The big makeover

DONNA WALSH/Waikato Times

PAMPER PARTY: Gaelene Falconer, Jan Fisher, Susan Duncan, Sandra Taylor and Christine Seddon at the old Braemar Hospital.

Relevant offers

Tempo

Tucking into Kiwi tucker Chefs go local North meets south Head Start: hair trends Red coleslaw's complementary Camping comfort Treasures from the past Hand-made with love Waikato on a plate Sparkle and shine

The old Braemer Hospital is in need of a makeover, and that means three days of pampering and beauty for Waikato women

The beautiful old dame sits on the steep hill above Hamilton Girls' High School. Perched at the top of Tainui St, the former Braemer Hospital site has one of the best views in Hamilton. From the back of the building, standing in the now empty wards, windows look out on a wisteria-covered fence and beyond, Lake Rotoroa and Mt Pirongia.

It's a view that hundreds of local women will experience at the end of the month when the old hospital hosts a special three-day makeover event, when the faded green and blue rooms will be transformed into a luxury spa facility.

From 9am to 3pm daily between October 31 to November 2, top Waikato beauty and image consultants will take over the old hospital for the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Cancer Society 's Makeovers for THE Makeover.

It's not only a makeover for local women, but for the facility itself.

The event hopes to raise $45,000 to turn the old hospital into a new Cancer Society Lions Lodge, which will provide comfortable "home-away-from-home" accommodation for people receiving cancer treatment in the Waikato from late 2010.

The Lodge will have 54 bedrooms and old surgery rooms will become activity and therapeutic massage and meeting rooms, a library and lounges for cancer patients. A tranquil garden, beautiful city views and spaces for reflection will create a holistic and healing environment, making the yet-to-be-renovated hospital the perfect place for the makeover weekend.

Participants in the makeovers will receive expert pampering from some of the region's top hairdressers, makeup artists, beauty therapists and image consultants.

On arrival at the former hospital, they'll be greeted with a cup of coffee and nibbles.

The day begins with a deep cleansing facial (including cleansing, exfoliating, toning and moisturising) from Christine Seddon and her team of therapists from Waters Day Spa. Seddon will be using the Phyt's range of certified organic products from France containing ingredients such as nourishing hazelnut, soothing passion flower, stimulating ginseng, detoxifying orange, marigold and vitamin E. "We will load up their skin with moisturising cream to suit their skin and age," says Seddon. "There is lots of yummy stuff in these products." Manicures will follow, then participants will get a one-on-one colour analysis and image consultation with Tempo image coach Jan Fisher or one of her talented team. Fisher will be launching her new colour and tonal system on the day. Some of the top image consultants in New Zealand will also be offering style, colour, figure and fashion advice, including president of the New Zealand Federation of Image Consultants Christine Fromont from Auckland and federation member Kathy Lee from Warkworth.

Hair and makeup will follow, with many local salons and stylists donating their time including Paul Winter, staff from Morph Hair Studio, Azarni Hair Design and id salons in Hamilton, Ruem Flax Hair Studio and The Sample Room from Cambridge, freelance stylist Sandra Taylor and others. Michelle Devereux from Hamilton's The Makeup Studio and makeup artists from Elizabeth Arden will be among those making up women. All those involved are volunteering, so all funds raised will go to the Lions Lodge.

To finish, women will sit for a professional photograph and go away with a photograph and goody bag full of products.

It's something that will appeal to families and groups of friends. "I think it would be a great thing to do for mothers and daughters," says the Cancer Society's Susan Duncan. "We might even get three generations – mum, daughter and grandma." Women will be going through each pampering stage in groups of four. "Friends might want to book together. It would be good for hen's parties or for new graduates, wanting to get all-in-one expert advise on image, beauty and how to dress," says Duncan.

"A lot of people will be going out on the town that night," predicts Seddon. "Because they will be looking great after this."

Tickets to Makeovers for THE Makeover cost $299 each, and are limited to just 150 people to maintain an exclusive atmosphere, so each participant enjoys their time being pampered. Participants are booked in for a set time, and pampering is expected to take a total of about 2 1/2 hours per person.

Earlybirds who get their tickets before October 16 will go into a draw to win a night's deluxe accommodation at the Narrow's Landing executive suite.

For tickets or more information contact the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Cancer Society on 07 838 2027 or email susanduncan@cancersociety.org.nz