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If you want to know the best place to book a blowdry or where to find the fastest wax in the West, ask a Londoner.
Experts in the field of tourist dodging and uncovering hidden gems, the city is brimming with unofficial beauty buffs who wouldn’t trust just anyone with their spray tan. But, given that Londoners are also adverse to chatting to strangers, online beauty directory Treatwell has done some of the legwork for us.
This year, its salons have gone through more gel nail polish bottles than the height of the London Eye and The Shard combined, while its masseuses have spent enough time loosening knots to burn off 161,951 mince pies. And with a booking made every 1.5 seconds, it’s safe to say its millions of discerning reviewers are experts in the field.
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So here are eight of London’s top-ranked secret salons which may well be right up your street.
Las Vegas Beauty, Fulham
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Best for: Waxing
Frequenters to Fulham’s fast-and-no-frills Las Vegas Nails parlour may already be in on the secret of the treatment room upstairs. For those who aren’t, this hidden gem is home to the fastest wax in the West, with reviewers hailing it “the best Hollywood wax” that’s over in “less than 10 minutes”. Hassle-free speed is their USP, but it’s also a calm oasis compared to the flurry of polish and pedicures below.
(30-32 Fulham High Street, SW6)
Majiki, Hammersmith
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Best for: Lashes
Tucked away within a private residence, you could walk right past Majiki. But this light, bright space is home to one of the capital’s most in demand eyelash extension experts — owner Lorraine’s cult clientele wouldn’t trust their Christmas party flutter with anyone else, with one newcomer noting that “they exceeded all my expectations — everyone has been complimenting them”. Bespoke and perfectly sculpted High Definition Brows are also something of a signature here.
(132 Rainville Road, W6)
Le Spa du Petit, Exmouth Market
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Best for: Everlasting manicures
A small salon with a big reputation, Le Spa du Petit is one of London’s best- kept secrets. Located in a mansion block amid the hustle, bustle and market stalls of Exmouth Market, therapists Livia and Iva cover everything from waxing to facials, but are best known for their “shellac manicures that last weeks”.
(No.1 City Mansions, Exmouth
Market, EC1)
The Lion and the Fox, Holborn
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Best for: Curated cuts
Part hair salon, part art gallery — and not, as the name would suggest, your new favourite local pub — The Lion and the Fox is as stylish as it is serious about hair. Stylist and photographer Tim Pateman’s team of scissor hands curate cool cuts amid a rotating collection of art works from the likes of illustrator Will Broome and graphic designer James Joyce. Little touches that will keep you coming back include Square Mile Coffee and plonk cherrypicked by GQ sommelier of the year Ruth Spivey.
(28 Hatton Wall, EC1)
That Hair Place, Islington
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Best for: A home from home haircut
Located on the corner of Newington Green, That Hair Place lives up to its name as the salon you’ll soon be telling everyone about. Cosy and unassuming, the stylists are as friendly as they are nifty with a hairdrier. “The perfect ambience to let you watch the world go by” and stylists who go “above and beyond” are among the reasons why this neighbourhood hotspot is well loved, plus they offer kids cuts for your whole brood too.
(133 Newington Green Road, N1)
Thai London Therapy, Marylebone
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Best for: Muscle-melting massages
Catering to the city centre’s most stressed execs and weary shoppers, Thai London Therapy — nestled within Marylebone’s Rossmore Spa — offers authentic Thai massages and muscle-melting hot stone therapies at decidedly un-central London prices, all of which has resulted in a very long list of loyal — and decidedly chilled out — customers.
(60-61 Rossmore Road, NW1)
Shoop Hair, Notting Hill
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Best for: Eco-friendly hair colour
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Sandwiched between Holland Park and Portobello Road, Shoop prides itself on using only sulphate and paraben-free Kevin Murphy colours and products, all of which are PETA approved and have zero carbon footprint. Free, in-depth consultations come as standard to ensure every customers leaves with exactly the style they had in mind, while “good vibes” is a phrase that pops up often in reviews. It gets extra props for the great soundtrack and sleep-inducing scalp massages.
(123 Clarendon Road, W11)
The Shout House, Tulse Hill
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Best for: Pre-party hair
Open until late Wednesday to Saturday to accommodate south London locals on their way to paint the town, this new, super-vibesy salon does a roaring trade in pre-party updos and killer blowdries — as well as technicolour tresses if you want to fully commit to your party look. Fun and friendly
sums up this place perfectly, and there’s a barbering section to cater for the boys, too.
(178A Norwood Road, SE27)