Staff feature- Makeup/lash artist: Mika McInnes | Prép Beauty Parlour

By | Prép Beauty Parlour, Technicians

Hey babes! We have a brand new feature on our Prép Beauty Parlour blog… staff features! Our first feature will be for our amazing boss lady, and the director of beauty: Mika!

Mika, the owner of Prép Beauty Parlour, began her journey in the beauty industry in 2001 when she attended Blanche MacDonald for their makeup program and returned in 2005 to complete the aesthetics program.

Before Prép Beauty Parlour, Mika worked in a salon (which she actually got fired from…). One of her very first jobs was working for a Vancouver fishery, where her role was to get salmon and take out their eggs. Needless to say, she has accomplished so much, and gained so much success since 2005.

Eventually, Mika decided she wanted a change so she decided to move to Vancouver, from Port Coquitlam, and began working in a real estate office as the front desk manager. This real estate office is where she met Jay, her husband and business partner. “I met him on the first day… fell in love with him immediately and thought- I’m going to marry this man… had I not been fired, I wouldn’t have met Jay and I wouldn’t have the life I have now.” 

“Once we got together, he pushed me to do what I loved and helped me 100% open up the first Prép Beauty Parlour that was located at Hornby and Nelson, in beautiful downtown Vancouver.”

In 2010, The Studio by Mika Does Makeup (soon to be known as Prép Beauty Parlour) first opened its doors. At the time, Mika began The Studio with only two employees. Flash forward to nine years later, she currently employees over twenty staff, and private contractors. 

Not only is Mika is the owner/director of Prép Beauty Parlour in Downtown Vancouver and an extremely talented makeup artist… starting in in 2017, she started specializing in Yumi Lash Lifts and does up to 5 lash lifts per day.

“I love making people feel good about themselves and giving them confidence. Doing Yumi Lash lifts comes naturally to me and I can do it in my sleep… same goes for makeup.”

“I am so proud of the staff that we have had over the years (past and current.) I have met so many wonderful people over the past nine years… I love creating a work place for young ladies where they are free to be themselves and can be creative while at work, and essentially be their own boss.”

From grad makeup, bridal makeup to Yumi lash lifts, Mika is the best at what she does. 

Check out a couple makeup looks that Mika has done at Prép Beauty Parlour throughout the years…

Vancouver's Best Prép Beauty ParlourProject You Bachelorette Spa Vancouver Party | Prép Beauty Parlour

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Behind the scenes..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And of course! Check out some Yumi Lash Lift and Tint’s done at Prép Beauty Parlour by Mika

Best Vancouver Yumi Lash Lift | Prép Beauty Parlour 3Best Vancouver Yumi Lash Lift | Prép Beauty Parlour 3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


♡ Prép Beauty Parlour is located at 1305 Burrard Street in beautiful downtown Vancouver, British Columbia. We specialize in nails, eyelash extensions, waxing, event/bridal hair & makeup. We’d love to hear from you! Email inquiries to info@prepbeautyparlour.com. Call us at 604-764-6452. Check out our 5 Star Yelp page here ♡ If you would like to book a makeup session, or a Yumi Lash Lift and Tint with Mika, let us know when you give us a call and we will make sure that you are in with her 

Don’t forget to follow and like our Instagram and Facebook pages! https://www.facebook.com/prepbeautyparlour

Ready to book your next appointment with us? Click here!

Before Your First Set of Eyelash Extensions | Prép Beauty Parlour

By | Bella Lash, Eyelash Extensions, Eyelashes, Lash Care, Prép Beauty Parlour, Technicians

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As the trend for eyelash extensions continue to soar high, with women of all styles becoming addicted to the, we often get tons of questions on the types and styles of lash extensions! Today we’ll be taking you on a journey step by step to ensure you learn everything there is to learn about eyelash extensions before your first appointment here at Prép! From the glues to the setting periods. We will discuss more on sizes, length and curls next week!  Let’s begin!

