Mwende Frey Opens Up On One-Of-A-Kind Massage At Viral Barbershop

Fridah Mwende, alias Mwende Frey, the owner of the hugely-popular Man's Chamber Barbershop and Spa at Kamaki's along the Eastern Bypass in Ruiru, Kiambu County (near the Thika Road roundabout, opposite Delta petrol station), has a new technique of impressing her ever-growing male clients.

Speaking to Citizen Digital on Sunday, May 28, Mwende, who rose to fame early in 2022 thanks to her barbershop which trended online in albeit controversial circumstances thanks to her twerking skills, shared details of a new kind of massage known as the 'wood therapy massage'.

Wood therapy is a vigorous massage technique that uses a wooden, handheld tool. The tool is either a rolling pin or a vacuum-suction cup. The procedure involves applying pressure to certain body parts with the wooden instrument.

The typical body parts to which pressure is applied include arms, stomach, thighs, and buttocks. The grinding of the tools on the body manipulates muscles and fat, accelerating lymphatic drainage and enhancing blood circulation. 

A photo of a past wood therapy massage session. /LITTLE BEAUTY ACADEMY

"Men have been struggling to balance their busy schedules and working out all at the same time. I mean, while going to the gym is helpful for overall health, the wood therapy massage at Man's Chamber is aimed at helping men tone their bodies, lose excess fat, improve lymphatic circulation and boost fitness," she disclosed.

The 27-year-old, one of the most prominent female barbers in Nairobi whose barbershop exclusively employs young, skilled women equipped with sultry overtures that have won her plaudits and critics at once, noted that the technique, done with the help of her masseuses, involves rigorous sessions aimed at achieving maximum results within the shortest time possible.

The unique massage also aims at leaving an incredible transformation on the client's body and mental state.

She further noted that her business advanced from just offering quality and affordable haircuts to men to helping them improve their physical shape to get an enviable figure of their satisfaction.

"From the very first session, men will already start to notice changes. We normally do two or three sessions per month and by the third session, the results are already remarkably visible.

"We decided to move from merely cutting men's hair to helping them cut on their cellulite and cut a figure of the man of their own dreams. With wood therapy, there's more than just the everyday massage, this is a game-changer and men in Kenya are definitely in love with it!" she went on.

Wood Therapy Explained

Wood therapy treatment can be traced several centuries back. The technique originated in Asia and made its way to Europe and North America.

The tools used initially were rough, but as time went on, they improved. Today, the technique has been comprehensively enhanced to provide quality customer satisfaction.

Wood therapy uses a series of repetitive movements across the body using different wooden massage tools. The tools focus more on muscles, fats, and the lymphatic drainage system. It helps in releasing toxins from the body by burning fats. 

The massager first scrubs your skin with a coffee scrub to remove the dead skin. This improves circulation and makes the skin smooth and after the scrubbing, the wood therapy session begins.

According to Luxury Body Spa Kenya, results from the treatment start to show after the first hour of therapy. Positive results show immediately after treatment, but long-term effects depend on how intensified the therapy was.

"Did the process involve applying lots of pressure to the area at high speed? Such factors determine how the long-term effect of the treatment will be.

"It is advised that you regularly undertake this process to experience long-term results. Don’t just attend one therapy session and assume that you are good to go," the spa's blog stated in part.

Benefits Of Wood Therapy

• It loosens the tight muscles
• Wood therapy helps with the breakdown and burning of fats in the body
• It helps in eliminating toxins from the body
• It stimulates blood circulation and lymphatic drainage in the body
• It speeds up the body’s metabolism

Wood therapy can be painful if done in sensitive areas of the body such as the face. However, with an experienced wood therapist, the pain will be minimal. 

The therapy is purely natural; it is a non-invasive holistic massage treatment, with every person having their own different response to the treatment.

The patient may feel discomfort during the treatment, but no pain comes with this. If one is not used to the treatment, the sensation may not be as comfortable as he or she thought, but with time the feeling goes away.

Although the therapy is safe, it is advised that you consult with the therapist before beginning the session.

Cost of Wood Therapy

The cost of wood therapy services in Kenya ranges from Ksh10,000-Ksh20,000 per session, however, one can also opt to purchase the wood therapy tools in online shops, where the prices vary depending on the nature of the instrument.

Mwende Frey and her employees outside Man's Chamber Barbershop at its signpost on May 13, 2023. /ANDY K PHOTOGRAPHY