Tag Archives: salon

Charles Worthington Salon, Covent Garden

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Charles Worthington is a brand I have noticed on the shelves of Boots for years, though I have never been fortunate enough to experience the company’s expertise in the salon, until now. Of the salons in London and New York, the most unique is found in Covent Garden, located inside a characterful Georgian townhouse, and spread across five floors. This is the home of Charles Worthington and is designed to make customers feel at ease while they have their tresses transformed.

Guests are invited to relax in the elegant Drawing Room before taking their seat in the ‘cut and colour zone’. Once settled hot or chilled drinks are delivered along with little bites of the softest sweetest lemon drizzle cake.

I was lucky to be in the capable hands of Katie Allan, a colour expert at Charles Worthington. I met her prior to my appointment and we discussed shades of blonde, techniques of highlighting and the use of warm and cool tones to colour hair. It was a technical education for me, and helped us discover together what would look best. She also patch tested the dye on my skin to check there was no reaction.

We decided on natural warm highlights, fading gently to create that sun-worn look. Katie and I chatted away as she worked systematically through my layers. Katie sent me off to have the dye washed out, and noticing my sensitive scalp instructed her colleague to include a moisture-boosting Kerastase treatment during the cleanse. It was divine, soothing and nourishing my head.

Next up was a much needed trim with the lovely Yanna Hogan. I was having so much fun hearing all about life at the salon that I barely noticed my hair change in length. Sharper and straighter, the cut was just what I needed. It felt and looked much better. Yanna carefully illustrated how to give my hair movement and shape using the straighteners that I have at home.

Since visiting the Charles Worthington salon, I have had numerous comments on my hair style and colour. The cut is fresher and sassier and the colour complements my skin tone, a shade brighter for the summer months. I couldn’t be happier with my makeover and highly recommend this boutique salon for all your hair needs!

More information and book an appointment here.

Nails & Brows, Mayfair

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I had just about given up on beauty blogging in Central and West London until I found Nails & Brows. I am always on the lookout for new places for weekend pampering and this stylish little haven ticks every box.

Specialising in nail and eyebrow treatments, this luxurious boutique is ideal for pre-party preening or just a little TLC. Squashed between the uptight hotels and overpriced bars of Berkeley Square, N&B is a breath of fresh air with a stylish white shopfront amongst the dark and oppressive mega brands.

The gorgeous owner Sherrille Riley told me the tale of N&B before I sat down to be spoiled! She emphasised the brand’s key message ‘the importance of enhancing one’s natural beauty’ and explained the healthy organic products they use and the natural techniques the therapists perform. As I leaned back and let my feet be thoroughly scrubbed, I listened to the other beauticians offer advice to their clients, an in depth consultation that is all just part of the standard service here.

The rainbow selection of Essie colours makes choosing the perfect shade rather more difficult. After testing out five contrasting colours, I chose a very pale turquoise for my fingers and a pretty pink for my toes. Chrysi was efficient and thorough, so that my feet were beach-ready despite the lack of upcoming sunny holiday! While my feet were tended, I sipped a coffee and flicked through a glossy magazine, a rare opportunity to totally indulge and relax.

Next I headed upstairs to the eyebrow emporium where wonderwoman Silvie gave me a miraculous brow makeover. I lay back on the bed and let Silvie examine my brow shape and colour. She tinted and reshaped my brows, accentuating my natural line using the Damone Roberts range. My brows looked their very best: defined, dark and healthy, and without doing anything too radical Silvie carefully created a shape that complemented my face shape and made my features more striking.

My final treatment was back downstairs at one of the stylish manicure stations. Sara chatted enthusiastically to me about N&B whilst trimming, filing and moisturising my hands and nails. The colour looked even prettier on and I admired my choice while Sara finished off the top coat and nourishing oil. There is something about manicures that makes me feel so special, and I spent the rest of the day flashing my fingers at the world. Even a week later they still looked pristine and a girl on the bus came up to me to ask where the colour was from and if my nails were fake as they looked so long!

Needless to say I left Nails & Brows a very happy customer. If only I lived nearer I would be in here every weekend having my nails polished and my brows beautified!

More information and book an appointment here: nailsandbrows.me

Blow Bar, Angel

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A blow dry is an instant pick-me-up and I think it is only a matter of time before this quick beautifying treatment becomes a super fad.

Blowbar is a styling bar concept imported from LA. They now have two London branches, in Wandsworth and Islington, and are conveniently located so you can pop in for a 30 minute wash and high fashion blow dry in your lunch break, or dash in before a night out (on Thursday and Friday they stay open until 8pm). And for just £25 a go it feels very affordable.

I visited the cute venue in Camden Passage, Islington… surrounded by gorgeous boutiques and glorious smelling cafes, it is a lovely place to potter around for the afternoon. The Blowbar salon is slick and stylish but very petite with black walls, cream leather seats and two wash basins at the back for hair washing. I love the font used by the company, a vintage twirly writing like the programme ‘Bewitched’ – it has a retro feel.

Blowbar also offer colour and extensions upstairs in the salon but I decided to go for a simple blow dry, so I could experience the treatment that has made them so well known. Emily washed my hair efficiently with the L’Oreal Professional products whilst chatting to me about life at Blowbar. Hearing about all the excitable girls that come in for preening, it sounded like such fun to be here everyday. It would be an ideal place to hold a girlie party, with champagne and a nail varnish station on offer to guests.

I opted for a simple wavy, glamorous style. It only took 20 minutes, after scrunching through a little product, Emily blasted my hair with hot air whilst pinning in several rollers to add more shape. Then to hold the ‘do’ in place she grabbed one of the many cans of Elnett hairspray and blitzed my hair. It felt light and lovely and looked miraculously sophisticated and grown up.

The blow dry will last a few days, and I guarantee after a few sessions at Blowbar you’ll be hooked on this ‘feel good and look great’ therapy.

More information here: www.theblowbar.com