Airs & Graces Beauty

Grace Cidoni always knew what she wanted to be when she grew up.

“My mum would go get manicures and facials, and I used to tag along. From a young age, I loved the caring nature of being a therapist and making people feel good about themselves through beauty treatments.”

At just twenty-four years old, Grace made the decision to open Airs & Graces and hasn’t looked back.

“It was always the plan to own my own business. My Italian immigrant parents owned small businesses, and all my siblings now own their own businesses as well. It’s like it was in our blood.”

“I drove past this empty shop front in Victoria Street and just knew it was the right fit for my business. I love the vibe of North and West Melbourne and the community.”

The name was inspired by a Vogue magazine article.

“The title was something about ‘airs and graces’, and it was just perfect as my name is Grace. I sometimes get asked, ‘who is Airs?’” she laughs.

Since 2000, Grace has offered a peaceful retreat for people to relax and leave their worries behind while receiving expert beauty advice.

“I do all spa treatments such as pedicures, manicures, body treatments and massage, but I specialise in DMK Skin revision treatments to get the skin back to its normal healthy function in a natural way. Activating skin cells in that way is like taking a trip to the gym to provide real fitness for your skin!” explains Grace.

Grace has grown and nurtured a loyal client base in her two decades of owning Airs & Graces but has chosen to continue working alone rather than building a large team.

“I'm a one-on-one therapist, and I take my time with my clients. When you come to see me, you get all of me. I don’t leave the room the whole time.

“So for instance, when I do enzyme therapy, it needs to stay on your face for forty-five minutes. During that time, you get a really good massage. The whole experience is very peaceful and relaxing.

“That attention to detail and the personalised approach is what sets me apart as a therapist.”

After twenty-six years of being a beauty therapist, she still loves her work.

“I think I'm going to retire doing what I'm doing; it's a lifelong thing. I love interacting with people and giving all to people. I'm a nurturer, and this is a space where people can open up and share a relationship that's private and safe.”

Words by Joyce Watts & Photography by Anna Encio