Style & beauty - August 2008

Brow rehab

We spend hundreds of dollars annually on fashion, high-end beauty products, waxing, tanning and cosmetic surgery to look and feel fantastic. But thousands of women everywhere unknowingly neglect one of the most important areas in this never-ending quest for beauty - a well shaped brow.

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Having a badly waxed or wrongly shaped eyebrow can completely change the look of your face. If the eyes are the window to the soul, then your brows must be the very stylish drapes that frame your face.

Thank our lucky fashion stars then for The Brow Bar and the talent and foresight of its founder, Chernae Sillk. At the tender age of 22 (and way ahead of her time), Chernae recognised that there was a need for a specialist beauty salon dedicated to brows and her dream was to have her own studio. Eight years later this vision became a reality and "The Brow Bar" was opened with studios now in Paddington, New Farm and the Gold Coast.

Not bad for someone who was told that a brow bar in Brisbane would never work.

Born into a 'rag trade' family, it was only natural that Chernae would eventually create a business in beauty with links to fashion. From the age of 2, Chernae was attending fashion parties hosted by her very talented and successful couture dressmaker mother who is also an ex-model. Her father was also a model and fashion parade compere and her aunt taught grooming and deportment. (As a young girl, Chernae used to play with the statuettes that her mother won at the RAQ awards).

At age 11, Chernae undertook a grooming and deportment course, at 15 was crowned "Miss Bronco" for the Broncos Leagues Club Youth Foundation, by 16 attending a modelling course at June Dally Watkins (she has only just stopped modelling recently), by 17 organising fashion parades for the Myer Centre and in that same year created her own modelling and promotional agency.

It was sometime later that Chernae realised that brows and makeup were her first love and where she wanted to dedicate her time and talent. She subsequently honed her skills in the beauty and cosmetics industry and quickly made a name for herself.

Fast forward to 2004, Chernae launched The Brow Bar with a single room (a storage room) in one of Brisbane's most successful hairdressing salons. Armed with one set of tweezers, one chair, one light and one shelf, Chernae tweezed and waxed Brisbane's fashionable women and a 'brow star' was born.

By 2005 due to her expanding client base, Chernae opened her own studio in Paddington. Three years later Brisbane women are flocking to The Brow Bar and Chernae has now 10 chairs for brows and a separate space for the highly successful Lash Bar Lounge which is solely dedicated to lash treatments and extensions which she also sells to overseas markets.

Her "Secret Brow Society" is now in full swing which is a group of VIP clients dedicated to the art of a 'good brow'.

Family is very important to Chernae and The Brow Bar has become a family affair with her mother, sister and cousin working in the business. (Her mother's couture dressmaking skills come in very handy and the gorgeous interior dressings are largely made by her).

Chernae has future plans to include face reading services adopting a 'spiritual' approach to understanding a client's face shape and personality. Chernae teaches women air-brush makeup techniques that will turn them into a 'screen siren beauty' in 30 minutes. Sign me up please.

In the studio, Chernae has created a very feminine environment that feels luxurious yet tranquil. "I want to provide an environment that ignites the senses from lighting to smell to texture and music", she says. Her staff are super-friendly and dedicated to giving their clients the best possible service.

Asked the reason for her success, Chernae believes it is her focus on customer service and providing 'real brow solutions' for her clients. Her aim is to provide a full 'experience' that includes face reading, brow lift-shaping and makeup tuition.

Franchising is next on the list for Chernae with the intention of having The Brow Bar in every state. "It's not just to expand the brand" Chernae told me "but to give young women an opportunity to have a business of their own". Chernae is repeatedly asked to open stores in Sydney and Melbourne so it's only a matter of time before this part of Chernae's original vision is realised.

On a personal note, Chernae and family are joyously awaiting the arrival of her first child in December. Of course she will have to ease herself out of the day-to-day aspects of the business but will remain in force to its direction and success. Chernae is intent on training her staff to be as good or better than her at the artistry of brows.

Given the success of The Brow Bar in so short a time, Chernae is well on her way to create a brow dynasty that has the potential to reach overseas destinations such as the UK, US and beyond.

Asked what advice she would give young women who want to work in the fashion and beauty industry and start their own business, Chernae says "find out what women want and fill their needs and never take no for answer". Sounds like great advice to me.

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