Essensuals

The staff was very friendly. I had Maryam, was very calm and professional. Got a great hair cut.

Brilliant hair cut with Istvan. I went quite a lot shorter but he made the experience painless and it still looks great after a few washes and styling myself, Would definitely recommend this salon.

Came here to get my nails done recently. I found them through Wahanda, where there were lots of good reviews for the salon and got £10 off booking through the app.
We arrived early at the salon and the lady at the reception desk told us to go downstairs. The atmosphere was a bit lacking and clinical but the staff were friendly and there was music playing in the background.
Whilst I waited I was handed the selection of coloured nails I could pick from, I opted for a bright turquoise. The technician did a very thorough job starting with filing and shaping my nails and clearing any dirt from underneath. She applied the base layer and two layers of shellac drying them under the laser each time finishing with a top coat an cuticle cream.
I was very impressed with the results and would definitely go back. With a very convenient location in Covent Garden they also offer other beauty services including massages and waxing.

A friend of mine recommended me this salon and her stylist Chloe. Her hair looked really nice, especially the colour and highlights. I called in promptly to book an appointment myself. The receptionist was like lukewarm water; really disinterested. But they were available for the very next day! Great! When I walked in, I noticed that it is actually Toni and Guy, just named differently. I asked the stylist what’s the distinction between Toni and Guy and Essensuals — she replied that none. Truly it looked and felt like one of those Toni and Guy salons, even targeting the same audience. So for those who love the brand, you would love the place.
When I entered the door, I expected warm welcoming returning my big smile reflecting good mood, but ‘OUCH!!’. I received the same lukewarm welcoming. I had to say what I need, I had to make the effort to say ‘Hello’ first, ask for what I need. No significance they would be take care of me, spoil me, so I can enjoy the experience… I even was not offered a drink, or even a sip of water. Only thing I was given (except of a bill) was price list with beauty services…
The interior didn’t pumped me either. It wasn’t anything special — nothing stylish, inspiring or even 2013. It felt like a reminder of 2001.
Sadly my stylist Chloe didn’t improve the experience. Possibly it was caused by the uninspiring working environment, but she was not in the most communicative mood, also very disinterested and didnt make effort to make much conversation. Most people are familiar with the polite questions about how my day has been so far, whether this particular day is a day off, also questions about holiday. As I was happily answering the questions, her answer was always (again) very disinterested. «Hmm, that’s nice.» «That’s a nice area to live.»
The service she provided in terms of the hair care. Well, no head massage, using Toni and Guy products (as Aveda addict, they smell really chemical to me), shampooing twice convinced me how serious about 2001 they must be. There is the cut. Well, I get my hair trimmed twice a year. It’s long and slightly wavy, so there is not much art to do = difficult to judge the stylist’s skills. However, I admit Chloe seemed to know what she is doing and trimmed my hair skilfully. Explained me technique how to coordinate my waves in prosperous way, which I have forgotten already as usual.
In short, I will not come back. For me personally, hair trimming is fairly rare activity, so I expect AN EXPERIENCE. This place is a quick pop in for a trim matter. I even felt like a mass product. Because nothing made me feel extraordinary about this salon, my favourite salons still remain The Chapel in Islington and Taylor Taylor in Shoreditch by far. In both cases, I always feel the escape from reality for a little bit. Beautiful interior, fantastic friendly service (who have never forgot to ask me whether I want a drink and at Taylor Taylor’s they serve even alcohol), taylor-​made hair, including already mentioned head massage. And the price is about the same. So why would anyone bother? I do not know…

If you manage to get an appointment during the day things aren’t so chaotic and noisy in the salon.
They are usually running to time so there’s no need to wait for your appointment.
The stylist sat me down and we went though exactly what i wanted, and he repeated this back to me so i was completely reassured he knew what i was after!
I paid a little extra for a hair treatment and it was amazing! After a year traveling my hair was dry and breaking but the treatment revived it and i have soft and silky hair again!
The cut was excellent and the stylists really understand if you are in a chatty mood or not.
As is usual these days a head massage and drinks are thrown in for free and all the magazines are the current issues.
I was really happy with my cut (a rarity) and would recommend the salon, especially if you work in the area.