If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the final stages of wedding planning and guests contacting you about taxis, food intolerances and dress options, you’ll want to take some time to relax and unwind ahead of the big day. Here’s our top London picks for your bridal beauty fix.
When planning a wedding, it can be easy to forget to have some down time in the weeks leading up to the big day. Between table plans, dress alterations and chasing RSVPs, it may feel like there’s no time to stop. But self-care is important, especially so in the months just before your wedding. Below, our in-house writer and bride-to-be shares her pick of the best salons and spas to unwind in.
Neville Hair & Beauty
While you may have already heard of Neville Hair and Beauty because of their stylists’ expert tress taming skills, there are a number of other treatments available at this elegant Belgravia establishment. If your hair is in need of some serious repair and nourishment, opt for the K18 & Blowdry, which employs peptides and a leave-in mask to help rebuild keratin protein. Alternatively, you can indulge in the iconic Neville Scalp Facial, which has been carefully designed to soothe sensitive scalps. To add to the experience, there is a huge menu of facial and body treatments, from compression and resculpting therapies to oxygenating and sound wave offerings. nevillehairandbeauty.net
Iris Avenue
Why doesn’t every beauty salon have a painfully chic marble-topped in-house café and cocktail bar? While you enjoy or wait for your treatment at Iris Avenue, you can treat yourself to lattes, chai and smoothies by day or cocktails, mocktails and wine come evening. Speaking of treatments, the team at Iris Avenue have you covered top to toe, perfect for those seeking their bridal beauty fix. Unwind with a luxurious full-body massage complete with hot stones, or a Murad skin ritual facial before getting wedding ready with lash extensions, a spray tan, and some of the most intricate nail art you’ll find in London. Ocean-lovers will want to ask about the extraordinary textured shell manicure designs. irisavenue.com
Paint Nails London
When it comes to nail treatments, there is no better than the wizards over at Paint Nails London. While unassuming from the outside, prepare yourself for an explosion of colour as soon as you walk inside. Head upstairs and you’ll find disco balls, a lively cocktail bar, pink velvet sofas, and more gel colours than you can shake a nail file at. From classic pedicures to nail extensions, they cater to all, from nail novices to manicure moguls. The in-house team are the best of the best, and can offer a myriad of nail art options. Level one covers a range of dips, dots, drips and tips, while level two takes you into the realms of animal prints, asymmetrical crescents and artful swirls. Level three means you’ll be walking out with a super intricate design in multiple colours, from lava lamp bubbles and 80s waves to smiley faces and fluffy clouds. paintnailslondon.co.uk
Lush Spa
For a massage that is more akin to a transformative experience, head to the Lush Spa on Oxford Street. With aromas, oils, scrubs and even soundtracks tailor-made for each treatment, it’s impossible to feel stressed in the themed treatment rooms. While there are familiar menu items such as facials and full-body massages, all using Lush’s delectable products, you can also explore other ways to relax, such as a stretching massage, a reflexology-inspired foot and scalp massage, or a soothing mineral bath followed by a side-lying hot oil massage. Such is the personalisation of these treatments, for some you’ll be asked to explore your own senses and emotions in order to select the most suitable scents for on the day. Lush products are all carefully hand-crafted using natural ingredients. lush.com
Enhance by Tara
Put your best face forward come wedding day with a mesotherapy session with Dr. Tara. With two central London clinics, Enhance by Tara offers a myriad of treatment options, from dermal fillers for those who are looking for a slight tweak, to dermaplaning and LED light therapy. Our choice for brides to be is mesotherapy, a technique that involves a range of vitamins, enzymes, hormones and plant extracts being injected into the skin. It targets a plethora of skin concerns, from tightening loose skin, addressing unwanted pigmentation issues and scarring. Guests will leave with their skin feeling and looking brighter and more refreshed. enhancebytara.com
Body Crush London
As our favourite Bride Wars quote explains, “You don’t alter a Vera to fit you, you alter yourself to fit Vera.” Fitting into your dress come the big day is a problem that every bride worries about. If you’re looking for a helping hand, the Emsculpt Neo treatment, available at Body Crush London, aims to help reduce fat by 30% on average, as well as increasing muscle by 25%. So how does it work, exactly? Guests will be asked to lay back and relax (a perfect solution for the stress that goes hand in hand with wedding planning), whilst the high-tech device does all the hard work for you. You can expect to feel a heated sensation, varying between intense and moderate, whilst the machine stimulates muscle contractions on your chosen target areas. Basically, it’s like a gym session, but less work. For optimum results, the treatment is recommended once per week in the run up to your wedding. bodycrushlondon.com
Premier Laser and Skin Clinic
Another facial treatment we love is the Carbon Laser Facial. Available at London Premier Laser, with a number of clinics across the capital, the Carbon Spectra Hollywood Peel is an exfoliating and resurfacing treatment that works tirelessly to remove excess oil and sebum, minimise large pores, lessen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and reduce live acne and acne scars. Loved by celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Aniston, the treatment can be performed on the face, neck and back, for results where you need it most. And, if it’s good enough for Kim K, it’s good enough for us. londonpremierlaser.co.uk
