Dan’s lighter and loving it

Dan Browne looks positively terrified as a perfectly manicured aesthetician looms over him. Lying on a bed at 536 Kennedy Cosmedics, with his feet protruding from the end and his mass of curly hair in a net, I begin to wonder if the 23-yearold knows what he has signed up for. He is preparing for a facial that will get his skin glowing in time for a 12-week Fat to Fit makeover reveal, at a Hawke’s Bay location yet to be disclosed.

‘‘I’m a little bit intimidated . . . but I’m amped for what’s going to happen,’’ he says.
Aesthetician Louise Apatu moves expertly around the room, gathering Aspect Dr products to use on Dan’s face. The clinic, which specialises in combining leading-edge cosmetic treatments with natural antiageing medicine, uses only medical-grade products. First, she cleanses the skin,
before applying a fruit enzyme treatment and massaging his face to remove excess dead cells. Then a moisturising mask and pawpaw lip treatment are applied and he’s ready to go. There’s just one problem, Dan is so relaxed he can barely open his eyes. Before yesterday, Dan’s skincare regime consisted of washing with water and slapping on an overall body moisturiser.

Eight weeks into the Fat to Fit challenge he has more facial hair than before (with strict
instructions to grow it), and he’s dropped an impressive 10kg. Make-up artist and stylist
Vania Bailey, who has been helping through every step of the transformation says he’s on
track to meet his targets. ‘‘He’s a lot more energised, a lot happier with himself . . . We
wanted to turn some of that weight into muscle so that he’s more healthy for his body shape and bone density. ‘‘I’m sure that beard is getting a bit annoying, but we will be doing something about it before the reveal in a few weeks.’’

Since making her foray into styling, Vania has been approached by a few new male clients looking for a partial or full wardrobe reinvention. She has also been helping to make people over for job interviews