artists in Riyadh. And we are not sure if tattoos are even permitted here. Most people who have them usually hide their tattoos because tattoos are frowned upon in this side of the world.

5. Hi Pink Tarha, I just moved to KSA from the land Down Under, Australia. I would like to get my acrylic nails done. Can you tell me where in Riyadh I can get this. Cheers! - Denise

Hi Denise! Hmn, we are not aware of any acrylic nails services but some beauty salons might offer them. Call Yibreen (01-4411115), Lavania (01-4429966), or Elle et Vous (01-2932002) beauty salons and ask if they offer this service. For nail products, visit Nazih Trading Co. along Olaya Road. It's beside Centria Mall and Habitat furniture store. They offer O.P.I nail polishes, hand and nail care sets, and beauty salon products like scrubs and facials.

6. Hello. I am staying in Jubail now. I am an Indian and looking for Indian beauty parlors in Jubail. Can you please help me out in this matter?

Hi, we really wish we can but the Pink Tarha ladies are living in Riyadh. We haven't been to Jubail (but we'd love to visit this industrial city soon). We'll be able to help if you're in Riyadh but since you're not, we can't vouch for any beauty salons there.To our readers in Jubail (if ever we have one), please recommend beauty salons you go to.

So that's it for our seventh installment of Q&As. We also answer questions from our readers in Facebook. Head on over to FB and like our The Pink Tarha page. Pretty please? Thank you very much! :)