‘Something just caught my eye’

A sign at a Thai market gave entrepreneur Suzanne Martin her greatest ever idea

Afriend first raved about Thailand to me when I was in my 20s. Both of us were working as make-up artists in the 1980s, travelling all over Europe for various fashion shows, and she knew I needed somewhere for a bit of rest and relaxation. To be honest, she sold it to me on the cheap massages. Now, every time I go there, the first thing I do is book myself in for a massage.

I instantly loved everything about Thailand and knew that at last I had found my spiritual home. The people were so gentle and gracious, always ready with a warm smile, and I felt at peace and incredibly safe there.

Feeling safe would soon take on a greater significance because, shortly after travelling to Thailand with my friend, I became a mother. There was no partner in the picture and I wanted somewhere I could bring my baby boy, just him and me. Thailand was perfect for that. We would do things together, dip in and out of activities.

I think it’s because of Thailand and its unique cuisine – those perfectly balanced elements of sweetness, saltiness and heat – that my son is such a foodie nowadays. Our hotel in Thailand once had a barbecue, and at eight years old he told the waiter: “I think I’ll have some king prawns while I’m waiting for my red snapper!”

I always begin my trips to Thailand with a stint in Bangkok. I love the markets there – they can get a little intense but the colours, the bustle and the loud haggling always draw me in.

It was when my son was seven years old and we were walking handin-hand around a market in Bangkok that something caught my eye. I think it was a little hairdresser’s shop or something but the words “eyebrow tattooing” just sprang out at me from somewhere. Picture this: I was in the middle of the market, sweltering in the heat with my make up running down my face – including my perfectly applied eyebrow pencil – and I thought, isn’t that the most brilliant idea: a semi-permanent eyebrow that doesn’t rub off.

Eyebrows have always been a part of the face that attracted me. They create expression. Too high and you look surprised; too close together and you look angry. Growing up, I would get my hands on as many glossy magazines as possible, take a look at the model’s eyebrows and if something was amiss, I would draw in what I thought looked good. In my opinion there is nothing more transformative and flattering than a perfect eyebrow shape.

The more I came across these tattooed eyebrows, the more driven I became. As I started researching the idea, however, what I found was definitely the opposite of what I wanted. I was very specific: I envisioned a semipermanent treatment that lasts about six months to a year and looks very natural. I knew that I would call my business “The Couture Brow”, inspired by my time working backstage with Christian Dior and that high level of refinement I witnessed, as well as to reflect the fact that the brows are tailormade for the client.

That day in Bangkok sparked more a curiosity than an epiphany, I would say. But either way, I could not get the idea out of my head. When I returned to London, I eventually did my training at Nouveau Contour and learned the technical side of things.

Before I started on people, I practised on pig’s skin I got from the butcher’s, using needles in different configurations to get the effect I wanted to achieve. My

God, it reeked. Then, once I was confident in my skills, slowly I reached out to people. I worked for a number of years from a studio in Portobello, west London. There was never advertising or anything like that; it was all word of mouth. And then, when international people came to see me, that was really exciting. The idea had obviously gained some momentum.

I never imagined that my visit to a Bangkok market that day was going to change what I did with my career. I was just really curious about the idea and followed my instinct – and I knew I could use my artistic ability to make it my own. Now I hold an exclusive residency at The Lanesborough Club and Spa in London, where people still come from all over the world to see me.

Planning a trip to Thailand for 2021? Read our

resident expert’s guide to Bangkok’s best hotels: telegraph. co.uk/ttbangkok-hotels

As told to Aisling O’Leary

Suzanne Martin is the creator of The Couture Brow – a two-part eyebrow enhancement treatment involving a retouch one month after the initial appointment. For further information, email reception@ lanesboroughclubandspa.com or call 020 7333 7064.