SO much choice.
When it comes to pampering yourself in the capital city, there is a lot of choice and it can be difficult to find a salon that ticks all the boxes.
The location is important but then so is value for money, and of course, a little luxury is always nice too.
When I moved to Dublin, I had no idea where to even start when it came to a last-minute Shellac or an emergency spray tan.
Four years down the line, that’s changed considerably and now I have a few favourites, all for completely different reasons.
Lap of luxury: OSLO Beauty, Mespil Road.
The brainchild of business partners Amy Huberman and Rob Kearney, you’d imagine this place to be fabulous.
Although it’s only open a couple of months, the facials are a huge talking point for beauty enthusiasts based in the capital.
If you want a purely relaxing hour out from the world, this is the place to go.
Although I usually think it’s complete rubbish when people say “you’ll feel like a new person after such & such treatment”, I genuinely did (for about an hour anyway).
Tip: The interiors are Instagram heaven.
Convenience sake: Brazilia, South William Street
This place is ideal when you want to get in and out quickly, with absolutely no messing or hanging around.
You can get Shellac for €25 and removal is free as long as your nails were done in the salon.
It’s also very handy for waxing and as it’s right in the middle of the city centre, lunchtime and after-work appointments are standard.
Tip: Make your appointment a good week in advance as the evening appointments fill up very quickly.
Slick as: Callan & Co, Ballsbridge
Another salon that’s recently opened, this is a go-to haunt to get prepped for a big day/ night out.
Get a big bouncy blow-out, have your brows tended to and sure while you’re there, you might as well get your makeup done.
Ideal for a special occasion when you want to look your very best.
Tip: Take a peek at the gold shelving inside the door with the vast array of products. Beauty hoarders could spend hours here alone.
A photo posted by callanandco (@callanandcompany) on
Tanning made easy: Polish Spa, Fitzwilliam Street
I don’t think I’m alone in saying the fake tan phobia is real. Apply it yourself and you risk a beauty disaster, get a spray tan and you just have to hope it results in the exact shade you asked for.
Thankfully, Moroccan Tan gives a natural sunkissed glow that fades off naturally, YAY.
Tip: The salon stays open until 8pm from Monday to Friday, so handy for those pre-party spray tans.
Pedi perfection: Edvard & Pink, Dundrum Town Centre
Bearing your feet after months wearing socks and heavy boots isn’t exactly pleasant.
Hard skin, overgrown cuticles, yellowing toenails…you get the grim picture.
The good news is a pedicure will sort you out and Margaret Dabbs is the name you need to know about.
Margaret is a podiatrist and her ‘Medical Pedicure’ is all about treating the feet while making them look pretty at the same time.
Tip: Her foot file actually works for hard cracked heels and you’ll see results straight away. A genuine game-changing treatment.
Speedy style: Roller Blow Bar, Forbes Quay
This secret haunt is perfect for a quick blow-dry where you can get in and out with no hassle or fuss.
The ladies behind Roller, Sonia Flynn and Orna Holland, both work in the tech industry and have described themselves as “self-confessed blow dry addicts”.
They know how essential a good hair day is for an important presentation or interview and so, Roller was born.
Well-lit, spacious, marble aplenty, an extensive blow-dry menu (hello Weekender) and coffee on the go. What’s not to love?!
Tip: there’s takeaway cups specifically for coffee on the go. Genius.
Main image via OSLO Beauty
