Tag Archives: Manicure

Sophie Gass, Holland Park

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Every girl needs a local manicurist for a last minute beauty fix. In Acton I found Nara, in Holland Park I have Sophie Gass, a fabulous little nail bar on Ladbroke Grove.

Sophie Gass is a brilliant Holland Park ambassador, working in the centre of this West London area and enjoying all it has to offer. Whilst my toes were being pampered by her best therapist I picked her brains on the best things to do in the neighbourhood. At only 26, this girl has impressive ambition, discovering a gap in the market, she opened an affordable and stylish nail salon just a few months after quitting her high-powered job in the city. With an assortment of unique clothes, lovely jewellery and tempting accessories, it is also the ideal place to pick up a party frock or last minute gift.

I went along for a luxury pedicure and was amazed by the precision and care of the treatment. My feet were soaked, exfoliated and moisturised, my toenails were filed and cuticles were trimmed ready for my Essie colour of choice.

The salon is bright and airy, designed simply but with indulgent touches. Each reclining chair has a nearby iPad for your use and new monthly magazines are scattered about to occupy you while your feet are being pampered. When my bright blue nails were done, I tip-toed around the venue trying on the beautiful brightly coloured dresses and smiling at the sweet cards.

This is the highlight of Ladbroke Grove, and my favourite new hang-out in the neighbourhood. I can tell I will be spending a lot of Saturdays in Sophie Gass.

More information here.

www.sophiegass.com

New Chelsea Day Spa, Wandsworth Bridge Road

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The Chelsea Day Spa is now open for business on Wandsworth Bridge Road, the third branch of this highly successful boutique spa.

While specialising in hair and beauty, CDS offers it all, every treatment imaginable and more. I was tempted to try the new hair styling salon but with short messy hair, felt a pedicure was more useful and long lasting.

Luxurious but relaxed, it is easy to get carried away here, I noticed several visitors come in for a massage and leave only after booking in for a future day’s worth of pampering. Sharon was my therapist for the afternoon, a very experienced nail technician and beautician, I felt in safe ‘hands’. With my toenails coated with strong gel from New York, Sharon had to spend a good 45 minutes rubbing away, desperately trying to remove the vicious plasticky substance. Eventually it budged and the pedicure could commence.

The salon space is small and smart, with comfortable chairs to relax in. If you haven’t visited Wandsworth Bridge Road before I recommend a trip, very close to my best friend’s house I have spent many a fun Sunday afternoon perusing the shops and chatting in the cafes.

The state of the art equipment and design at CDS makes treatments extra indulgent. After a nail trim and file Sharon soaked, exfoliated and moisturised my feet. This deluxe pedicure also includes a hydrating masque which is painted onto your tootsies, clingfilmed and kept warm in mittens, allowing the skin to soften and rejuvenating your feet completely.

I chose one of the more glamorous shades of red-orange Jessica nail varnish, a change from my more usual stand-out neon. It is bold and impressive, I’m hoping this nail varnish will stay in place for my Caribbean trip in a few weeks.

Find the Chelsea Day Spa on Facebook and Twitter for more information. Visit the website here, or better still pop along next time you are in the area… with walk-in appointments often available, this cute day spa is perfect for a spur of the moment treat.

More information here.

http://www.thechelseadayspa.co.uk/pages/wandsworth-bridge-road.html

Nara Spa, Acton

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It was an absolute joy to discover Nara, the new luxury spa in Acton. For some time now Churchfield Road has been going up in the world, with the arrival of Sainsburys and several cute coffee shops, boutiques and upmarket hair salons. Nara cements my belief that this West London neighbourhood is, eventually becoming a cool place to hang out.

With a Saturday afternoon to spare I went along to Nara, taking along a male correspondent to try out Nara’s best treatments for women and men. There is a great deal on offer from familiar beauty treatments to new, advanced aesthetic procedures. Looking through the leaflet of tempting options, we found it almost impossible to pick. Nara is a large and spacious venue and immediately after walking in, one feels relaxed and at ease… the staff are very smiley and chatty and endeavour to make your time at the spa as enjoyable and calming as possible. There are six tranquil treatment rooms available and the salon seems to be busy most of the time (I walk past often)… obviously the people of Acton have been craving some indulgent spa time!

Eventually, after a lovely cup of tea, we decided: Swedish massage for him and Nara’s signature Deep Cleansing Facial and a Hot wax for me.

All the treatments were amazing – thorough and pampering while also attending to our individual health concerns. The massage concentrated on areas of tension to relax the muscles whilst improving blood circulation and lymphatic drainage. The aromatic oils used are absorbed deep into the skin to nourish and relieve stress. My facial was less of a pampering treatment, but targeted every problem I mentioned with my skin. After observing my skin type and needs under the light, the therapist began combating the issues she had noticed. After a refreshing clean and steam, my face was fully cleansed with extraction and diamond microdermabrasion, a surprisingly un-intrusive method of dead skin removal. A thick mask was then applied to help with the dehydration and loss of moisture using the gorgeous Jean D’Estrees skincare line. Meanwhile I was given a heavenly foot massage. I left the room feeling bright and fresh with revitalised skin.

Nara uses Lycon wax, the same as STRIP… it is the best hot wax I have ever encountered: less painful and more soothing on the skin. My therapist was so expert and speedy that the bikini wax was over in no time at all. Very efficient, very proficient and almost painless.

Before leaving the lovely Nara girls insisted we stay for quick manicures. A lovely quick treatment to get your hands and nails in top condition and apparently just as popular with men and women!

With Acton Central Station just a step across the road, there is a link to Chiswick, Kew and Richmond, and an easy connection to the District Line. It is establishments like Nara that make me thankful for living in Acton, and if you’ve never been to Acton before, you now have a reason to visit. I’m not sure how I’m going to stay away, ideally I’d spend every weekend in Nara.

More information here.

http://www.narahealthandbeauty.com/