Whether you want a non-toxic manicure, chemical-free hair colour or a plant-based facial, here’s everything you need to know about London’s eco-friendly beauty salons.
Switching to a clean beauty regime doesn’t have to mean saying goodbye to treatments and salon visits. London is home to a number of covetable destinations that cater to hair, nail and skincare needs in a non-toxic, sustainable way. Discover our pick of the capital’s best eco-friendly beauty havens where you can pamper yourself and care for the planet.
ONE-STOP-SHOP
Content Beauty, Marylebone
Part-organic skincare store, part-naturopathic clinic, part-beauty salon, Content Beauty is a one-stop shop for your clean beauty needs. Imelda Burke opened the boutique over a decade ago, after noticing the levels of synthetics present in a cream she was using. She immersed herself in the study of non-toxic, plant-based skincare, quickly becoming the go-to woman in London for natural, organic beauty. Brands stocked in the boutique – including De Mamiel, May Lindstrom, plus lesser known indie labels such as Kahina Giving Beauty – are hand-picked from around the world, and all must meet a strict criteria which ensures no nasties. Stop in for a facial using green “farm-to-face” beauty brand Tata Harper, or try its “Detox your make-up bag” service, which helps you switch to more eco-friendly alternatives.
32-24 New Cavendish Street, Marylebone, W1, contentbeautywellbeing.com
The Organic Pharmacy, Chelsea and other locations
A pioneer in the organic beauty world since husband and wife team Margo and Francesco Marrone opened their first shop on the Kings Road in 2002. The concept was simple: it was an emporium for natural beauty and wellness, where expert staff could advise on treatments and products for your needs, all free from toxins and organic. Based on homeopathic principles and herbal medicine, the brand’s skincare range promises potent results, using over 250 organic medicinal herbs hand-blended in a factory in London to reduce any carbon footprint. Now an international brand, The Organic Pharmacy has stores and spas across the country and four in the capital offering myriad treatments. Try one of the detox Lunar Cleanses which scans your vitamin and mineral levels and uses massage to reduce bloating.
396 Kings Road, Chelsea, SW1 and other locations in London, theorganicpharmacy.com
NAIL SALONS
AMA Nails, Brixton
Founded by fashion industry approved session nail stylist Ama Quashie, AMA opened in Brixton last winter with some seriously clean credentials. The natural nail salon uses products such as 10-free formula polishes; Kure Bazaar for varnishes; LA-based gel system NCLA, which is 7-free, vegan and cruelty-free; paraffin-free wax alternative Eco-fin for treatments; and skincare brand Pinks Boutique for scrubs and creams. The eclectic living room style decor and considered playlist gives the place a home-away-from-home vibe.
340 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, SW9, amathesalon.com
Le Fix, Fitzrovia
Billing itself as “London’s green beauty haven”, beauty bar Le Fix stocks a curated range of emerging clean brands you won’t find elsewhere. The natural, organic and vegan treatment menu ranges from detox facials and vegan waxing through to bespoke make-up consultations, but it’s the manicures that prove the most popular. Offering the Jessica soak-off gel polishes – all of which are 7-free, cruelty-free and 100 per cent vegan – Le Fix is the perfect eco-luxe pampering pitstop.
45 Newman Street, Fitzrovia, W1, lefix.co.uk
STILL London, Dalston
Just opened this spring, Dalston’s holistic nail art studio STILL London is the new natural beauty hotspot in the city. Cruelty-free and vegan-friendly manicures and pedicures are on offer here, using toxin-free gels by Orly, a 12-free US brand, and varnishes by Kure Bazaar, the Parisian brand which contains a 10-free formula. A haven of dusky pink and grey, complete with marble nail tables, the zen-like studio also sells crystals and offers magical, high vibration, holistic therapies by Wolf Sister.
450 Kingsland Road, Dalston, E8, still-london.com
HAIRDRESSERS
Buller and Rice, Stoke Newington
This is the latest salon from stylist and colourist Anita Rice who, along with longtime friend Stephen Buller formerly of Spitalfield’s Pimps and Pinups, builds on the ethos of Ralph and Rice in Shoreditch with the opening of their joint venture, Buller and Rice. The duo is passionate about environmental awareness and eco-conscious hairdressing, turning to Hackney-based studio Lozi Design for custom fittings including stations made from compressed hay and recycled yogurt pots. Oway is the haircare brand of choice – created sustainably using high-grade, natural ingredients, plus there’s a refilling station to discourage single-use plastic.
36a Stoke Newington Green, N1, bullerandrice.com
Ena Salon, Covent Garden
Effortless elegance meets an eco-friendly philosophy at Ena, Covent Garden’s most sustainable salon that celebrates its 10th birthday this summer. Spread over four floors, the beautiful Grade-II listed Georgian townhouse offers an airy space full of upcycled furniture and plants, and with a friendly ambience. The products come from Davines, the Italian family-run business with a green ethos, with Ena Salon being the brand’s flagship stockist in London.
5 Great Queen Street, Covent Garden, WC2, enasalon.com
Gennaro Dell’Aquila, Wimbledon and Bayswater
With a focus on creating beauty through nature, Gennaro Dell’Aquila’s Notting Hill and Wimbledon salons are on a mission to put an end to chemical colouring. All the dyes used here are created by hand on site using only 100 per cent natural and organic herbs, roots and flowers, which means no chemicals, parabens, carcinogens and synthetic fragrances. After a consultation, the blends are mixed for the individual ensuring a truly personalised service. The end result? Stronger, healthier hair with brilliant shine – and it’s kinder to the planet, too.
154 Arthur Road, Wimbledon, SW19 and 2 Wellington Terrace, Bayswater, London W2, gennarodellaquila.co.uk
