Salon Review: The Golden Touch, London

London correspondent Gemma Summons road tests one of the capital's premier waxing salons.

Sometime earlier this summer, somewhere in the nooks and crannies of Soho, I was invited to a salon called The Golden Touch. No, not a ‘massage’ parlour, though I did have a happy ending, of sorts. The Golden Touch was run by the very lovely, very bubbly Hannah Salisbury, an Aussie who has a wealth of experience in intimate waxing. She has been head of the training school of the same name for some time, and has built up an excellent reputation teaching therapists in the London area. 

I am by no means a wax aficionado. (Make of that what you will). Previous memories of being waxed involved being taken down into a scary basement, with sullen, silent women essentially pouring lava onto my dainty areas and ripping them to pieces mercilessly. Safe to say I didn’t go back for a while (years). Waxing is punishment enough without it being medieval. So, thankfully, Hannah welcomed me into her salon with open arms and put me at ease.

She left me alone to freshen up before taking me into a small room with the radio playing. She explained the process of waxing to me and why hot wax is the best way of waxing in order to minimise pain and reduce regrowth. Throughout the wax she kindly talked me through what she was doing whilst giving me helpful advice about aftercare, as well as friendly chatter between us about our days/lives/etc. The wax itself, she admitted, is never going to be the most comfortable experience in the world (why lie?), but she did her absolute best to minimise the discomfort, and I genuinely can say that it was a world away from my previous experiences. I felt safe, relaxed, and in experienced hands (which is all anyone wants down there, obviously). The results were great and, with Hannah’s advice, lasted a long time.

I would thoroughly recommend a wax at The Golden Touch - Hannah offers good quality, practical and affordable intimate waxing with very good customer service as well. Sadly The Golden Touch is temporarily closed at present; however, Hannah is still offering therapists professional training in intimate waxing and the salon's return is promised soon. If you want the therapists of your salon to be taught by the experts, look no further.

Louis Marcel Hair Removal Cream for Face and Bikini Line

 RRP: £5.65

--What does the promo say?--
"The cream removes unwanted hair effectively, leaving the skin soft and moisturised. Formulated with soothing calendula and witch hazel, it helps to maintain the natural balance of your skin."

--Packaging--
The pink and white tube, decorated with a calendula motif, is distinctly feminine and neatly encapsulates the product's virtues of natural ingredients and gentleness. Easy to use; closes securely to greatly reduce the chances of leakage.

--Application--
The brand advises: "Evenly spread the cream, directly onto the skin, ensuring that all hairs are completely covered. Leave in place for 5-10 minutes. The time needed may depend on the stubbornness of the hair, but do not exceed 10 minutes. Remove a small test area of cream with the spatula provided. If the hairs come away easily, remove the rest of the cream with spatula and rinse the hair removal area with plenty of water. If needed, leave the cream on for no longer than 10 minutes." Nothing difficult about this. Application and removal are facilitated thanks to the reusable plastic spatula included in the box.

--Appearance--
A white cream that leaves no visible residue on the skin.

--Scent--
Surprisingly floral and relatively pleasant without being overbearing. Definitely does not fit the mould of chemical-smelling depilatory creams.

--Texture and consistency--
Seems to spread onto the skin smoothly and wash off easily too, while being more robust than a mousse.

--Effects on the skin--
While you do feel a little bit of tingling in the final minutes of the full 10, it's possible that some people won't need to leave it on for long enough to experience this. Unfortunately, some of my unwanted hairs are quite stubborn, so the full 10 minutes was required - and even then success was only partial, eliminating most/all of the finer hairs but not always doing much on the thicker ones. The thickness of the hair growth was stemmed as a result of using this cream.

--Value for money--
This price seems to be in line with hair removal creams from other major manufacturers, such as Veet and Nair, so shouldn't raise any eyebrows. I'd say that if hair removal creams normally work well for you, I'd recommend trying this, as the presence of calendula and witch hazel are definitely different to other creams and serve as a clear plus. However, I can only see it in my life as a complement to other hair removal methods, such as shaving, waxing and plucking (I alternate between these depending on how the hair growth is), as it wasn't quite enough to get rid of all of my unwanted body hair, even by using it for the maximum 10 minutes allowed. You haven't got much to lose by giving it a go though - and make sure you shop online for the best deals.

