Our Favourite Black-Owned Beauty Salons in London
A selection of the best Spa Day destinations around London Town.
BY ALESHA BAILEY / JUL 09 2021, 9:17 AM GMT
As Londoners get back into the swing of things, we thought we'd share some of our favourite Black-Owned Beauty Bars to get you glowed-up for your next Night Out on the Town.
Located in the ultra-posh neighborhood of Mayfair, stylist to the stars Sherille Riley's beauty boutique is a definite must-visit. If you've seen our IGTV pow wow and brow tutorial with Sherille then you know just how much of an expert she truly is. Not only is her shop serene and relaxing, her beauty advice is also top-notch and so informative.
The Curl Bar is the brainchild of curly hair influencer and natural goddess Nia Pettitt. Born in ZImbabwe and raised in England, Nia mixes African beauty techniques with English charm to create the ultimate afro hair experience. Inspired by the natural hair movement of the 1960s and 1970s, the salon brings her childhood dream (and ours) to life through wash-and-go's, twist outs, braids and more encouraging self-love and positive representation of natural textures. Her mission is to introduce the curly girls of London to lots of great Black-Owned hair product brands with style.
As one of the leading afro hair salons in all of London, Mimi et Mina is definitely a special treat for your tresses. The founder Myriam Koné is probably the chicest Boss Lady on Instagram, serving up looks for days and sharing all her knowledge on hair and beauty. Plus, she's not afraid to show you what's underneath the wig either. Her transparency is incredibly endearing and definitely relatable. Located in the West End, Mimi et Mina is a star-studded affair that'll bring out your glamazon with ease.
Ghanaian natural hair guru Charlotte Mensah has been part of the conversation on afro hair for over two decades and The Hair Lounge is definitely proof of that. With products stocked by the likes of NET-A-PORTER, Charlotte's eponymous brand is wish-list worthy! But you don't have to wish too long because a trip to her boutique salon is the perfect opportunity to try it out. With years of experience in the fashion industry Mensah knows the trends and the traumas and doesn't shy away from the discourse around afro textures. Her objective is to use natural hair care as "a form of healing" and who doesn't love that?
Located in the super-cool neighborhood of Shoreditch, Chop Chop is a hair salon like no other. This shop takes diversity to a whole new level boasting a completely genderless experience. As someone who has never been able to go to a "regular" hair salon, being able to enter a space where you're never excluded because of hair texture is such a gift. The boutique houses hair stylists and barbers so no matter what style you're going for, it's certainly achievable here.
After months of lockdowns and quarantines we know you must be over the at-home manicures as much as we are. Now that we can finally hit the nail salons, The Nail Room & Co. is a definite must. We've saved basically every nail design on their Instagram page! If you can imagine it they can do it for sure. Specialising in natural nails only, this shop caught our attention because we love a luxurious treat that fits into an all-natural lifestyle.
This Brixton hotspot is one for the books. The AMA Salon is an eco-friendly haven! Their "Free From" menu features brands that are up to 90% natural, 10-free, vegan & cruelty free and their easy-going Cali vibe brings the sunshine right to you. Brixton has always felt like home to us and having a shop like this in the area speaks to the lovely vibe of this district.
We never met a spa day we didn't like but Yemaya London just does it differently! Named after the Yoruba water spirit Yemaya (or Yemoja), the Black-Owned Aesthetic Spa offers a range of beauty enhancing treatments that specifically cater to darker skin tones with love and care. Aside from the fact that the interior is absolutely gorgeous, this shop will pamper you like the Kings and Queens that you are.
Located in Woodford, East London, AWE LONDON is like a bohemian sanctuary. We've been screenshotting every Instagram post endlessly and with so many design options, it's hard to even choose. Perhaps one of the best parts about this salon is that they prioritize wellness which is much-needed within our community, especially during this last year. Beauty can often be a very stressful thing, specifically when you don't quite fit into societies standards and the fact that AWE takes the time to make you feel special is just heartwarming.
The new one-stop shop for everything beauty is a must on our London self-care itinerary! From the soothing ans stylish aesthetics to the extensive services like brows, lashes, and sugaring (the only waxing experience worth having) Ejiro Studios is an absolute dream. This east London establishment deserves a whole day trip.
I am totally inspired by you all. you have encouraged so much to just push on towards your dreams and make them a reality. You have to fight for what you want and believe in yourself that you have the capacity to surge forward.
its difficult to find a favourite boutique as they are all beautiful but I have to say Yemayalondon beauty stood out to me.
Yard + Parish I am so pleased i came across you!