THE LOCATION

Bourne End is the leafy, less racey neighbour to glitzy Marlow, so don’t expect glamour explosions from the serviceable high street. Full marks to The Beauty and Blowdry Studio for bucking that trend though – this light, bright space has style in spades and is one of only a handful of places in Bucks & Oxon that has taken up the London trend for on blow dries studios than a full salon experience.

THE VIBE

Tranquil, relaxing with a soupcon of urban glam in the little touches like copper shelving and Sixties influences. It’s a small salon, with two nail bars on the ground floor, plus a treatment room (and all disability friendly as owner Rachel Fox is in a wheelchair herself) , and then upstairs there’s this glam pedi station…

and this a funky wash/blow dry area.

 

THE TREATMENT

Step one, a relaxing 3o minute Neom Express Destress Treatment (£40), an essential oil and wax massage that once started I could have very easily continued. I’m a big Neom fan anyway and a total sucker for massage so I’m easy to please, but I loved the scent of the Intensive Skin Treatment Candle that went onto my the back. Di-vine. I was offered camomile tea afterwards but I’d already spotted this sign. You will be shocked, dear reader, to know that I partook (I’m polite like that).

Then it was upstairs for a blow dry. These are only available on weekends because, let’s face it, there aren’t many Anna Wintours knocking around Buckinghamshire who daily coiffing before the day starts. There are, however, a hell of a lot of us who like the idea of a blow-dry or an up-do before a big event.

I remain, even in my mid-forties, incapable of blow-drying my own hair with any skill or panache so it was a proper treat for me to have a pro take care of my tresses for me.

Et voila! You like the relaxed curls on my Tom Bishop ombré?

THE MUDDY VERDICT

Good for:  A zippy beauty fix for hair, mani/pedi, massage, eyes/brows or wax in a stylish space. The Beauty and Blow Dry Studio offers top brands Olaplex and Rahua to supertreat and protect damaged hair which is a nice perk of the place. There are speedy versions of most treatments and a sliding scale of price.

Not for: The budget conscious – some may regard £30-42 for a blow dry as a bit steep. I’d probably use that side of the business for a super-important meeting or the rare occasion where I really have to scrub up well.

The damage: A Gelish manicure is £35 and pedicure £40, Neom massages (30 mins) are £40, blow dries £30-42.

Opening times: Monday: 9am-6pm. Tuesday: 9am-6pm. Wednesday: 9am-6pm. Thursday: 10am-7pm. Friday: 10am-7pm. Saturday: 9.30am-5pm. Sunday: closed.

57 The Parade, Bourne End, Buckinghamshire SL8 5SB. Tel: 01628 524034. thebeautyandblowdrystudio.co.uk