A CUT ABOVE - CHILDREN

A Cut Above Children is an exclusive grooming clinic for children. An extention of A Cut Above, the hair and beauty studio at Savera Hotels, it is a hygienic salon for children. The centre takes care of all the personal needs of children, from cutting nails, oiling and light massage of their hair, haircuts, oil baths to body packs. According to Rathi Nilakantan, one of the Partners of Cut Above, only natural products and ingredients are used to pamper the little ones.

The centre has a play area with lots of toys and a mini library with a graffiti board. They also store up homemade cookies and sweets just in case the little ones get hungry. Busy homemakers and working mothers can just relax and send their kids over. A Cut Above not only gives excellent service in a clean and hygienic environment, but it is also a place where children can have loads of fun. As Rathi puts it, 'grooming will never be the same again'.

For the inaugural function, Rathi and Nina Reddy, the Promoters of A Cut Above, organised a massive carnival with a number of game stalls, a face painting stall, a Potter About stall, food stalls, kids products stall, magicians, lucky dips et al. Children attending the inaugural were thrilled with the child friendly decor of the new parlour. Apart from this kids parlour, Rathi and Nina are also planning to start a Children's club soon with lots of exciting activities for children shortly.

This grooming centre for children is a logical extention of the facilities that A Cut Above has already been offering to its customers for the last three years.

Address: A Cut Above Children, Savera Hotels Limited, # 69, Radhakrishnan Salai, Chennai - 600 004.
Phone: 811 3691 / 811 4700

A CUT ABOVE

Started in 1998, A Cut Above, the hair and beauty studio at Savera Hotels Ltd, offers the entire gamut of beauty treatment available under the sun. Right from skin care, hair care to body care. Appointed by L'Oreal, as one of its prestige salon, 'A Cut Above', also serves as an exclusive outlet for L'Oreal's products. The salon has separate sections for men and women.

The skin care packages offered by the salon include Biotech, Shenaz, Aroma, Gold and Dry fruit facials. According to Rathi Nilakantan, who runs the place, the dry fruit facial is the most popular. It is made of natural products, a combination of almond, walnut, dates, apricots and figs. Rathi mixes all these ingredients herself into a paste, which is used for the facial. For body care, Rathi has on offer body massages using aroma chemicals. The highlight of the packages offered is the 'Cleopatra's Bath'. A special bath, which according to Rathi leaves one feeling totally rejuvenated and fresh. Among the hair care routines offered, the Aloe Vera pack is the most popular. Says Rathi, "the wet, shiny look that you see nowadays, is due to the use of Aloe Vera, which provides complete nourishment for the hair".

Rathi prefers using natural ingredients and mixing them on her own. According to Rathi, "I am more interested in retaining my existing clientele than getting new ones. Because success for me is when people come back and tell me that I haven't found the service you offer anywhere else. They realise that what I offer is good value for money". This is quite obvious, going by the guest book that figures the who's who of Chennai. Admitting that her packages are expensive, and targeted at the higher end. She said, "majority of the women who come to her parlour are in the 30 to 45 age group, we do have quite a few young women and men walking in", apart from her regular list of celebrities and film stars.

Asked about how conscious are men today about grooming and personal care, Rathi said, "You will be surprised... pretty conscious. And unlike women, they do not think twice if they want something. They just go ahead". 'A Cut Above' offers the same treatments that they have for women to their men client. Rathi is very particular that the 'gentlemen' get the same treatment as the 'ladies'. Apart from the quality of ingredients used, Rathi's customers swear by her staff, who are personally trained by Rathi, till they get the hang of the job.

And how conscious are women in Chennai about beauty and personal care? "Not very..." feels Rathi. "Unless or until its a special occasion, people do not bother much about how they look. They are not very particular on an every day basis. Rathi attributes it to cultural reasons, people here are very simple, Unlike in Delhi or Mumbai, where they are really conscious about how they look. "Here if you put on some extra make-up, you tend to stand out in the crowd. Women in Chennai are happy doing a bleach, because of their obsession with fair skin. But awareness or need for hair care is simply not there. Atleast, a pedicure and a facial once a month is a must", feels Rathi.