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£100 salon facial in chair in communal area - is this normal now?

16 replies

TheOccupier · 05/08/2023 20:05

Went for a facial today at a salon recommended by a friend of a friend. I was expecting to be taken into a private room, given one of those towel wrap things to change into, and for their to be a bed to lie on for the treatment. Instead they sat me in one of 3 reclining chairs just behind the reception/waiting area, separated only by a curtain (so, not visible from the street). The chair had a pillow on it (just an ordinary bed pillow) and was about 1m from the next chair where someone else was having a facial too, while having a loud conversation with her therapist! My Iady tipped my chair back and I wasn't too uncomfortable but not as comfy as lying flat. The whole experience just felt quite... basic. I don't think I'll go back.

Thing is, I very rarely go for facials unless I'm overseas on holiday - so is this usual now? Am I old fashioned for expecting to lie down in a private room for a facial? For context, this was a reasonably smart-looking salon in an affluent part of London and the treatment took about an hour and cost £100.

OP posts:
EveryChildIsCalledFlorence · 05/08/2023 20:10

No. I go to a salon in London and it's in a private room

drpet49 · 05/08/2023 20:11

No not normal and for £100 they are taking the piss. Sounds like an amateur set up.

wizzywig · 05/08/2023 20:13

I'd be annoyed at that. It's a pet peeve when they carry on their conversations whilst in a treatment

purplecorkheart · 05/08/2023 20:16

Nope not normally, I have always been in a private room for a facial. Only time I ever experience what you described was when I was buying skincare products in a department store and they offered me a free facial to promote a new range they had and even then I was at the back of there section and not near any other customers.

OfMiceandWomen · 05/08/2023 20:17

No I go to a small local beauty salon and the room is upstairs separate from the busy downstairs salon.

userxx · 05/08/2023 20:19

Absolutely not normal, I'd be pissed off with that.

bryceQ · 05/08/2023 20:20

No. Not normal at all and I have London facials and treatments often

Holscgnmusch · 05/08/2023 20:21

Sounds shit

Lapflop · 05/08/2023 20:25

I have facials monthly and I wouldn't be happy at all with that service for that price! I have been to various places the past year and paid less than that and each and had a private room with the works. I'd be asking for a refund or partial refund to be honest but they probably won't honour it as they'll say they still did the facial; I'd leave a review though. I'm all for supporting businesses and stuff but that's outrageous!

Matchinglipsandfingertips · 05/08/2023 20:26

Beauty professional here.

The treatment sounds a joke. Some offer express treatments but not a facial. That would always be private. If it was carried out by a qualified person extraction of blackheads and an eyebrow tidy is included. It's a very long time since I carried out a treatment but I think this is a bit of a scam. Look for a Caci salon or Clarins Gold Salon.
Both are highly effective.

MotherofWhippets81 · 05/08/2023 20:27

This is my pet hate at the moment.

Went to have lvl lashes and my brows laminated (so about £100) at a recommended salon - was in the same situation you say and the client next to me never shut up for a second and even took a phone call from her car insurance.

Next I went to a very well respected salon for a 'luxury pedicure' and was in the middle of the bloody shop with about 15 people milling about.

I felt those are bad enough but a facial in particular is meant to be relaxing. Should def be in a private room.

To be honest it's all put me off a bit.

sodthesodoff · 05/08/2023 20:28

Eeesh that's shite

I have a lovely room with twinkly lights and soft music and heated bed. Okay I could do without the music. But the heated bed that's coming with me...

And it's cheaper.

Does your friend not like you? Why would she recommend it?!

PinkFootstool · 05/08/2023 20:30

I'd be raging! Definitely go back to them about that, that's appalling.

JMAngel1 · 05/08/2023 21:02

Was it Face Gym? I know they offer facials in open view - I think to advertise the machines.

My usual place for my gel toes and pedicure was fully booked so I went to a new place. I always expect pedicures to be in a separate room but no, the girl did my pedicure and gel toes at the basic manicure desk in the front of the salon between two other desks and I had to hoick my leg up on to her knee!!! I was mortified and extremely uncomfortable. Felt like my bum cheek was going numb. Never again! My usual place is all dark and twinkly lights and they have a fully reclining chair which massages my back whilst having my feet done. The other place was horrific!

TheOccupier · 05/08/2023 21:27

Hmm thanks all, thought I was just out of touch! It wasn't Face Gym, no. The weird thing was that they had a couple of treatment rooms downstairs which appeared to be available, but apparently they only use these for waxing (thankfully) and for one particular facial that involves "a lot of massage".

@Matchinglipsandfingertips I paid £20 extra for steam and extraction to be included!😢

OP posts:
uncomfortablydumb53 · 05/08/2023 22:05

Not normal at all especially as you paid £100
It's not relaxing at all

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