Intricate nail art at Wah Nails © Rob Greig
Intricate nail art at Wah Nails © Rob Greig
Pampering for less
Cheapest! Nail colour change, £7, Tottenham Street, London, W1T 4RH
This little nail bar sorts out your nails with little ceremony and only moderate cost attached (£15 gets you a good manicure). The only glossy thing about the place is the nails, but that means staff are happy to get stuck in with the power tools to file off dead skin; our tester left after a pedicure with feet half a size smaller. We’re not the only ones to have discovered it: often the queue is out the door, so it’s worth booking. Read more
Cheapest! Intensive scalp treatment, £8, Camden Passage, London, N1 8EA
This drop-in hair bar has just opened on a cosy Islington back street. The young, stylish team offer a range of blow-dry styles for £16 in the teeny, clean-as-a-whistle salon. That gets you a swish blow dry, your own iPod on a speaker and a glass or two of fizz to prep you for a night out. And there’s something for the gents too: men can get a hair pep-up for just £5. Read more
Cheapest! Unisex ‘Instant Treats’ conditioning treatment, £12.50, Sicilian Avenue, London, WC1A 2QH
Brooks and Brooks is a multi-award-winning salon in Bloomsbury (three times London Hairdresser of the Year, for starters). It’s good value in general (with cuts from £35), but on Mondays and Tuesdays you can get a restyle completely free. Cuts are by trainees, but fully supervised by the best in the business. Read more
Cheapest! Nail file and polish, £8, Edgware Road, London, W2 1TH
ou wouldn’t know it from the outside, but the door of number 439 leads you to a underground cavern of exotic delights – tiled tunnels filled with billowing steam, copper pans filled with cool water in the saunas and Moroccan maidens dispensing buckets of olive soap and mud. If you opt for a hamam for £89 (and you really should), then prepare yourself: for every relaxing sit-down in the steam, there’s a bucket of cold water to be chucked at you, and the beauticians are really not shy about the bits they soap down between mud wraps. But the good old fashioned scrubbing and traditional clay masks will leave you with results that are easily a match for some of the most expensive treatments in the capital, even if you feel at times like you’re being pressed to reveal state secrets rather than pampered. For those of a more delicate disposition, the Dermalogica facial is excellent, an hour long and £40. Read more
Cheapest! Top-up ten-minute treatment (massage, manicure or pedicure), £9.50, Poland Street, London, W1F 8QB
We have heard the odd less-than-favourable review of Cucumba, with testers griping about being ushered in and out a bit too quickly – but that’s rather the point of this express Soho salon, which specialises in pit-stop beauty treatments. Happily, our testers don’t have a bad word to say about their experiences here, where you can pick treatments charged by the minute. Choose between ‘Topups’, ‘Quickfixes’ and ‘Pitstops’– and pay about £17 for a duo like an eyebrow shape and nail job, which will take about 17 minutes. New to the menu is the beguiling-sounding ‘vajazzle fanny art’, a steal at £3.50. Sadly, testers for this one were unavailable at the time of writing. Read more
Cheapest! Eyebrow shape, £12.50, Turnham Green Terrace, London, W4 1RP
Yes, that Dove. In between filling bars of soap with one quarter moisturising cream, the cosmetics company has found time to establish a chain of good-value, no-nonsense beauticians across the capital. While most are located in the bowels of Virgin Active gyms, the stand-alone branch in Chiswick is quite cosy, and offers great massage and some lovely treatments for January, like the ‘head-to-toe recharge’. That gets you a full-body buff, wrap, facial and massage for £49. Read more
Cheapest! Moisture treatment for Afro hair, £10, Motcomb Street, London, SW1X 8LB
Errol Douglas is one of the capital’s most award-winning hairdressers (nominated no less than 13 times for British Hairdresser of the Year) and is visionary in his treatment of Afro hair but equally adept with other types, too. You can experience the treatment for just £15, Monday to Wednesday, when supervised trainees offer cuts and blow dries. If you’re after colour with a pro, tinting services with the lovely Jade come with a free blow dry (usually £35) until the end of January. Read more
Cheapest! Eyebrow wax, £5, Margaret Street, London, W1W 8SE
Esthetique is part of the London School of Beauty, and a training ground for beauty undergraduates, but it is run like a professional salon, with a full roster of treatments at incredible value. Your £9 manicure may be carried out by a student, but it will be under the watchful eye of a note-taking tutor. We haven’t been brave enough to entrust our bikini lines to the novice waxers, but a recent facial at £15 was of a very professional standard. Booking in advance is recommended. Read more
Cheapest! Women’s blow dry, £24, Hanover Street, London, W1S 1YQ
Headmasters is a fairly widespread chain of hairdressers, but don’t let that put you off. The Mayfair branch does a great cut and blow dry, and there’s a free loyalty scheme that gets you 25 per cent off all services Monday to Friday before 4pm. If you’re not particular about which stylist serves you, then go for an excellent-value last-minute appointment: book after 6pm the day before your visit, or walk in, and a cut/blow dry is just £18 for men and £25 for women. Hair only. Read more
Cheapest! Half-hour blow dry, £24, Topshop, Great Castle Street, London, W1W 8LG