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Hair Removal Mousse, £3
Crystal Gel Body Wax Strips, £6.18

Louis Marcel Crystal Gel Body Wax Strips

RRP: £6.18/20 strips
retails at HealthCounter and Fragrance Direct; also available on eBay

--What does the promo say?--
"Louis Marcel Crystal Gel Strip Wax is a salon style cold wax like treatment for use at home, in safe, easy and ready to use pre-coated strips. Unwanted hair is removed down to and including roots, so regrowth does not normally occur for up to six weeks, and hair regrowth will appear finer and less obvious."

--Packaging--
The wax strips are transparent, showing a pale pink translucent wax ready for use on the strips. The pink and white cardboard box also contains a sachets of oil to remove excess wax and to soothe the treated area after waxing. Much is made on the box of the product's floral ingredients thanks to the large pink flower motif - among the ingredients are camellia, rosemary and geranium.

--Application--
Rub the strips between your hands briefly to warm the wax. Peel the strips apart before laying one down on the skin in the direction of the hair growth. Holding the skin taut, pull the strip off quickly against the direction of the hair growth. The strip can be used repeatedly until it is no longer effective (although I personally didn't fancy trying this, as what comes out on a wax strip always looks so gross!). This is all pretty easy and even relatively painless (although I have pretty low sensitivity when it comes to waxing the armpit area, so this will probably vary between individuals) :)

--Appearance--
The nice thing about the translucent pink wax - apart from looking pretty - is that even if you were to miss getting off all of the excess wax after use, it wouldn't show, as it's practically invisible. The balm oil wipes also don't leave any visible residue on the skin.

--Scent--
Perhaps slightly floral, but nothing too overbearing.

--Texture and consistency--
The wax is non-irritating and skin is left with a smooth, moisturised finish thanks to the combination of the wax ingredients and the balm oil wipes.

--Effects on the skin--
While the wax strips removed an impressive amount, they didn't remove *everything* (ugh, sorry) on the one time through that I used the wax strips. The brand does recommend that hair is 4-5mm long for best results, though, so if you have left it longer than this, or not been patient enough, then it's unsurprising that it would take longer or require the use of more strips to get a perfect result. However, it's really not bad for a home kit (I've used worse) and this could help people to feel much more confident about waxing at home.

--Value for money--
As promised, this is fast and simple to use, as well as being (at least relatively or partially) effective, which is already a good start. However, true value for money will depend on what's on offer in your area, and on your own priorities - I can get my armpits waxed for €4 a time, so an RRP of closer to €8 or €9 a box would require some consideration for me. It would depend how many wax strips I needed to use each time and how I prioritize doing this myself at home vs somebody else doing it for me, faster. You should also shop around, as several websites offer this below the RRP, which naturally increases value for money. Generally, though, a product I would recommend.

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Hair Removal Cream for Face and Bikini Line, £4.38 
Hair Removal Mousse, £3

Gimme head with hair, long beautiful hair...

No matter how we like to style or wear our hair, looking good is a concern all year round. For some people, making their hair looks good requires the best possible kit at affordable prices - a combination which can be tricky to achieve with new, trendy bits of equipment seeming to arrive in the shops hourly and it becoming harder and harder to make your monthly wages stretch. But there are ways of keeping costs down and still keeping a hold on your style.

I understand the importance of browsing in the shops and having a chance to physically touch, look at, and sometimes even try the item before buying. But sometimes it can pay to browse in store but then buy online; even with postage fees it often works out cheaper. Google Shopping is one of my best friends for this reason.