Lash Extensions at Prép Beauty Parlour

Lash Extensions at Prép Beauty Parlour

First, we are going to talk about learning to know what is a good set and what is not! For lots of lash newbies, they often go to a salon where their set may appear flawless, but in reality is not! After several days, the client may feel discomfort or multiple lashes (including our own baby lashes- yikes!!), may  begin to fall out. Now listen up ladies! Take note:

Lash Extensions at Prép Beauty Parlour

Lash Extensions at Prép Beauty Parlour

Lash Extensions at Prép Beauty Parlour

Lash Extensions at Prép Beauty Parlour

A proper set of eyelash extensions should feel weightless, painless, and should last 2-3+ weeks depending on your own lash cycle, weather, and any facial products you use. Our certified Prép technicians carefully apply a synthetic eyelash to each one of your natural eyelash using the perfect amount of glue. This being said, the glue should not affect the lashes and make them look clumpy, and should not be seen on your eyelid at all! If a technician applies too much glue, the client will begin to feel discomfort within a few days when her own lashes are growing but they are all stuck together!! Tangled with the extensions AND natural lashes! At Prép we only use individual lashes since cluster lashes will be a definite problem! This is a big NO-NO! If you are worry about the glue going into your eye, this should not be a problem at all as your eyes would be closed and there will be a gel pad under your eye!

Lash Extensions at Prép Beauty Parlour

Lash Extensions at Prép Beauty Parlour

As there are many clients with sensitive eyes or skin, we do recommend you call our salon at 604-764-6452 before your visit to book an allergy test on a separate occasion! We carry several different glues that may cater better to you!

Lash Extensions at Prép Beauty Parlour

Lash Extensions at Prép Beauty Parlour

Spring and Summer holiday seasons are coming up! What better way than to wake up without a care in the world and looking flawless with long and luscious lashes? Although eyelash extensions are fabulous for day time activities, we frequently have our inboxes flooding up with concerns swimmers and ocean dwellers on whether or not it is safe to wear eyelash extensions during this time. Our answer? A definite yes! We love having our extensions in during our Hawaii and Caribbean get aways! But it is SUPER important to clean them as soon as you exit the majestic waters looking like a mermaid! As the sea water may cause build up and be abrasive and break down the glue.

Lash Extensions at Prép Beauty Parlour

Lash Extensions at Prép Beauty Parlour

Before coming in for your eyelash extensions appointment, we recommend you shower and wash your hair and do any face masks regimes before. Since there is a teeny weeny period after getting your lashes, in which you are strongly recommended not to allow any contact with water. In order for the glue to fully cure, water cannot touch the lashes for 24-48 hours. If you do accidentally get water near your eyes within this time frame, the lashes will fall out much faster and you may feel a stinging sensation similar to the one you felt upon getting your lashes. We advise for you to give us a call as soon as possible to make sure your lashes look flawless again!

Read more about getting lash extensions next week here!

Prép Beauty Parlour is located at 1054 Hornby Street in beautiful downtown Vancouver, British Columbia. We specialize in nails, eyelash extensions, waxing, massages, facials, event/bridal hair & makeup. We’d love to hear from you! Email inquiries to info@prepbeautyparlour.com. Call us at 604-764-6452. Check out our 5 Star Yelp page here! Don’t forget to follow and like our Instagram and Facebook pages! https://www.facebook.com/prepbeautyparlour

Food for LASHES | Prép Beauty Parlour

By | Eyelash Extensions, Eyelashes, Lash Care, Nails, Prép Beauty Parlour, Technicians
Lashes by Alisha

Lashes by Alisha

As all ladies should know,

Proper consumption of healthy foods and a maintained diet is essential for naturally glowy skin and keeping our luscious locks well- luscious! But what many ladies don’t know, is that similarly to foods that affect our hair growth, the foods we eat also have an effect on our lashes! We at Prép are absolutely infatuated with our eyelash extensions, but this should not and definitely does not mean we have to neglect our natural lashes! Through some research, we have found a list of foods that will improve your lash cycles and growth! Here is a little break down on each of the important food groups that can rejuvenate and increase longevity as well as appearance of our hair, skin, and LASHES!

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lashes by shannon

Disclaimer: Please consult a qualified health professional regarding health conditions or concerns and before ingesting the suggested foods noted below. The following information should be considered as our perspective through our own bodies and experiences and should not be construed as guarantee.

