Rotorua women keep up with Kardashians

Reality shows such as Keeping Up With the Kardashians, The Biggest Loser and Jersey Shore are influencing Rotorua women to indulge in beauty treatments such as eyelash extensions, teeth whitening and spray tans.

Rotorua beauty salons are noticing more women are going for beauty enhancements, and reality stars such as Kim Kardashian - with her pearly whites, luscious locks and long, thick lashes - are believed to be part of the reason.

The Kardashians are always immaculate, the Jersey Shore crew are always tanned and the contestants on the Biggest Loser transform themselves from overweight to fabulous.

Rotorua beauty therapists say the most popular treatments sought are eyelash and hair extensions, teeth whitening, spray tans and manicured nails.

While they said inner beauty was much more important, the trend was good for business.

Susan Gedye, who owns You Beauty, had particularly noticed women coming in wanting eyelashes like the Kardashian sisters. She believed about 60 per cent of her clients wanted eyelash extensions for that reason.

While she didn't think reality television stars were the only explanation for more women wanting enhancements, she did believe they were part of the reason.

 

Ms Gedye said although the trend of beauty enhancements was good for business, peoples' inner beauty should be what was more important.

Nataria Rolleston, from Tremors, said more people had been coming in for spray tans and using their power plates, and also thought reality stars were part of the reason behind it.

However, although tanning had become popular since shows like Jersey Shore had come out, Ms Rolleston said they had been having special deals on their spray tans - which would be the main reason for the increase in people wanting the "sunkissed glow".

Ms Rolleston said reality shows such as The Biggest Loser had probably made more of an impact at Tremors because people were inspired by the contestants' weight-loss results, which had inspired Rotorua women to focus on their image and to want to improve their health and bodies.

Meanwhile, although Rotorua's Exquisite Total Image had noticed more women wanting spray tans in the past five years, the staff did not think that had anything to do with the popularity of reality television shows.