Meh... Sophie K and…read moreI were out in city centre enjoying a much needed girls day out, when we decided we wanted to do something spontaneous! I suggested getting on a bus and skipping town for the day, she suggested a manicure. Super excited, we decided since we were going to stop by House of Fraser anyway to peruse their mega sale going on just now, why not treat ourselves to a fancy manicure. That was what we expected, what we got was a 15 minute express manicure, which basically consisted of a quick uneven filing of our nails and a quick slap of colour applied. I was pretty taken aback when that's all I got for £18. I probably should have asked before, but I'm pretty accustomed to a lot more for my money- especially when it comes to my nails. For this amount, I'm used to at least a soaking of the hands, cuticle work and a hand massage- on top of the filing and colour application. To be fair though, I'm looking at my hands now, two days later and the paint is still pretty much on my nails, but I'm a student, on a students budget (aka broke!) so for that amount I would have expected a little more. When I asked if they did anything with my cuticles, the girl told me I'd have to pay another £12 to have my cuticles cut. Uh, no thanks!! I'm not impressed by this manicure in the slightest, but gave it an extra star because of the company I was in.

To be truthful, I'm not a huge fan of fake nails, the thought of something plastic glued to my…read morenails makes me feel a little ill, not to mention the fact that they're so unhygienic. I do, however, absolutely love nail polish and in my time I've tried every single brand under the sun from cheap as chips to very expensive brands. I have to say that Nails Inc. are my favourite, the colours are so vibrant and always look super glossy, they last for ages without chipping and there's just so much choice. For my Christmas my mum bought me a set from Nails. Inc with twelve nail polishes inside, every kind of colour you can imagine. My favourites are Brook Street and Draycott Place which are two gorgeous red colours. As well as striking colours that will definitely make you stand out in a crowd they also have more natural colours and french manicure sets for work days. This Nails Inc. salon inside House Of Frasers gives you the choice of getting your nails done by one of the professionals or buying your own set. To be honest, the polishes are of such high quality that even if you do them yourself, they still look pretty professional. They're not too cheap though, a single nail polish costs £10.50. You're best to buy one of their sets where you can get around 8 mini polishes for just £20.

i desperately needed a manicure and eyebrow trim. House of Glamour was recommended for me. I phoned…read moreand booked appointment. I was a little late. I have to say the girls and service in this salon is exceptional..I was made very welcome from the moment I arrived. I had a lovely coffee whilst I sat for my manicure. Then taken into a beautiful relaxing beauty room for my brows.I was informed of the great offers they have on at the moment. Great offers for Christmas presents. I will definitely be back. Thanks House of Glamour for a lovely day.

I called this morning to make a last minute nails appointment and they were able to fit me in this…read moreafternoon for a Shellac. My nails were done by Courtney, and I am very pleased with them. She did exactly as I asked, and they are now ready for a night out in Glasgow. The shop it's self is quite large due to the number of different treatments and services provided. On entry there is the hair salon, which leads through to beauty treatment rooms. At first I thought the nail equipment looked a little worse for wear, but then Courtney explained that they are just ordering all new ones after trying out a prototype. We used the prototype and it was a lot more comfortable (less chance of catching my nails on the entrance) and a lot quicker than the older models. She explained that along with the Hair and nails, they offer: waxing, massages, eyelashes, tinting, make-up, hair extensions and spray tan. The whole process took about an hour, and this month they are offering 10% off. After discussing hairstyles, among many other things while doing my nails, she suggested a book a consultation with the hair stylist, which I will attend next week. The shop itself is bright, and well laid out, and is about to undergo some renovations. My main issue with this experience was parking. Free parking is available on the street and in the car park opposite, however spaces are very limited. Overall a lovely place with friendly, competent staff.

Back at Benefit Brow Bar in Frasers Glasgow today , was happy to see Carly again and more than…read morehappy to leave with perfect eyebrows ! thank you Carly !

