Gennie Monteith
The most unique facial I’ve ever had. Walk up the non-descript steps to a little jewel of a studio and melt into the heated bed where Gennie, in her 50’s looking in her early 40’s! assesses your individual needs and starts mixing and rubbing all sorts of potions and lotions. Much of what she uses are raw materials with effective natural properties, such as pumpkin seed oil, homeopathic tinctures, vitamin c in crushed form with moisturizer-as-carrier to treat on a deep level. Seemingly, there is nothing missing in her well-equiped studio from a lymphatic machine to a heat light that opens your chakras. Sounds weird? It’s not. Promise - this woman cares about and knows how to truly effect your skin. She does it all expertly: from waxing to facials. Book in 3 hours and get gorgeous. £110 for 1 1/2 hour facial which includes an eyebrow clean-up/ re-shaping.
Hari’s
A Chelsea beauty and hair mecca; Hari himself is as much of a legend as his blowdrys! The buzz of the Salon is more fun than most nightclubs; the eclectic, kind and attentive staff make you want to go back again and again. Love the juice bar and healthy snacks on offer. Spoiling. All treatments use original, quality products and really get results.
Neville Hair & Beauty
A one-stop shop for a top to toe beauty overhaul. Frequented by celebrities such as Liz Hurley and Nigella Lawson, as well as a host of London party-girls, its fashionable without being aloof. Everyone from hairdressers to pedicurists, via make-up, blow drys and waxing, are all present and correct. Head to the beauty room for Fere Parangi’s amazing waxes using hot beeswax - never will you have felt so smooth for so little pain.
The Ritual Rooms (pictured)
Small & lovingly created by its passionate owners, this intimate city spa offers everything from facials and massages to hairstyling and color. It’s central location near Marble Arch makes it the perfect pit-stop for after-work de-stressing…
Vaishaly
For perfectly polished brows, head to one of London’s most sought after facialists - Vaishaly Patel. The capital’s finest eyebrow threader will shape your brows to sculpt the face and enhance your own natural beauty. She gives a truly effective, professional facial. Expensive…
Paul Edmonds
Top notch in every way. This do-it-all, no nonsense Salon is wham-bam thank you maa’m; a real find in London. I go here for just about everything - hair, make-up and all kinds of beauty treatments! Their Permanent Hair reconstructor hair treatment is excellent for damaged hair. And for the best manicures this side of NYC try the Biosculpture nail treatment. Short on time? give Leslie’s “soft tap” semi-permanent make-up (eyebrows, lids, lips) a go. No pain - result: amazingly natural and lasts up to one year.
Melogy
Sicilian grooming guru Carmelo has an intuitive talent for male grooming… His understated salon near Kings Cross is perfect for the man about town; think great haircuts, expert smooth shaves and fuss-free TLC… He also offers bespoke grooming lessons and tailored treatments for grooms-to-be.
Gina Conway Aveda Lifestyle Salons
I have countless friends whose hair has been damaged by the chemicals most salons ply your hair with… Aveda uses 99% natural hair color treatments. Gina and her team can also custom blend colour tones into shampoo and conditioner to keep that honey blonde looking… well… honey blonde! The salon also offers custom hair and scalp conditioning treatments and body treatments. Emerge feeling and looking super from head to toe!
Gentlemen’s Tonic
One-stop grooming and lifestyle pit-stop for guys on the go; they offer everything from classic hair-cuts to pampering hand and body treatments. Reassuringly masculine and high-tech: wood, leather and marble are combined with the latest music consoles and LCD screens in each of the private haircutting stations and treatment rooms; understated and effective.
The Cavalliert Retreat
Skincare guru Diana Zouppas works her magic at this oh-so-private beauty retreat. This is no ordinary salon… former lawyer Diana is not only a beauty therapist but a nutritionist to boot - and can read skin like a book. Try the ultimate pampering facial for one and a half hours of bliss - your head and shoulders are massaged as your face is cleansed, exfoliated, massaged and treated to a magic combination of home-grown herbal treats.
Gennie Monteith Studio 1, 106 Draycott Avenue SW3 www.genniemonteith.com +44 20 7225 2200
Hari’s 305 Brompton Road, SW3 2DY www.harissalon.com +44 207 581 5211
Neville Hair & Beauty 5 Pont Street, SW1X 9EJ www.nevillehairandbeauty.net +44 207 235 3654
The Ritual Rooms Portman Village, W1H 7RR www.ritualrooms.com+44 8700 855 066
Vaishaly 51 Paddington Street, W1U 4HR www.vaishaly.com +44 207 224 6088
Paul Edmonds 166 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, SW3 1HW www.pauledmonds.com +44 20 7589 5958
Melogy 1 Sinclair House, Hasting Street, WC1H 9PZ www.melogy.com+44 20 738 30027
Gina Conway Aveda Lifestyle Salons Westbourne Grove and Fulham Road Branches www.ginaconway.co.uk
62 Westbourne Grove Road, W2 5SH +44 20 7229 6644
612 Fulham Road, SW6 5RP +44 20 7731 7633
Gentlemen’s Tonic 31a Bruton Place Mayfair, W1J 6NN www.gentlemenstonic.comThe Cavalliert Retreat Kew Bridge www.cavalliert.co.uk +44 208 568 4565