It also pays at times to look in unexpected places. For a range of hair straighteners, for instance, would you have thought to try Argos? Or Lloydspharmacy for heat protection spray? These places, which are perhaps more famous for jewellery, gifts, prescriptions and TENS machines, also offer a variety of big brands and the latest technology at low prices - the heat protection sprays I mentioned start at just £1.99, for instance, while Argos' selection of straighteners sees BaByliss, Philips and Remington straighteners being offered at competitive prices.

But along with taking care of hair comes times when we want to remove it completely - unwanted body hair and the beach just aren't compatible, after all. I usually wax, as my local salon charges just €4,50 per zone - meaning I can get my legs, bikini line and underarms done for just €13,50. But waxing is often more expensive in other areas and plenty of people are on the hunt for lower-cost or better-value options. Expensive hair-removal creams and constant-maintenance shaving regimes are frequently frustrating alternatives. You can visit Argos for laser hair removal too in the face of costly courses of salon treatment - their options are priced affordably, and even their more expensive hair removal systems, such as the Philips Lumea and the Rio Salon IPL Hair Removal System, still work out considerably cheaper than a professional course of treatment. Plus, there's the upside that you get to carry out the treatment in the privacy and comfort of your own home, at your own pace.

It's things like this that sometimes make me think men have it easier - just a short back and sides at the barber's once a month to deal with, and the idea that body hair makes you more of a man means they can breathe much more easily. This is compared to women, who have to weigh up the costs of at-home hair removal versus the salon option, use four different products on their hair to remove the bed-head look and have to deal with hair dye on towels and ingrown hairs regularly. But luckily everyone - male or female! - can benefit from the one-stop-shop called Argos - complete with its laminated book of dreams - that seems to embody men's general desire to get shopping over and done with. Thanks to the system of ordering online or collecting in store, minimum queues and so much being under one roof, everything from model makeover days to laser hair removal is possible with next to no fuss. Great for those last-minute summer birthday buys and for great hair all year round.

This post was brought to you in conjunction with Argos

Nair Ultra Precision Wax Roll-On

RRP: £5.99

--So what does the promo say?--

"Get salon results…at home! Professionally inspired Ultra Precision Wax glides effortlessly along the contours of your face to effectively remove hair and reveal radiant, smooth skin. With a high precision applicator, it's easy to achieve an expert finish that lasts for weeks! Fragrance free and enriched with moisturising white lily to leave delicate facial skin soft and smooth."

--Packaging--

All fairly simple to use: the squeezy tube shows you exactly how much wax is left at any time, the screw-top lid keeps the tube securely closed until needed and the roller applicator is easy to put onto and remove from the tube as required. It's also easy to wash and store after use. As far as the various accoutrements go, you're provided with a good number of washable, durable strips that can be reused, and an orange stick (supposedly to allow for greater precision when spreading wax over the eyebrow area, but for reasons why this is somewhat redundant, see below).

--Application--

Nair's instructions to users are as follows: "Carefully fill a glass or cup with boiling water. Put the tube of wax, cap downwards, into the water for 3 minutes. Dry the tube well. Remove the cap and screw on the roll-on applicator (keep the cap for storage between uses). Squeeze the tube to get the wax flowing, and roll the applicator over the back of the hand to test the wax temperature. If the wax does not come out easily, replace the cap on the tube and put it back into the hot water for 1 minute. Make sure that water does not get into the tube, as it will make the wax less effective...Cleanse the area from which you wish to remove hair using soap and/or warm water and then dry thoroughly. The hair removal area must be dry and free from any traces of cream or cosmetics. Roll the applicator over the area to be treated, in the direction of hair growth. Place a cloth strip on the wax, pressing well, leaving approx. 1cm at the end to make it easier to remove. Hold the skin taut with the other hand and then pull off rapidly in the opposite direction, parallel to the skin. Each strip can be used several times." 

With the exception of the patch test (whose instructions I have left out here), I followed these instructions to the letter, with no results. Wondering if I were following the procedure incorrectly, I tried leaving the wax to dry a little (e.g. while I dried my hair), but this also had no effect. This leads me to believe that the instructions are either unclear, or missing steps, or that no matter how good the instructions were, the product would still not work.

