The best spa I’ve ever visited is The Bothy at Heckfield Place. They use Wildsmith products, which I love, and the treatment protocols are unlike anything else I’ve experienced. The therapists incorporate craniosacral holds and begin at the feet, which is a really grounding way to start a treatment. My requirements for a spa are simple: soothing, nurturing, restorative. If I want performance-driven results, however, I go to my facialist. These are two entirely different needs.
I’m a nail-biter, so a regular gel manicure is non-negotiable. I go between Swanky’s on Portobello Road for everyday appointments and Angeline’s in Tooting (introduced to me by my cousin) for something more creative. The best my nails have ever looked was with Bio Sculpture and I’m slowly being converted to BIAB.
I’m a qualified facialist, which means I am extremely fussy. My first call is always Melinda McKee at Sated Face, who has a studio in West London. If you can’t get a booking, Sarah Chapman is probably the most efficient, with lasers, extractions, peels, recovery all used in one session. You leave looking as though you’ve had a fortnight’s holiday. Sarah Bradden also has such healing hands – it’s a reset for both your skin and your overall energy levels.
When my hair doesn’t feel good, I don’t feel good. It really is that simple. I have naturally curly hair and love to move between curly and straight – variety is part of the joy. My first call for treatments and styling is Charlotte Mensah where I book with Kacey. A word of warning: you cannot visit Charlotte’s without also having a slice of cake. For colour, Christel at STIL salon on the Fulham Road is extraordinary. Every foil placement is so considered – she’s also obsessed with hair health and responsible for some of the best colour results of my life.