First, the VITAMINS! There are many compounds in our body that are vital for us to operate, and although our bodies are capable of producing many vitamins, there are also ones that we produce less of and thus can make up for it through the intake of vitamins! Here are the following vitamins and their uses on producing and constructing gorgeous lashes and skin:

  • Vitamin E- Vitamin E is essential as an antioxidant whose role is to repair as well as build tissue. It encourages hair and lash growth by repairing follicles and reducing any inflammation. Vitamin E is also found in many sun screens, anti-aging and lotions for dry skin products as it aids your skin in protecting and retaining it’s natural oils.

Foods high in Vitamin E include: Olive oil (Excellent hair masks!), Kale, Almonds

  • Vitamin C- Our bodies form collagen with the help of Vitamin C. Collagen is used in many cosmetic procedures and products as it is the main protein located in skin and tissue. It plays a role in strength and elasticity of your skin as well as lashes.
  • Foods high in Vitamin C include: Citrus fruits, Broccoli, Bell Peppers

 

  • Vitamin B- Vitamins play a vital role in maintaining metabolism. Essentially, Vitamin B is the “oil” that keeps our bodies running smoothly. Aside from metabolism regulation, Vitamin B is also found to strengthen and condition lashes during each cycle and hair.
  • Foods high in Vitamin B include: Fish, Meat, Poultry, as well as some fortified cereals.

 

  • Vitamin H (Biotin)- Popular in many beauty supplements, biotin is often used to encourage growth of hair and nails. As the building blocks of carbohydrates, fats and protein (amino acids), it is a vital vitamin help strengthen nails and hair
  • Foods high in Vitamin H include: Bread, Pork, Peanuts
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nails by kiyomi

 

Protein builds muscle, but having big triceps and quads won’t help with our lash and skin health! So why is this important? Well a special kind of protein is known as keratin. Not only does it protect our epithelial cells from stress, it is also the key component that makes up hair and skin! Keratin is often infused in many hair products to help strengthen and coat the hair. Similarly, keratin can be used to build and nourish stronger lashes!

  • Foods that contain protein include: Steak, Eggs, Whey Protein
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lashes by alisha

As weird as it may sound, if you often find yourself with little hair loss situations, iron deficiency may be the culprit! When you don’t have enough iron in your body, your body will go in to it’s most basic functions mode. Meaning keeping your luscious locks might not be as important as other vital organ functions! Low iron levels mean hair loss which ultimately mean lash lost too!

  • Foods that contain iron include Spinach, Beans, and Peas.
nails by kiyomi

nails by kiyomi

Lastly, calcium! Calcium is another essential food that every beauty queen should be eating! OK! So maybe ice cream might not be too bad if it helps…right? Although calcium is not the sole secret ingredient to hair growth, it does make an impact on your hair ( and lashes!) if there is an imbalance. Aside found in teeth and bones, calcium is also found in hair follicles. Balanced calcium level means healthier follicles, which translate to healthier lashes and hair!

  • Foods that contain calcium include Milk, Yogourt, Cheese, Ice Cream (!!!!!!!)

Got any more questions or comments? Be sure to leave them all below! Happy eating ladies!

 

Prép Beauty Parlour is located at 1054 Hornby Street in beautiful downtown Vancouver, British Columbia. We specialize in nails, eyelash extensions, waxing, massages, facials, event/bridal hair & makeup. We’d love to hear from you! Email inquiries to info@prepbeautyparlour.com. Call us at 604-764-6452. Check out our 5 Star Yelp page here! Don’t forget to follow and like our Instagram and Facebook pages! https://www.facebook.com/prepbeautyparlour

Host Your Bachelorette Party Downtown Vancouver! | Prép Beauty Parlour

By | Event, Eyelash Extensions, Eyelashes, Makeup, Nails, Prép Beauty Parlour, Technicians, Weddings
Russian Volume Kei

Russian Volume Kei

Ladies!

That special day is coming up! And as we all know, there’s no special day without the special ladies’ bachelorette night! We at Prép understand that planning the exclusive night can be majorly stressful for the maid of honour! WARNING! NOT GOOD! ABORT!