The Time Out team have been fans of Hershesons Blow Dry Bars since the first one opened in Topshop, Oxford Circus, in 2006. Branches now exist in Westfield and One New Change. A 30-minute blow dry – you pick from one of eight set styles – will set you back just £24. You can also buy the full range of hair accessories including Hershesons bows and the new ‘winges’ (a wig-fringe). No appointment is required: you just turn up, which is always handy. Read more
Cheapest! Eyebrow hair (men and women) removal, £11, Litchfield Street, London, WC2H 9NU
This glossy two-floored hair and beauty salon in Covent Garden has won several industry awards for its cut and colour services (including London Hairdresser of the Year for Karine). Despite its stellar credentials, you can get a luxury Kérastase blow dry for £15, which includes refreshments, from Monday to Friday. The staff are friendly and accommodating, whether you’re popping in for a quick fringe-trim or a brand new cut. Read more
Cheapest! Light repair treatment, £15, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8EB
This neat little salon is in the heart of theatreland, and offers a high standard of unpretentious service. New customers get 40 per cent off their first visit, which means a glossy Covent Garden cut and blow dry is yours for just over £30. The salon also offers a Keratin permanent blow dry for £150, which seems pricey until you find out the going rate is more than £250 and you’ll look like a L’Oréal advert for the rest of the year... so it could well be worth it. Read more
Cheapest! Lip or chin wax, £8, Porchester Road, London, W2 5HS
If you’ve never felt able to justify a spa trip, then grab your mum/significant other and head to Paddington, where The Porchester’s tranquil pools, Turkish hot baths, steam rooms and Finnish saunas await you at a very reasonable cost. Couples can come for the day on Sundays, and pay less than £30 for both of you for full use of the facilities. You didn’t hear it from us, but if you express an interest in membership of the club you can often solicit a day pass for free too. Read more
Cheapest! Nail file and polish, £12, Ravey Street, London, EC2A 4QP
About a year ago, this plush, cosy little salon decided to combat the recession by halving a lot of its prices. We only wish the idea would catch on in the nearby Shoreditch bars. That means prices are very fair for the area, and the spa also regularly advertises great offers on its website. In January, these include a complete dry body brush, detox wrap, massage and blow dry for £100. Alternatively, a cut and blow dry will be less than £30 for the whole month. Read more
Cheapest! Eyebrow or lip wax, £5, Rachel McGregor covers most parts of east London from Shoreditch to Essex (07985 312987/ www.beautyeastlondon.com).
Rachel used to work at the pricey-but-good City Beach in Spitalfields, before starting up as east London’s favourite mobile beautician. She is a quick, no-nonsense waxer (a thorough Brazilian is £20 – just make sure your flatmates are out), but her real speciality is nails. Her bio-nails simply do not chip and can easily last for a month, so that’s four manicures’ worth of nail for £20.
Cheapest! Lip or chin wax, £7, Streatham High Road, London, SW16 1BS
This lovely little salon is run with a meticulous hand by the fragrant Mariama Diallo-Soauré, and attracts Parisians from all over London. Prices are always reasonable (pedicures start at £13), especially considering the recent refurbishment of the premises, but book in for a slimming course in January and you'll get a free body wrap to speed along the pudding-shedding process. Every month there is a similar offer run via the website, so it pays to check before you visit. Read more
Cheapest! Eyebrow threading, £7, Kingsland Road, London, E8 2JP
It doesn’t look like much at all from the outside – or the inside, for that matter – but family-run Sheer Bliss is a real beaut for treatments in Dalston. Waxes are great value (£18 for a full Brazilian) and threading is a steal at £7 for eyebrows. Read more
Cheapest! False nail removal, £10, Kingsland Road, London, E8 4AA
This edgy nail bar has made such an impact on the fashion scene in London, it’s hard to believe it only launched last year. It’s already established nail stations in Topshop, as well as just about every fashion launch party of 2010, and brought nail art back to the fashion masses. The deft-of-hand nail technicians can rattle off a photo-real animal print on a nail in a matter of minutes, and will happily undertake a design of your choosing – particularly if you’re up for something ‘badass’. A basic design like stripes, zebra or Chanel-style tips will set you back about £15. Read more
Cheapest! Lip or chin threading, £7, Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre, Adelaide Road, London, NW3 3NF
Noticing the success of the Turkish bath conversion in Bethnal Green’s York Hall, Camden Council opened up Spa London, a Swiss Cottage cousin to the original, in 2009. Public-sector day spas bring luxury to the masses, although prices are reasonable rather than dirt cheap (£25 for 15 minutes in the dry floatation tank). For a complete spa day package, with steam rooms, Turkish hamam and plunge pools, you’re still best heading to Bethnal Green, where the aqua facilities are great, but Swiss Cottage still offers a long treatment menu which is unparalleled for variety and value in the area. Read more
Blow the budget
Cheapest! Eyebrow shape or tint, £20, Wilton Place, SW1X 7RL
You might not know it, but overlooking the chaos of W1 is a rooftop spa that seems a spiritual world away from the crowds, rather than just seven floors above them. The pool has an amazing view of the city, and the spa treatments are thorough and leisurely. A luxury pedicure costs £60, and there’s a long menu of prenatal treatments from £45.