Benefit make-up is one of the most popular brands around today, but recently i've come to realise…read morethat sometimes the quirky packaging is a lot better than the actual product itself. Everything here is beautifully presented and you can get mini sets of all the full size products in a dinky little set which is perfect size for handbags! I usually get the odd Benefit product at Christmas time which is great. However, when I compare it to other brands such as MAC, Lancome and Bobbi Brown, Benefit just doesn't cut it. Especially with foundation, there really isn't a lot of coverage and i've found it goes quite patchy throughout the day which isn't a good look. Perhaps it just doesn't work aswell with my skin but i've found myself going off Benefit more and more recently. I am also upset that they've decided to discontinue my favourite "Maybe Baby" fragrance, instead replacing it with the new "Crescent Row" range which is beautifully designed with the packaging more appealing than the actual fragrance. The outer packaging being a little house and the perfume bottle looks like a little cocktail shaker, very cute but the main thing you're paying for is a box. They have also made the mistake of having a very poor range of shades of foundation and claiming one shade matches every skintone - absolute nonsense! The staff are always friendly, but they all work on commission so no matter what you try on, it's always going to look fabulous. Funny that. I have to admit, their "That Gal" primer is one of the best i've used and it smells amazing, I'm also a fan of "High Beam". I think Benefit is a case of style over substance and it kind of reminds me of The Emperors New Clothes. I used to be a huge fan of Benefit but feel I have been deceived and suckered in by the pretty packaging disguising average quality make-up and paying a hefty price for it to boot.

Love my hair. Ian was great and knew what would suit my hair type and face shape. I would recommend.read more

Really really great experience here thanks to stylist Amy!…read more Walked in, hair perfectly frizzy and wind blown, thanks to Glasgow's ever changing weather patterns, and even though I was a bit early, I was taken in straight away for a consultation and a nice head massage. I absolutely love Aveda salons because not only are their products plant derived and naturally made, their salons have high standards for their clients, and offer amazing side services like a free head massage. Anyway, not having had my hair cut since before new years eve, I was looking pretty ratty. To be fair, it's mid cram time for exams, and I barely towel dry my hair in the morning before I'm rushing off to the library to study. Today was no exception. Amy and I discussed what I wanted done with my hair, she gave me some advice, and we came to the conclusion that in order to grow my hair out the way I want, she was going to take my current style (a grown out inverted bob) and shape it in a way that would eventually even out all the layers to start the long process of properly growing out my hair. Hair shampooed and conditioned (with Aveda products obviously!), I sat back in the chair for some friendly banter and an amazing hair cut. Amy is super friendly and very knowledgeable, I felt like I was in capable hands, and had no worries whatsoever that she might sheer me bald or layer my fringe (what most hair stylists want to do first when they see me). We had loads to talk about from 24 being one of the best shows around, to how I met my boyfriend and the love story that is my every day life. It was a great wee chat. Once it was all said and done, my hair was perfect. I've always wanted to find someone who could shape my hair to the style that I've seen in magazines a while back that I can never seem to get done to my hair, but I think Amy is a diamond in the rough as far as being able to properly cut my hair...and me actually love it!! Checking out, I realised there was a Yelp deal (a tenner off services) and I also got the student discount. With all that savings, I thought it the perfect time to pick up some products to treat myself for once! I love Aveda products- my hair really responds to them and every one should start using them! Westend hair, you surprised me! I've walked past you many times, and finally decided to give you a go, and I'm so glad I did. I've already recommended Amy to my friend Sophie K. and will continue to recommend her and Westend hair to everyone!

Karen is not only a great stylist she is kind and caring to all her clients. I had a five star…read moreexperience going from black to blonde. During the process i observed Karen at work, every client has a unique experience personalised to them. Karen has a fantastic working relationship with her assistant Abbie. Thank you both treating me like a queen for a day.

Just like Lucy B, I first heard about the Beauty Boutique at a Yelp event - Belles in the Basement…read more I booked in for a back, neck and shoulder massage at the event, for a few weeks later on a Saturday. I really like how the Beauty Boutique communicates, they sent me a reminder a few days earlier with everything I needed to know (which is not much, of course, but still a nice feeling to know I was not forgotten). Upon arrival, I had to fill in a short questionnaire about any problems that I may have and then I got the massage from Lynsay, who really did everything that could be done to my back, bringing me back to a normal life in just half an hour. I was so happy with the results that three weeks later I made an appointment for the same massage and a Dermalogica express facial. This is the visit that turned my opinion into a real five star rating. I mentioned in a review earlier that I am allergic to some cosmetic ingredients, but had yet to learn new details about my skin condition. Not only did Lynsay tell me what other specific items to be careful with (which is really such a big help for me after years and years of self patch testing and a hit-and-miss sort of sample hunt), but also she checked each and every product one by one to see whether she can use them on me or not. As soon as I can see what my future schedule looks like, I will book my next appointment!

