Spa Review: We Tried Hairy Little Things, Where '90s Brows Come to Die
A friendly welcome at the entrance to Hairy Little Things in Costa Mesa, CA. [Photo by Patty Serrato]
When it comes to fashion, the ‘90s look is all the rage. But when it comes to ‘90s brows, they won’t see the light of day at Hairy Little Things.
“People will come in and be like, ‘Oh, I want that ‘90s brow!’ That is not what we do here,” says Alixandria (Alix for short) Capparelli, founder of Hairy Little Things—Southern California’s chicest and flirtiest semi permanent makeup studio focused on all things brows, lashes and lips. They offer microblading, brow laminations, lip blushing, lash extensions, lash lifts, and lash line enhancements.
As I walked into her third and newest location in Costa Mesa, CA (Orange County), I was greeted by the studio’s cheeky mantra: “Where 90’s Brows Go to Die,” and through the doors, I entered a blissful space adorned with pink floors, muted spa tables, and bright sunlit windows.
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The stunning interior features cream and blush tones throughout. [Photo courtesy of Hairy Little Things]
“We do a lot actually, our top services are obviously microblading.” Capparelli knows exactly what she’s doing—she began her career in microblading before it had its big mainstream moment in the states back in 2016, and dominated the scene with her incredible technique and artistry.
Harry Little Things is a true byproduct of her hustle, passion, and desire to grow in the craft. She adds, “Definitely the artistry is what drew me to it.”
Through that artistry, she’s also learned the benefits of what a brow transformation ultimately means to women who are battling hair loss due to a wide variety of medical conditions and even cancer.
“We have so many clients that went through chemo, couldn’t grow their eyebrows back, who are currently battling alopecia, or trichotillomania,” Capparelli says. “It’s that, but an extra layer of just really helping people and embracing their femininity. And some people cry. They see their eyebrows and they cry.”
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Microblading expert and Hairy Little Things founder, Alixandria Capparelli. [Photo courtesy of Hairy Little Things]
On top of the hour long microblading services ($375-$800), the team at Hairy Little Things has also mastered nanoblading, or microfeathering ($250-$450) as they like to call it. It’s a natural-looking alternative to a full micro-blading service.
“You’re only putting in like 20 strokes per brow, which may sound like a lot but really it’s not,” Capparelli says. “When you do microblading you can do up towards 100 strokes in each brow.”
She says most clients who experience nanoblading come back in the future and commit to a micro blading sercvice. “People always get a little taste, and they’re like, 'What was I scared about? That wasn’t that scary,’ so it’s kind of like the intro to microblading.”
Another taste would be their brow lamination service ($130), which is a keratin straightening treatment that keeps hair in place for 6 to 8 weeks. Also, brow henna ($80) is a 15-20 minute innovative service that tints brows faster and longer. This is the service I experienced and I’m glad I did it because my brows needed a serious tint!
The relaxing treatment area. [Photo by Patty Serrato]
Capparelli didn’t want to overwhelm me with a ton of color, so she gave me a natural and soft look. First, she began shaping, tweezing and trimming my brows. The very first step to gorgeous brows that a lot of people miss.
“Some people lack shape and sometimes can’t figure out how to fill them in,” she says.
Next she applied the henna with tiny brush strokes all over my brow. While doing this, Capparelli reminded me that the only requirement when it comes to maintenance after this service is to keep brows dry for 24 hours. To make them last for a solid two weeks, she also advises to avoid using cleansers or makeup remover in the area. Over time the henna will naturally fade, prompting you to come back for another round.
Once Alix was done, she handed me the mirror, and honestly, I couldn’t believe my eyebrows! They were filled, full and shaped to perfection—the proof is in the the picture!
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Before and after trying the brow henna service. [Photo courtesy of Patty Serrato]
Visit Hairy Little Things at one of their three locations in Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, and West Hollywood. For more information, visit their website and follow them on Instagram: @hairylittlethings
234 E 17th Street, Ste 205, Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Patty Castellon is a two-time Emmy award winning producer who has worked in the entertainment industry for 16 years. After many years of tracking lifestyle trends by some of the most prominent celebrities in the world, she has developed a true passion to connect audiences with the latest news in beauty, fashion, and wellness. Patty is LA based, living with her husband Cesar and their three children. Follow her on Instagram: @pattylynnpix