Cheapest! Gents’ cutting, £55, Broadway Market, London, E8 4QJ
This is a hairdresser like no other: a speakeasy-style saloon above an east London pub that’s fashioned like a traditional barbers. There is no salon formality here, but cuts and colours are second to none. Sophia dispenses the most natural golden highlights in the capital for £110. Read more
Cheapest! Body scrub, £60, Cadogan Gardens, London, SW3 2RJ
If money were no object, we’d go to Ushvani. Located behind a barely marked almighty door in Knightsbridge, it feels more like a hidden gentlemen’s club than a spa. But in the bowels of the building are whirlpools and baths and truly world-class facilities. If we had the money (and we don’t), we’d book into the Asmara couple’s suite for three hours of complete spa experience (£620). Read more
Cheapest! Underarm or bikini wax, £20, Carlos Place, London, W1K 2AL
While located beneath the Connaught Hotel in less-than-relaxing Mayfair, once you’re being massaged in oils from the continent of your choice in the heavenly Aman Spa, ensconced in hot towels on a heated bed, and being murmured to in hushed tones by your barefoot therapist, you won’t believe you’re not in a Malaysian beach spa. The spa also features what must be London’s nicest swimming pool, black tiled and complete with waterfall. A half-hour treatment costs around £70. Read more
Cheapest! Eyebrow wax, £26, Albemarle Street, London, W1S 4HP
A beauty editor of a very famous glossy tipped us off about Guinot. It is the only place she will allow herself to be epilated, and one trip reveals why. The two-pronged attack of two different waxing methods – Épil Smart (for all areas) and Stick’Hair (for the lady bits) – is genuinely painless. What’s more, the surroundings make the whole experience of waxing almost relaxing. Quite expensive (£54 for a full leg), but very much worth it. Read more
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21 comments
Looking for a cheap but modern and professional perm, any salon recommendations? No poodle hair please! :)
I've just came across this while looking to leave a review for a salon I used this weekend in east London,
I had a full body wax (head-toe) at a salon in bow wharf called OMG Beauty In Bow Wharf!
My waxing was amazing proberly the best I've ever had,the girl made me feel very comftable and got straight down to business!
The salon was cleaned and very trendy! I've rebooked and would recommend to anyone! Very very reasonable priced and the cheapest in my area! East London rocks!
If anyone want their number it's 0208 981 3791 and if you google them they have a website!
Hope this review is helpful! Enjoy guys!!
I just had a full set of eyelash extentions at Molly Sugden's in Brick Lane and they were amazing. My lashes look so good and pretty reasonable. Ask for Jazz.
hello..i am mrs usman from islamabad,pakistan. i am a profesional beautician and a diploma holder. i need a job there plz..i know every thing about beautition like, cutting,threading,hair dye,makeup(party n bridal),rebounding,waxing,facial,body message etc etc...
Without a shadow of doubt the most amazing Sunday chill out experince to do with your partner is to have a soak in a candle lit bath for two followed by a deep tiissue massage at Kimantra Urban Spa. It's Islingtons best kept secret. Also I discovered they do Oxygen Facials...yummie!!!
BODYESSENCELONDON.COM IN HIGHGATE, GETS MY VOTE EVERYTIME! My wife wont go anywhere else! She used to go there even when we lived in surrey! She also reckons they do a record breaking bikini wax (7 minutes!) anyway, her pampering aside, what impresses me most is their knowledge. I was having back pain so my wife booked me in for a back massage. I couldnt believe how quickly Yasmeen diagnosed the problem! And the clincher is that they are so affordable! I'm now a convert! So check it out for yourselves... Yasmeen has also featured in the Ham & High Article for having treated an NHS doctor ! She's so good I that I just had to mention her here!
I am definitely going to anywhere but Mollie Sugden Hairdressing
Foster London Hair & Beauty has the best beauty on offer, a very experienced girl sorted out my waxing and pedicure beautifully! The prices are super low too
Thanks for the info all!
Would anybody know where to get an affordable & effective "Inch Loss Body Wrap" in London or Brighton???
:)
Thanks
Sorry but your reviewer has clearly never been to Casablanca Spa or Casa Spa on Edgware Road - not a pleasant experience and not one I would care to repeat! If you want a really intrepid reviewer let me know - I've tried some of the weirdest spas and treatments in the world! (Spa London is awesome - beats the Porchester hands down!)
BRIXTON MABROUKA WAXING AMAZING is the cheap and amazing, the best wax I have ever had! The woman Latifa is lovely as well. Small salon but great service. Not a quick service, but as she says herself haste makes waste! Ferndale Road Brixton!
Its really sad that companies cannot advertise properly and pose as happy customers i have to LOOOOL...
Its really sad that companies cannot advertise properly and pose as happy customers i have to LOOOOL...
Itss really sad that companies cannot advertise properly and pose as happy customers i have to LOOOOL...
Wow - sounds like every member of staff from Molly Sugdens has been on here pretending to be customers.