Two words - amazing eyelashes!…read more I'm not usually one for beauty treatments and such, but I was tempted to try Beauty Boutique and Day Spa when I met them at the Malmaison Belles in the Basement event. The ladies there seemed so friendly and down to earth, and I was offered a discount due to being at the event, so I booked in for eyelash extensions. I am so happy with the result! I'd never had extensions before so wasn't sure what to expect. The therapist, Emma, asked me what sort of look I would like, as she can vary lengths etc depending on what you're after, and while I LOVE the full bhoona big lashes look, I felt that something more subtle would be most appropriate for now. The result is a really natural and polished look. No more gunky mascara! I'm really pleased that this will cut down my morning routine, while still adding a fluttery finishing touch to my face. Emma is so nice, and I felt really comfortable in the salon. It's a lovely place, tucked into a Bath St basement, but it's like a tardis - there's a lot packed in down there. There's the main part of the salon, where eyelashes and nails are done, which is quite nice actually because if there's a few of you, you'd easily be able to chat. Then there's the private rooms, where you can have a comprehensive range of treatments from massage, waxing, and all sort of serious sounding facials. Then there's also the spa area! There is a big jacuzzi, some day beds, and a relaxation lounge. It's ideal for couples or groups who'd like to have some treatments, as well as a relaxing soak and lounge-about afterwards. Apparently they do hen-dos and parties and so on. I was really pleased to be shown about, and the whole place seems lovely. I also really liked the service generally - it seems very efficient. There's an option to book on-line, but however you book, you'll get an email reminder, which is handy, and also a thank you note after you've left - how nice! In terms of price, I think Beauty Boutique and Day Spa are offering a good deal. At time of writing, eyelash extensions are normally £70 with Emma, which sounds like a lot, but compared to other places, that's really quite good. I checked another nearby popular lash place before booking, and they charge £100 for extensions with a 'Master Technician' and then you have to pay £50 for top-ups! That's ridiculous! I think that is really just taking advantage of regular customers who maybe don't want to try anywhere else. With Beauty Boutique and Day Spa, you also get a FREE top-up after 2 weeks, which is excellent. So the way I'm thinking, it's really like £35 per time for the first 2 visits, which is a good price. I'll be interested to see how long my lashes last. I've been given some good advice from Emma about how to look after them, and have already booked in for my top-up treatment. This is one beauty treatment that I could really get used to!

I debated a long time about writing this review but it keeps bothering me. It's been a little over…read more6 months since I got my hair cut here and I am still growing out the absolutely terrible haircut I got here. Nothing close to what I asked for and the layers on one aide of my head are actually several inches longer than the other. I have never cried after getting a haircut until my haircut here, it still haunts me 6 months later. Save yourself the trouble and go somewhere else

This was with thanks to Ryan W. who posted on the Talk thread about Hely Hair's 50% discount on…read morecolour. I thought I desperately need a hair cut, I haven't been to a hairdressers in six months. I know, pretty bad!! I normally colour it myself but I thought, let's give the Hely Hair family peeps a go. I first went along to check it out and see if I could book an appointment. I was greeted by a lovely girl who said I could have a consultation there and then with their colourist, Carrie Anne. She was absolutely delightful and so down to earth. I always worry that the more expensive a place, the more posh they'll be making me feel really intimidated. There was none of that at all. Carrie Anne brought out the colour book and I explained the colours I like and have had previous. It was weird for me as I have never used my phone pics before and she had her iPad with previous clients hair colours and style, so between us both we compared to get a better idea of what would be best and what I liked. So modern! Hehe!! They were very busy, appointments wise, but I managed to book in on the last day of the 50% colour sale deal. Phew! I had opted to go with four different colours. Why not?! Hely Hair isn't too far from Hyndland Train Station and there's plenty of lovely places for a coffee and bite to eat, so, is well located. Again, as I arrived on H-Day, I was greeted by lovely smiling faces and then taken up to the mezzanine level to be seated and prepped for Carrie Anne. She was spot on and had a good note of what we went through the previous week. We then just picked a base colour then the magic began. I also had another girl helping out on my colour, I believe her name was Erin, she was absolutely lovely too. I felt like a proper lady getting pampered. They were fast and efficient and the only waiting time was the development. I was made sure I had a wee cuppa and some magazines to pass the time. I also enjoy just taking in the atmosphere and people watching, seeing what other clients are having done. They said they don't have too many customers who come in for bright colours so they enjoyed the experience with a real excitement themselves to see the results. Well, with a wash, snip and fabulous blow dry style I felt wonderful and the end result was beautiful. To me I felt like a velvet cherry. Hehe!! My hair looked amazing, just like velvet, and the colours were so rich. I officially name this look 'The Velvet Cherry'. In the end it was a little more pricey than expected even with the 50% discount, my fault in I should have asked for a quote first as I did have a few colours. I don't go to hairdressers often so it makes up for all those lost appointments and I get my hair back to a healthy, more manageable, state with gorgeous colours. A massive thanks to the girls and I would definitely go back, even just for a cut and blow dry as it was that good. I'm off to swoosh my luscious locks once more.