With its black and white lino floors, exposed beams and 50s decor, Wax Monkey feels like anything but a waxing salon – which is exactly what they are going for.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Owner Jacqui Mortensen has been waxing for almost 15 years and has owned businesses for a decade.
Jacqui and her husband brought a waxing franchise to Canberra, before selling out of the business 18 months ago.
To get together a concept for their new salon, Jacqui worked with local marketing company Chinese Whispers.
"Our main requirement really was that it had to be inviting for both males and females, because we wax a lot of men," she said.
"Most beauty salons are very pretty. But ours is masculine at the same time."
The venue boasts nine waxing rooms and a tanning room, with each named after a 50s pin-up girl.
"Each time you come in, you can request which room you go to, so for example you can request your wax in 'Audrey'," she said.
The environment is fun, but when it comes to waxing, they're all business.
Jacqui takes her job incredibly seriously, and ensures all of her staff are trained up to her own high standards.
While more than one source claims that Jacqui is the most pain-free wax they've ever had, Jacqui herself doesn't for a second claim that waxing is enjoyable.
"We wanted to create something fun, because what we do isn't necessarily the most fun experience," she said.
"So our customers have to walk out not even thinking about the pain from the wax but what was in here and the whole experience."
Find out more about Wax Monkey at waxmonkey.com.au.
Christmas shopping with five star treatment
The countdown is well and truly on until Christmas Day, and the shopping centres around town are stepping up their in-store activities.
Westfield Woden and Westfield Belconnen will both open for extended trading hours from next week, including late night shopping until 9pm on December 19, 22 and 23, plus opening from 8am-5.30pm on Christmas Eve for the last-minute shoppers.
Canberra Centre is taking it even further with a team of snappily-dressed porters who will help shoppers carry their purchases to their cars from December 12.
There is also professional gift wrapping outside Witchery for a gold coin donation with all proceeds going to SIDS and Kids ACT, plus wine tasting from Mount Majura Vineyard next to the gift wrapping station on December 13, 14, 20 and 21 from 11.30am-3.30pm. That should take the edge off.
Brightening up the daylight
In more Christmas news, from this Saturday the Christmas lights display in Civic is going to switch on at midday every day until New Year's Eve.
As well as taking out the Guinness World Record for the largest LED light image display, the lights saw close to 20,000 people through the gates in the opening weekend alone.
But SIDS and Kids ACT public relations manager Lisa Ridgley said they wanted to give absolutely everyone a chance to check out the record-breaking lights.
"We're doing it for families who have tiny people who don't want to be standing in a queue or braving the crowds," she said.
"It actually looks amazing during the day. And especially for little kids, they don't care that it's daylight."
Santa will also visit on Saturday and Sunday from 1-3pm, giving a photo opportunity for kids under the record-breaking lights.
The Telstra Tower will also get in the spirit this weekend and will light up red.
Fighting for a cure for dementia
Theona Combos said she didn't really understand what dementia entailed before her mother was diagnosed, so she can understand why others don't completely grasp the disease.
"Most people think with dementia people just lose their memory, but it's so much more than that," she said.
"It really is such a long, slow goodbye. The person loses their life slowly piece by piece."
Theona's mum Helen Poteris was first diagnosed in 2005, and since then, Theona has travelled between her own home in Canberra and her mother's nursing home in Newcastle to spend precious time with her.
For Theona, the moment that what was happening to her Mum really sunk in occurred one day in the kitchen.
"Mum had always loved cooking, and was very confident in the kitchen," she said.
"One day I put a knife and a pineapple in front of her on the table, and she just stared at them and then looked at me and said, 'what do I do with them'?"
In August this year, Theona accepted a voluntary redundancy from the Australian Federal Police as a chance to spend more time caring for her Mum.
She now uses her photography skills to help support herself and her husband, and has also transformed her work into a range of gifts with the proceeds raised being donated to Neuroscience Research Australia.
"After watching my Mum go through it, I couldn't just sit back and do nothing, seeing how it's destroyed her life and taken everything she loved away from her."
Theona is just at the start of her fundraising journey, having so far donated $222.50, but her goal is to raise a total of $1 million to ensure a cure for Alzheimer's Disease and dementia is found in her lifetime.
"The best thing that people can buy is the calendar, which is $37.50 including postage, because $5 goes directly to the Neuroscience Research Australia."
You can buy Theona's range of gifts at companions23.org.
What's On
THIS WEEKEND: CHRISTMAS @ THE ZOO Celebrate the festive season with the animals at the National Zoo and Aquarium with live music, animal present giving, Santa photos with a critter, kid's activities, animal art for sale, special keeper talks, and presents from Santa. Normal zoo admission ($21.50-$38) applies. Some activities incur extra charges. On December 13 and 14, 10am-4pm. For more information visit nationalzoo.com.au.
NEXT WEEKEND: CAROLS IN THE COURT The High Court will be filled with the voices of Louise Page, Tobias Cole, The Resonants, Vocal Fry, Phillipa Candy plus The Trumpet Club for a special Christmas concert on December 21. 1.30-3.30pm. Free.
