Nails & Brows, Mayfair

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

Benito Brow Bar, Debenhams, Oxford Street

Benito Brow Bar is not easy to find, hidden away at the back of Debenhams on Oxford Street you’d be forgiven for thinking it didn’t exist. I had to ask four shop assistants about its whereabouts – all of whom looked at me pityingly and suggested I’d come to the wrong shop: “there’s no Benito here”. Checking my phone and assuring myself that I WAS in the correct place, I continued browsing before stumbling across Benito in the very back corner of the ground floor.

The girls were ready for my arrival and quietly seated me for my brow shape. It had been a while since my last eyebrow thread and they were looking unruly and overgrown. After applying calming tea tree oil, Gurpreet discussed the shape I wanted and trimmed my brows delicately. Then she got out her cotton thread and began plucking the hairs efficiently. It felt more painful than usual, but the result was extremely accurate. I explained that I prefer a natural shape, not too thin and she plucked accordingly, finally applying Aloe Vera gel to close the pores and sooth my agitated skin. My eyebrows looked stylish and tidy ready for the forthcoming week of events and parties.

Once you have found it, Benito Brow Bar is the ideal location for a pre-party pamper. Offering different threading options and eyelash extensions, they have got everything you need for fabulous eyes, brows and lashes.

Visit the website here to book now.