My initial thought when I first heard of “threading” (and saw it in the middle of the mall) was: what. is. this. sorcery? Being of Italian descent, I have been getting waxed since high school and truly do not feel my face is looking its best unless my brows are in pristine condition. I never thought I would give threading a try until I moved to Philly and heard of this fun little salon . . .
Anjuthreads (1126 Walnut Street) is a threading salon that opened in 2008. The team moved to their gorgeous (and spotless) Walnut Street location in 2010 and have been threading away ever since! The salon offers several services, for both men and women, but their standard eyebrow threading price is $13. Anju and her team invited me in to try some of their services and I was excited/nervous to finally give threading a try!
Threading is different from other hair removal techniques, mainly because it is safer. Unlike waxing, it is very natural and does not damage the skin, and, unlike tweezing, threading can create perfectly arched lines in a few minutes. The threader removes the hairs by trapping them in the thread and pulling them out from the root. If this sounds scary, don’t worry, I have some tips to make your first time simple. Many people also opt for Laser Hair Removal Treatment that removes the required hair follicles permanently. After going through a laser removal, the person may not need to go for threading sessions ever.
To start: Just like any hair removal, the first time will hurt. My eyes were watering, big time. While the Anjuthreads studio is a beautiful and serene space, threading is not meant to be a relaxing process. Men: do you see the things we do for you? Take a deep breath & know it will get easier over time, just like waxing has become for me (but not tweezing – tweezing never, ever gets any less painful).
If you have sensitive skin, I would recommend not wearing make-up on your trip to the salon. My make-up was all over the place after the threading (think of all that thread rolling over your skin!) and I did slightly break out afterwards. Anju told me this is not common at all (Story of my life: I am constantly the exception to the rule.), but for someone with skin concerns like me, it’s best to let your threader know so they can suggest a stronger toner afterwards. Speaking of, make sure to take advantage of the toner bar – they have some great products!
When a hair is poking through the skin, the thread can grab it. So if you absolutely hate the thought of plucking out all of those baby hairs one by one, Anju & her team can pull them right out in about 5 minutes. Threading lasts two weeks to one month, depending on the client. 
In addition to the great treatments and beautiful salon space, I really enjoyed meeting Anju and her team. They are all very talented, and Anju is a true small business owner. I was really excited to learn more about why she started her salon and the things she loves about Philadelphia. Stop by Anjuthreads & support a local business – and let me know what you think!
Disclosure: I was provided free threading from Anjuthreads. All opinions are my own.
