If there’s one thing I love using my blog for, it’s championing small businesses and start-ups and letting you lovely lot know about them – especially when that entrepreneurial energy lands on my suburban doorstep.

Remember Dot & Dol – the super-cool, Surrey-based travelling vintage clothing company? Or the artisan & ethical treats from Dilli Grey? (now the proud owner of a beautiful boutique in Barnes).

Well, Epsom folk and Surrey dwellers, there’s a newbie in town.

Say ‘Hi’ to Zaku Studios.

I frickin’ love all things beauty, be they microblading treatments, a manicure or just the sassy power of a great red lipstick.

And it’s got nothing to do with being shallow or worshipping at the vanity altar. It’s about confidence building, self-love and feeling good.

I’m equally comfortable walking around without a smidge of slap as I am wearing a full face. Yes my teeth could be straighter and I have pigmentation on my lips – due to the smoking years – but none of this governs my life and if anything, it’s the element of experimentation that is the real pull.

THE LAUNCH PARTY

I went along to Zaku’s official opening a couple of weeks ago.

There was a ribbon cutting ceremony (Katie Price did the honours and has since been in the studio for treatments) along with an official welcome speech by the Epsom & Ewell Mayor.

As the cocktails flowed and the canapes came round, mum-of-three, Shanice Zakuani, founder of Zaku said: “After moving to the Epsom area three years ago from East London, I began to notice that it was a real faff to have to keep going into town for professional beauty treatments like lash extensions and dermaplaning.”

She’s not wrong. The majority of my brow, lash and skin treatments have all meant a Travel Card into London – fine if I’m working there but a massive inconvenience if you’re not, innit!?

THE STUDIO

And while the full range of Zaku cosmetics are already stocked online having a bricks and mortar business is a total game changer.

The actual studio is located in the heart of Epsom and is bathed full of natural daylight. 

For me, it actually feels like being in a daylight studio where I’d work as a stylist on a photoshoot – which I think adds to the  buzz and creative energy of the space.

TREATMENTS

I recently had a complimentary full set of lash extension applied for a family occassion and here are the results.

Not heavy, not irritable and easy after-care. Just over a week since having them in, less than 10 have fallen out and they are still going on strong.

If you’ve not had lash extensions before, it involves applying approximately 60-100 lashes individually – so as you can imagine, it takes a while.

Allow for a couple of hours but I find that it’s the perfect opportunity to catch up on sleep – for the entire treatment you have your eyes closed – and don’t forget to request a blanket, too! 

And finally, you know how precious I am about my brows and their shape, right? While I’ve yet to try the microblading at Zaku (yet!) I’m regularly going in for threading tidy-ups.

Pop in and see the Zaku team yourself, they have 20% off all treatments until the end of May and look out for promotions in the run up to Derby Day, too. You can download their price list, here.

If you fancy a make-up masterclass Zaku are hosting a brilliant event on the 7th July. Get your tickets, here. Early Bird tickets are limited and are £100 using the code SKILL at checkout.

Watch this space for more beauty in the ‘burbs updates.

Thanks for reading and remember, let support independent, local businesses wherever we can.