A thoroughly modern manicure – Glass discovers one of London’s most cheerful beauty salons

A thoroughly modern manicure – Glass discovers one of London’s most cheerful beauty salons

As much as people deride us Londoners as being an unfeeling, uncaring, hard-nosed lot, who want to be left in peace when they go for their beauty treatments– it’s just not true. It’s not nice to go into a nail salon, be shunted over to a table and have to stare awkwardly out of the window for the next 30 or 40 minutes while your overworked and underpaid therapist chatters away in a foreign tongue to their colleague sitting next to them. I think most of us would be happy to pay a bit extra for a welcoming atmosphere and unwind somewhere where the staff are looked after and actually give two hoots about your experience as a result. After all, whether you’re time-strapped city dweller or not – everyone likes to be fussed over and made to feel just a little bit special, every once in a while.

So it was a great delight to discover such a salon tucked away among the grand Victorian houses of London’s fashionable Notting Hill area. Despite its rather forgettable name (the founder’s initials), MYZ Beauty Boutique is a delightful experience from start to finish – thanks in no small part to its charismatic Iranian founder Maryam Zandi, a former floor manager for Selfridges who is a charming hostess and shrewd businesswoman rolled into one.

With striking Middle Eastern looks and glamour to rival a Kardashian sister, she is the perfect ambassador for the salon and one of those enviable people whose enthusiasm knows no bounds. During my visit, she instantly puts me at ease, chattering away about her vision for the salon, her passion for shoes (she has quite a considerable collection from her Selfridges days) and her adorable dog Cookie who “helps” her run the salon and is a big hit with her clients. (Cookie at the time was busy getting a hair cut at the pet groomers next door). Maryam is also a qualified lawyer, but after passing her LLB in London – followed by her time at Selfridges- she decided to pursue her lifelong passion of running a beauty boutique, hence MYZ was born.

Having been open less than a year, MYZ has already garnered a loyal clientele from some famous faces such as Lindsay Lohan and Sienna Miller. Indeed its slightly secluded location, plush interiors and relaxed atmosphere make it a great place to escape, switch off and be pampered for an hour or two. When I visited, there was even a giant Christmas tree already up, despite it only being mid-November but delightful all the same (it was decorated with tiny glittery shoes instead of baubles).

As well as the excellent shellac treatment I enjoyed (service and attention to detail were both faultless), the salon offers a number of beauty services downstairs including massages, waxing and its popular Yon-Ka facials (Yon-Ka is a cult Parisian skincare brand with hardworking hi-tech ingredients, beloved by Hollywood’s elite  – several of whom are regulars to the salon for that very reason).

Manicures and pedicures range from express to the more luxurious variety, they also offer men’s manicures too. You can either walk in for last-minute appointment or book in advance – Maryam and her merry band of therapists do their best to fit around their clients. We suggest you pop in here before your Christmas party – even the most hard-nosed Londoner will leave with a smile on their face.

by Viola Levy

MYZ Beauty Boutique is located at 20 Powis Terrace Notting Hill, London W11 1JH.

For appointments call 0207 221 1277  or go to the website
(The salon is closed on Mondays)