Need a hair upgrade on the double? Muse of London is a multi-tasking, super-speedy beauty pit stop, tucked just a few minutes away from Oxford Circus. It’s a colourful, contemporary space that’s the opposite of a soulless city-centre salon. The décor’s all pink-hued lighting, sleek surfaces and cutesy cartoon illustrations, and you can make yourself at home with an enviable stack of glossies and a glass of wine while you wait.
Head downstairs and you’ll find yourself in the shocking pink beauty salon, which offers waxing, brow maintenance and mani-pedis. We went for the gel manicure, done to perfection by the super-friendly therapist. As with any manicure, though, the proof is in the chipping – and nearly two weeks down the line, the polish was still entirely intact. Impressive.
Muse’s USP is the speedy beauty bars, where hair can be coloured and styled in a matter of minutes. If you’re a not so natural blonde, make a beeline for the Root Bar. Here, you can ditch the dusky roots without spending an entire afternoon with your head trussed up like a Christmas turkey. Afterwards, you can opt for a DIY dry – bring your own hairbrush – or upgrade to a blow dry for a couple of extra quid.
Unlike some city centre chain salons, too, Muse know how to style long hair without transforming you into a dodgy 80s throwback. After a quick consultation, our blow dry with creative director Jason left us with just the right amount of curl and volume. Prices start from £25 for a blow dry with a stylist, and from £70 for half a head of highlights.