High street retailer Holland and Barrett is usually known for its natural remedies, weight-loss products and of course, its famous 1p sale. But what you may not know, is that there is a secret room in some stores where you can get massages, manicures and blow dries.
In the corner of the room there's a fridge with free cold drinks and snacks from the Holland and Barrett range, and you can help yourself. The 'secret beauty room' is full of clean beauty treatments from blow LTD, which has partnered with H&B to provide a range of services from manicures and massages to facials and blow-dries.
Customers can now visit the retailer’s Manchester Market Street store, where they will be greeted by therapists in the brand-new on-site salon. You'll find it hidden away upstairs where the protein shakes used to be housed.
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In the H&B salon you'll be able to choose from a wide range of clean beauty treatments are on offer using leading clean brands such as sustainable premium haircare brand Davines, OPI’s new clean Nature Strong range, and Holland & Barrett’s vegan skincare range, Vitaskin. None of the services use single use plastic, with many using natural ingredients.
Customers can look forward to enjoying treatments featuring a number of clean beauty brands such as The Vitaskin Vitamin Enriched Vegan Facial which is power-packed with essential vitamins A, B and C and the CBD Full Body Massage using organic and ethically sourced Honest Hemp CBD Oil. Manicures and pedicures are available using OPI’s Nature Strong range nail polish that is free of animal-derived ingredients, chemicals and fillers. Plus, hair services incorporating the premium and sustainable haircare brand, Davines.
The service is set to expand with at-home treatments in the coming months.
I was invited down to Holland and Barrett to try out some of the new treatments and to experience the new space. I opted for a sleek, straight blow dry and a fresh pedicure so I'd be pedi-ready for the hot weather we've been having.
When I arrived I was met by my beauty therapist, Georgia, who was an absolute delight. I was immediately offered a drink and a snack from the fridge in the corner of the room. This was very welcome given the weather was absolutely roasting that day.
I sat down for my hair to be washed ready for my blow dry while sipping a drink which claimed to be full of good stuff for the skin. What a treat.
The blow dry was quick and faultless. In fact, Georgia did such a good job of making my hair sleek, it lasted for a couple of days. My hair's usually a frizzy mess after a day, so that's saying something.
Because the salon is on a higher floor overlooking Market Street, it made for brilliant people watching. Georgia and I were chatting away the whole time I was in the salon, but if you're an awkward person who doesn't like to do that, you can quite happily watch the world go by on Market Street during your treatment. It's actually quite relaxing.
Once my blow dry was finished we moved on to the pedicure. This was equally as relaxing.There were plenty of colours to choose from within the OPI range on offer. I usually stick to white toes because they're the most versatile, but I spotted a gorgeous nude pink colour on the stand which I couldn't quite resist.
Georgia asked me what shape I wanted my toes and I opted for square. The whole process only took around 20 minutes, and it was quiet and relaxing - something which can be hard to find in nail salons, especially when it's hot.
Jo Cooke, Beauty Trading Director, Holland & Barrett said: “We want to make it easier for our customers in Manchester to make environmentally friendly choices when it comes to their beauty and wellness regimes. Our curated range of clean beauty and wellness treatments only use products that are kinder to you and kinder to the planet. We look forward to welcoming local customers to our new in-store salon to enjoy an expert-delivered pampering experience – it really is beauty that cares.”
Thomas Nutt, CEO, blow LTD said: “We are thrilled to be able to extend our offer to deliver clean beauty services powered by Holland & Barrett to customers in Manchester. With over a thousand vetted and tested hair and beauty professionals, expert advice alongside a new range of clean beauty and wellness products, we are taking the next step to introduce an alternative range of products to the world of professional beauty treatments.”
All of the beauty treatments on offer at Holland and Barrett's Market Street store can be found here:
Shoppers in Manchester can now book appointments for a clean beauty treatment at the Manchester Market Street store by clicking here.
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