Gaby
The cosmetic studio “Charodeika” is bustling with activity. Women sit along the walls wearing facial masks, while some stand due to a lack of space. In the center of the room, leaning over a chair, is Ingrid Ondrejkova, a cosmetologist from Bratislava, working her magic.
“Good afternoon,” she greets with a warm smile. Young and attractive, she apologizes for having to speak while continuing her work.
“My parents wanted me to become a doctor or a teacher,” Ingrid shares. “But I never felt a calling for either profession. And without that, how can you proceed?”
By nature, I am an aesthetician. And what could be more beautiful, more aesthetically pleasing than a woman’s face? When you can enhance that beauty, it lifts a woman’s spirits, and that’s when you truly enjoy your work. Guided by these beliefs, Ingrid graduated from cosmetology school two years ago.
“Of course, my practical experience is limited. But I believe that with hard work, skills will develop.”
“You’ve been in Kyiv for five weeks now. What do you like most about our city?”
“It’s hard to list everything right away. You have a very beautiful city. The women here are friendly and hospitable, which is not easy considering the long lines they have to endure, the scarcity of quality goods, and the lack of self-care. In Czechoslovakia, for example, women are legally prohibited from working in construction or any job that requires heavy physical labor. Personally, I am completely against this because it gradually toughens not just the hands but the soul as well. After a long day of hard work, not every woman has the energy to take care of herself, and men want to see us always looking beautiful, young, and cheerful. Perhaps this is one of the reasons for the rising divorce rates…”
“Ingrid, how do your colleagues work in Bratislava?”
“First of all, they focus on changes. Secondly, at the end of each decade, we receive funds to purchase the necessary components for masks, while your cosmetologists are given a limited range of products in insufficient quantities. This affects the quality of their work. And thirdly, I can’t stand seeing clients being treated with the same tools, which are only disinfected in denatured alcohol solution. In times when AIDS threatens humanity, we need to be especially careful. And what about the risk of skin diseases? We use individual tools for each client, which are always sterilized. Also, during cosmetic procedures, women need to relax, unwind, and ideally even take a nap. When there’s only one chair, that’s impossible. In Bratislava, there are at least ten such chairs in a studio. However, I must say that visiting a cosmetic studio there costs twice as much.”
“Ingrid, what skincare tips could you share with our readers?”
“First and foremost, women should remember that summer is the best time of year for facial care. The abundance of vegetables and fruits provides a great opportunity for this.
So, here’s the first tip: Before eating vegetables, fruits, or berries, make a mask from them, adding a few drops of glycerin or oil if you have dry skin.
The second tip: Don’t overdo it with decorative cosmetics. Your skin also deserves a break. Moreover, women who pile on makeup during hot summer days often end up looking unattractive and unnatural. By spring, it’s best to give up powder altogether (you can lightly dust your nose to protect it from excessive sun exposure). However, you should hydrate your face with water as often as possible since it lacks moisture during the winter months!
In short, sunshine, fresh air, water, minimal decorative cosmetics, and maximum consumption of vegetables and fruits are the keys to beautiful skin.
And of course, a good mood is the guarantee of charm all year round. I wish all women to be beautiful and attractive at all times!”
