This Monday evening I was extremely lucky to be invited to the British Fashion Awards at the wonderful Coliseum; undoubtedly the highlight of the British fashion calendar and certainly something worth getting dressed up for. I made myself a dress to wear (yup, you heard right. Just something I threw together at the weekend. Casual...) selected my accessories carefully (pink Lulu Guinness python lips clutch, slightly bondage-esque Kurt Geiger stilettos, MASSIVE M&S chandelier jewel earrings...) but was obviously face with the age-old dilemma of what to do about hair and make-up.
Step forward blow LTD, the brilliant new beauty bar set in the heart of the West End which offers and unparalleled and super speedy service for just such emergencies. Situated in the new area of St Martin's Courtyard just off Covent Garden's Long Acre,we arrived at 5pm to see that approximately 95% of blow's customers were in there for the same reason as me. The concept of blow LTD is simple: a fast beauty bar with a menu offering impeccable services, at affordable prices, at convenient times. With a menu of nine hair looks, three make up looks and three nail looks, the former will take 30 minutes and cost you £25, the latter two 15 minutes and £15 each. Couldn't be easier. The hair menu includes styles ranging from a classic voluminous blow dry and beachy waves to an über glam beehive. For make up choose from subtle Day, Night with its smoky eye and nude lip, or Party (think red lips...) and nails follow a similar theme.
The beauty of this place is in its simplicity. It's open from 7am on weekdays, putting an end to the dilemma of where to go for a blow dry at stupid o'clock in the morning post-gym/pre-business pitch. The late opening hours (until 9pm Thursday-Saturday) are also extremely handy as a post-work, pre-party pit stop - as it was on Monday - or an emergency drop in when faced with a surprise date night (as if...). My blow dry was amazing; curly, voluminous, gorgeous. The service was speedy. The staff knowledgable and diligent. I did have to request slightly more make up though; the girl who fixed my face was a bit light-handed with the smoky-ness and black mascara for my liking, but on the whole she was great.
blow LTD also has great offers such as saving 10% when getting hair, make-up and nails all together as a package, as well as a loyalty card - after 5 blow dries your 6th is free. Bonus. With Christmas fast approaching it's an ideal solution for party nights and undoubtedly a better option that getting ready in the office loos with the strange lady from accounts asking to borrow your favourite lipstick. Plus you can purchase a host of brilliant beauty products in store, as well as brilliant gift ideas, such as the blow LTD Fast Hair Box; a gift box containing Davines' Volume Shampoo and Conditioner, Philip Kingsley Weatherproof Hairspray and Philip Kingsley Maximizer, plus a blow LTD Gift Coaster for one of the speedy 30 minute blow dries. Genius.
It's one place that should definitely be added to your speed dial ladies.
Love Laurel x
