You have been in the brow industry more than two decades – can you tell me what inspired you to set up the business?
For as long as I can remember, faces have enthralled me – eyes/brows in particular. I graduated as an internationally qualified beauty therapist at a very young age, encompassing all aspects of beauty services however brows were my passion. When I opened my first salon the bulk of my client roster was brow-focused and it quickly became my specialty. When I relocated to Sydney I wanted to continue that niche and saw there was a clear gap (and demand) in the marketplace for a brow-only service based offering. It was risky…but it worked and worked quickly.
Brows have become huge business over the past five years – how have you seen the industry change?
There are a LOT of people offering what they claim to be specialist brow services. That’s a broad stroke. Many are not qualified therapists and have no real technical knowledge of the skin, how it functions, contraindications and so on. This inevitably is a problem in itself, particularly when you’re introducing permanent and semi-permanent services which involves skin penetration. Unfortunately around 65% of new clients to our Woollahra Atelier are clients who present with work they’ve had done elsewhere that we need to fix and often the overall line, colour, shape, breadth, pitch and depth are so wrong it’s not
fully repairable.
What sets you apart from other brow artists?
That’s a matter of opinion but I’d say overall it’s that we are in the business of over servicing our clients. We don’t rush the process. For semi permanent brows we insist on 3, sometimes even 4 visits to perfect the work and ensure there is real dimension and a natural-looking end result. We’ve substantial natural light to work with and a huge client lounge with extensive open bar, nibbles and an array of globally sourced retail that WORKS. I’m not the most patient person, so for me products have to really do what they say they’ll do. Our clients know they can rely on our recommendations. Aside of this I refuse to trim brows. Trimmed brows look like trimmed brows. We use a snap and tear method that frays the tip of the hair which shortens it as desired yet keeps the tip soft instead of blunt. We de-bulk within the brow to create continuity within the line which actually results in the brow looking thicker not thinner. Our colours are customised, whether it’s lash tint, henna, brow colour or semi permanent pigments. Our team are perfectionists and at the very top of their game. We started touring nationally then globally over 18yrs ago and yes we are the most expensive brow brand on the planet and are a prepaid offering however our client loyalty and organic growth speaks for itself.
What is it you love most about the brow industry?
It’s ever evolving. I love that I still love what I do and am fortunate to be surrounded with a like-minded team.
Where do you find your inspiration?
Definitely travel. I always return from each trip with fresh ideas or a shifted perspective.
You have been the brow guru behind some famous celebrity brows – any memorable moments to share?
Too many to mention…some good, some bad, some fabulous. Will share a couple with you over a cocktail.
You travel the world sharing your brow/lash knowledge how does Australia differ in technique from others around the world?
I feel Australia takes a lot of its lead from the US and certainly instagram. I’ve always felt there is an equation with getting brows just right and we use a specific face read technique that never fails. Trends come and go and for brows these are largely colour- based and thickness.
Are there any trends that you see as a standout?
I feel now we are far more educated about the fact brows don’t necessarily grow back so if you opt to go thin you may be stuck with it or seeking our semi permanent solutions later on. Definitely thicker, softer brows are current. Heavily filled or blocky brows are out.
You are known for your amazing personalisation technique – how important is this? It’s crucial. Our face read is done the moment a client lands on the bed. We key question open-ended so there are no yes or no answers because we are looking at HOW you use your face. Balance is everything just as at home maintenance habits need to be factored. No point creating an extremely polished brow if the client has poor eye sight and doesn’t own a pair of tweezers. Our technique is not reliant on trend. It ensures the best brow for that individual and we can play with colour from there.
You salon in Sydney is stunning – tell us the inspiration behind this?
My style is actually pretty eclectic. Everyone thinks my home will be very feminine but nothing could be further from the truth. It’s concrete and glass with a huge rock face rear and grotto swimming pool at the base of it. It’s mid-century with industrial and Asian pieces throughout. The Atelier is an incredible floor plate. It was essentially a concrete warehouse when we took it on. I wanted it to remain fairly open and allow all the natural light in. The reception desk is recycled rail timber. The retail wall is industrial wrought iron and planks, yet the entrance is a musk pink ribbed European wallpaper with custom Italian brass pin-light fitting. The external signage is all custom brushed brass as are the huge door handles. I sourced a volcanic boulder from the US and had it shipped over as the coffee table in my brow space then had it lightly dusted in gold leaf. The storage cabinets are black timber and rattan and are actually more Asian in influence. I had sheer silk curtains made to allow the light in, add some softness and still provide privacy and found these oddly beautiful hand blown green glass bauble tie-backs that you either love or hate. The bathroom is my absolute favourite space in the Atelier. I used Norweigan rose marble floor to ceiling and commissioned the drain cover plate to look like brass melting. The basin is an entire rose onyx boulder and the light fitting is a beautiful Italian solid hand blown glass ball with minuscule bubbles suspended inside. We produce a limited edition candle every year – this year it’s oversized hand blown tortoise vessels which we burn daily and also have the blend piped through the space in a special scent system. It’s a lot to take in yet it all seems to work.
The actual experience of having brows and lashes done at Sharon Lee makes it such a memorable booking from the gold peel to the champagne – how important is that to create a special client experience?
It’s everything. Ambience, scent of the space, the music….every part of it matters and provides a result. It’s important to me that the offering is all inclusive. We don’t charge to add in your lash tint or brow colour. It’s included. Most new clients don’t realise their brow booking comes with the light glycolic under eye buff, collagen mask, custom colour lash tint, hand massage and heated paraffin mitts.
The lash uplift is incredible and really makes a difference to the face – tell us how you developed this?
We didn’t develop it. We did however research and trial many on the market before settling on the brand we use. It provides a great result and by far is the better alternative to lash extensions. Saves time, money and the health of your natural lashes.
You use Elleebana products in this – what sets this product apart from others?
I have a long history with the founders of Elleebana and the fact they are Australian is a bonus but the product itself we find superior to what else is on the market.
How high is the demand for lash uplift? Do you find clients like to combine
both experiences of brows and lashes?
More than 85% of our clients book Lash Lifts alongside their Brow Wow booking.
What is your favourite treatment at Sharon Lee (aside from the champagne and lolly jar of course!)
Nano Ombré Eyeliner! It’s the BOMB! Lasts up to 3yrs. Basically you look like you’ve around 6 times more lashes and a blur of colour in amongst them. It’s just beautiful. I couldn’t recommend it more highly. Just 2 sessions that are less than 45mins each.
What is one of the biggest lessons you have learnt as a beauty entrepreneur?
Trust your gut instinct and never stop taking risks.
If you weren’t in the beauty business what would we find you doing?
Who knows! I love interior design and am a true foodie. When I travel I have the restaurants booked before the flights. AMEX Centurian have to be sick of me calling Concierge to book table after table. At home I live in the kitchen and tend to have an open door to friends, my team, extended family and my sons plethora of mates so the kitchen is always open.
This article first appeared in the November/December issue of Professional Beauty magazine. Download the issue here.
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