--Appearance--

A pleasant pink gel which does not leave any visible residue on the skin.

--Scent--

I don't know that I'd go as far as to say it's fragrance free - it perhaps has a slightly bubblegummy scent to it - but on the whole it's inoffensive.

--Texture and consistency--

Very sticky and does not harden enough for any hair removal to be possible. Even if you don't squeeze the tube, and just let the roller applicator do its thing, the layer of wax that comes out is also far too thick, you could argue, to harden within any reasonable length of time. On the upside, despite the stickiness it does wash off easily.

--Does it do what it says it will do?--

In short, no. I wondered if this was down to my inexperience at home waxing (I'm a salon girl all the way), but reviews across the internet seem to echo the fact that you would get better results using sellotape. After being sent this, I must have used it at least 3 times (if I recall correctly - twice on unwanted facial hair, once on eyebrows) only to find that not a single hair could be removed using it.

--Value for money--

It beggars belief that this even got off the drawing board and past initial testing, let alone that people could be charged £6 for the pleasure of using something that doesn't actually work. I'd be interested to try Veet's version to see how it compares, but ultimately would instead recommend the kind of wax that you heat up yourself at home and then rip off - much more effective (see here, here, here, or here for examples of such products).

The Bluebeard's Revenge Luxury Shaving Cream

RRP: £14.50
available from: The Shaving Shack, Safetyrazors.co.uk, Elm House Products Ltd

--What does the promo say?--
"Designed by a real life Blue Beard who was bored to death with being a Desperate Dan look-alike, The Bluebeards Revenge™ is a paraben free, premium quality shaving cream with added ingredients to specifically combat tough stubble. It has been formulated to our unique specification in one of the UK's premier male cosmetics laboratories who are renowned experts in the field of shaving cream."

 --Packaging--
The shiny blue box combines a white skull and crossbones with a somehow still classy-looking jar that comes with a silver-effect screw top lid. A shaving brush is also included, and the whole ensemble is easy to use. The Bluebeard's Revenge reports that girls have been making up an ever-increasing percentage of their customer base, so the female contingent may wish to skip the use of the brush, but the male tester on this side says that the brush is easy to use and is even a bit of a novelty in an age where most men don't reach for the shaving brush automatically.

--Application--
An almond-sized blob should cover your whole face (for gents), so an even smaller amount is required for ladies who are looking to get rid of persistent unwanted facial, underarm and bikini line hair. Shave off as normal with hot water and a decent razor.

--Appearance--
A pearlescent white, thick luxurious cream that should appeal to everyone. It's quite stiff, too, implying that it is a bit more heavy-duty, going beyond the airy-fairyness of your average shaving foam or face cream. No visible residue is left on the skin after use.

--Scent--
Quite masculine, staying true to The Bluebeard's Revenge's word that it conjures images of a traditional barbershop with a modern twist. I suspect some vetiver in there, although the ingredients list gives nothing away save the inclusion of aloe vera. Possibly too masculine to truly appeal to girls - if I were working at The Bluebeard's Revenge, I would seriously consider putting out a version of the cream that uses the same technology but has a different smell - perhaps something more neutral or something that uses essential oils such as lavender or lemon that may appeal more to the XX market.

--Texture--
As previously mentioned, it's very stiff, but you get a good lather with no effort at all and it washes off easily too, leaving skin feeling insanely smooth and soft after use.

--Effects on the skin--
The most notable immediate effect, baby-softness aside, is the fact that this cream delivers an incredibly close shave, which will alone keep the unwanted hairs at bay for longer even if the stubble-busting technology itself were a load of old cobblers. Him indoors did unfortunately find that he experienced greater sensitivity after using this compared to his usual shaving cream (which, for the record, costs exactly the same), but that to the contrary this lessens if you use the cream having not shaved for a couple of days (as opposed to shaving every day). From my experience, I found no sensitivity occurred while using this product, even when tackling a few unwanted hairs on my own face, so it quite clearly depends on the person. It's also difficult for us to know if the product really reduces stubble, as I am normally a waxer (plucking out hairs that grow on my face), and him indoors has only used this new cream once a week. I'll be passing it onto my dad, whose stubble also regrows quickly, for further tests.