With that said, have you wanted to host an exclusive get away with the girls without having to leave the city? Or maybe you’re tired of all those ‘special’ nights out with the girls? And maybe all you and the girls want is a relaxing, exclusive spa day followed by activities brought in by the night? Then Prép Beauty Parlour in Downtown Vancouver has the PERFECT solution for you!

Prép Beauty Parlour is now happy to offer a relaxing space for all of you and your girlfriends! With our salon located in the middle of Downtown, Vancouver, there’s no hassle to book for spa days outside the city! Making sure you have extra time to plan for that special day, and one less thing to worry about! You and your girlfriends can come in and enjoy many of our salon services including gel manicures (read about EXTENSIONS here!!) , pedicures, eyelash extensions (Curious to know what these are? Click here and here to find out!)), and even make- up to PREP you lovely ladies for an incredible night out!

Lashes by Alisha

Lashes by Alisha

Nails- ON FLEEK! Lashes- ON FLEEK! What else are we missing? Hair and make-up! With the help of our beloved friends from Mac, Tom Ford, YSL, you know it!-  We can finish off this perfect Bachelorette’s package!

With our many talented artists at Prép, we offer hair and make-up service! Helping you and your besties a night to remember! Not sure on make-up ideas or looks? Don’t worry, we got you covered, so the only life-changing decisions you have to make, are what to wear! Stay tuned…

♥GLAMOROUS EYES♥

The perfect glitter dabbed right on the centre is all the rave on social media and Instagram! A touch of dazzle here, a touch of sparkle there, it’s all eyes on you! This shimmery look is destined to stun everybody! Pair it with the perfect nude and your killer dress and rock the night away!

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♥SEXY POUT♥

Red typically wouldn’t be an everyday colour to wear, but with this event coming up, Prép recommends several bright lip looks! (Especially lovin’ Dior Dolce Vita!) Red lips add a touch of class and glamour that no one can shy away from! Pair it with a smokey eye or a neutral eye, this look is sure to bring out the best in them! Here’s a handy chart of reds for you and your Prép make- up artist to choose from!

Red Lip Look

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♥DRAMATIC LASHES♥

Favouring a more muted nude lip, but still wanting to leave an impression? Don’t worry, with the help of our Russian Volume lash extensions, and our mixed sets, you can achieve that astonishing eye look without being overboard! Lashes are essential to opening up your eyes and ensuring you look glamorous the entire night! Prefer a more natural lash look? All make-up services offered by Prép Beauty Parlour includes a free set of remy strip lash for you and your Prép artist to choose from! We are in love with style ‘Lashlorette’ — now carried exclusively at Prép!

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♥ETHEREAL NEUTRAL♥

Brought into attention by the Kardashians, neutral and glowy make-up is becoming increasingly popular! With the killer eyeliner and more than enough dustings of highlight (You know we can’t help ourselves..! At Prép we are loving Becca’s Opal Highlighter and Mac’s Soft and Gentle!) Together with a gentle smoked crease and yet another rose nude (Charlotte Tilbury Nude Kate and MAC’s Velvet Teddy are some of our favourites! , your natural look is well on it’s way to dazzling even the toughest of crowds!

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YOUNGBLOOD Mineral Cosmetics now at 50% off!

YOUNGBLOOD Mineral Cosmetics now at 50% off!

As our artists are high in demand and are available on a first come first serve basis, to secure bookings, a non refundable deposit of 50% of the total bill is required. All prices do not include tax or gratuity (.15%). Bookings starting before 7am are subject to early morning fees (per artist). Consultations and trials are available, please inquire.

Prép Beauty Parlour is located at 1054 Hornby Street in beautiful downtown Vancouver, British Columbia. We specialize in nails, eyelash extensions, waxing, massages, facials, event/bridal hair & makeup. We’d love to hear from you! Email inquiries to info@prepbeautyparlour.com. Call us at 604-764-6452. Check out our 5 Star Yelp page here! Don’t forget to follow and like our Instagram and Facebook pages! https://www.facebook.com/prepbeautyparlour

Lash Aftercare Kits in Vancouver | Prép Beauty Parlour

By | Bella Lash, Eyelash Extensions, Eyelashes, Lash Care, Prép Beauty Parlour, Technicians

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At Prép, we like to see our Prép Queens out looking as fabulous as they looked while leaving our studio as the wind dramatically blows into they luscious mane and lashes. Eyelash extensions are perfect as they require very minimal upkeep, and do not require additional mascara or eyeliner (For more on lash care, read more here). You take one beauty sleep and wake up with weeks worth of beautiful, effortless, and flawless lashes. We are so in love!

For some of our busy ladies always on the go, it leaves very little time to come in for frequent lash fills and appointments. At Prép we recommend all Prép ladies to have a ‘Lash After Care Kit’ with supplies from Bella Lash Product, to ensure maximum survival of your lovely lashes through all the harsh weathers of Raincouver and fun weekends 😉 !! Don’t have a kit yet? Don’t you worry! Prép is now happy to be a proud retailer of Bella Lash Products, helping all you city- dwellers with longer lasting eyelash extensions! Bella Lash offers many products that will seal, protect, and lengthen the time of your lash life.

Bella Lash Intelliseal

Bella Lash Intelliseal

♡Bella Lash Intelliseal -After each eyelash extension beauty sleep appointment, Prép technicians will apply a coat of Bella Lash Intelliseal as a sealant to protect your newly applied eyelash extensions. The topical sealant is purposely formulated to aid in quicker curing time of the adhesive all while nourishing your natural lashes and further extending the life of the bond of the faux mink lash to your natural lash!

Bella Lash Volume Touch

Bella Lash Volume Touch

Bella Lash Volume Touch Mascara – For the ladies who just can’t bear to part with their super voluptuous mascara or skyline lengthening mascara, Bella Lash also carries mascara formulated for use with eyelash extensions. Voluptuous and lash extension friendly, Volume Touch Mascara is the perfect new addition to your make-up collection! Volume Touch Mascara is completely safe to apply to eyelash extensions and will not damage eyelash extensions if it is applied and/or removed properly (Recommended removal with Bella Lash Deep Cleanser or Bella Lash Cleanser- please read below!). We at Prép understand how crazy our schedules can be! Volume Touch is also ideal for filling in sparse areas of your lashes in between fills- ensuring your lashes are damage free and safe for a fill when you find time to come in for a beauty nap!

Bella Lash Deep Cleanser

Bella Lash Deep Cleanser

♡Bella Lash Deep Cleanser– A deep cleanser perfectly developed to remove makeup and impurities, Bella Lash Deep Cleanser provides a thorough cleanse while still maintaining it’s gentleness on your lash extensions and minimizing any irritations that a regular facial cleanser can cause when used on lash extensions. The deep cleanser contains moisturizers, aloe, cucumber, green tea extracts, vitamins A, D and E, ensuring it leaves your face clean, refreshed, and soothed. It is recommended to be used on eyelash extensions 2-3 times a week.

Bella Lash Lash Cleanser

Bella Lash Lash Cleanser

♡Bella Lash Lash Cleanser with Make- Up Remover- Not interested in cucumber and aloe? We got your back! Bella Lash’ Lash Cleanser w Make- up Remover comes packed with chamomile and saponaria extracts for a clarifying wash! The oil-free formula is developed to remove make- up and build up that may be found on your lash extensions without damaging the lash bond. Gentle and water- based, it is designed to disinfect lashes to ensure healthy lash life!

For any questions or concerns, Prép is happy to give you a consultation on uses and for a product best suited for you! Making sure your lashes look beautiful and stay beautiful!

Prép Beauty Parlour is located at 1054 Hornby Street in beautiful downtown Vancouver, British Columbia. We specialize in nails, eyelash extensions, waxing, massages, facials, event/bridal hair & makeup. We’d love to hear from you! Email inquiries to info@prepbeautyparlour.com. Call us at 604-764-6452. Check out our 5 Star Yelp page here! Don’t forget to follow and like our Instagram and Facebook pages! https://www.facebook.com/prepbeautyparlour