--Value for money--
For a totally vegetarian, paraben-free product that also works well and contributes to charity with every pot purchased (money is donated to Help For Heroes for every unit sold), you're getting a good deal here on a unique product that poses a credible challenge to the domination of the hair removal market by Gillette. Don't hesitate to go out and buy it for the man in your life this Christmas - or even as a Christmas present to yourself.

perfect partners
The Bluebeard's Revenge Scimitar Double Edge Razor, £29.99
The Bluebeard's Revenge Doubloon Bristle Shaving Brush, £6.99
The Bluebeard's Revenge Shaving Cream, Brush, and Mach3 Razor Gift Set with Free Balm, £49.99
The Bluebeard's Revenge Post Shave Balm, £9.99

King of Shaves Woman Azure

RRP: £4.99 for razor and three cartridges

--What does the promo say?--
"Enjoy the “Queen of Shaves” with King of Shaves the UK’s second biggest shaving software brand. Its first ever ‘hybrid synergy’ system razor for women, the Azure is available nationwide in Sainsbury’s stores for just £4.99 (handle plus three cartridges). Combining shaving comfort and performance with elegance and style, the Azure delivers the Queen of Shaves, without the expense of many of its competitors.

The debut of the Azure follows hot on the heels of the continuing success of King of Shaves’ multiple award winning men’s razor, the Azor, which is now available from most major UK retailers. Launching in striking ‘on-trend’ black and gold, the Azure Aura combines shaving comfort and performance via an internationally patented TST (Touch Skin Technology) elastomer skin bumper and pivot system. This allows the Endurium coated, super long-lasting blades to shave at optimum pressure against the skin whilst a larger soft rubber ‘bumper’ helps reduce risk of unwanted nicks and lifts hairs for a smoother shave.

The Azure’s uniquely patented wishbone-shaped head design provides greater visibility when shaving and the ergonomically designed, lightweight handle allows for a superbly comfortable shave which effortlessly follows every contour and curve of the skin.

As with its male counterpart, the Azure demonstrates King of Shaves commitment to the environment. ‘Ecoptimised’ in all stages of manufacture, the handle for the Azure is made in the UK with all packaging minimised and either already recycled or 100% recyclable."

--Packaging--
An unusual departure from the usual angularly-shaped razors, without being as large as the ubiquitous Gillette Venus razors. Very feminine and elegantly shaped. It also comes in a useful lightweight box made of thin plastic that houses the little box of razor blades too, although sadly it's not really intended as a travel case as it isn't designed to close once you've opened it the first time.

--Usage--
Lather up the area to be shaved using a shaving foam and then drag the blades against the growth of the hairs before rinsing the razor blades under a stream of water and repeating as necessary.

--Razor-cut potential--
No problems at all - the blades have plenty of grip without being irritating to the skin and the handle makes the razor easily controllable too.

--How does your skin feel afterwards?--
As stated, there is no irritation at all.

--How does your skin look afterwards?--
Pretty good - smooth, clean, no red marks, no cuts.

--Does it de-fuzz adequately?--
Yes. The flexibility of the blade joint means that this even applies to trickier areas such as heels, bikini line and underarms.

--Longevity--
I've been using this daily now for at least three weeks and there are still no signs that the blade needs to be changed. I would therefore expect it to last for at least as long as blades usually do, perhaps even slightly longer, so a change will probably required every 6 weeks.

--Value for money--
It's a full three quid cheaper than some of the fancier Gillette razors, and for this it's lightweight, recyclable and effective. Replacement blades are also cheaper than the leading market competitor. It's a very real encouragement to consumers to look beyond the most immediately available option, and with very good reason.

perfect partners
King of Shaves Woman Azure 4 Pack Replacement Blade Cartridges, £4.99
King of Shaves Woman Shaving Gel, £3.99

*available from Sainsbury's and from www.kmishop.com