As someone who loves getting her nails done but is notoriously bad at finding the time to make any beauty appointments, I’m always on the lookout for one-stop beauty shops that can fit me in in a pinch.
Although nail bars offering detailed nail art and a shiny coloured coat are not hard to find across London, any seasoned beauty lover will be quick to tell you that in the very centre of the capital, this seemingly abundant well of beauty providers dries up.
So when I first stumbled upon Dashl, a beauty bar located in H&M‘s tech-focused Regent Street location, I knew I had to go down and check it out myself and bring you along for the ride, of course.
The Scandinavian beauty bar (which offers nail appointments, lash-lifts and brow-sculpting services) was founded in 2016 by Arbilina Nissan and Nina Akbari. “We met in London and connected over fashion, which evolved into a deep desire to disrupt and digitize the beauty industry,” says Nissan.
Initially, Dashl was formed as an on-demand digital service across Sweden before launching into H&M stores. “My deepest wish for the brands was to create a sustainability focused option for anyone that was sick of the lack of transparency across the nail space,” explains Nissan. “We wanted to create an uplifting space both for our clients and the stylist, with fairness and openness on both sides of the chair.”
This mission is outworked via their digital academy based in Sweden that works globally with stylists on training, job opportunities and feedback, so that each beauty bar location provides the same high-quality results.
The tech focus doesn’t end there, however, as on the client side, there is an an easy-to-navigate website and an app that makes booking a breeze. When it comes to booking, Dashl also offers two subscription services. (Yes, you read that right.) Brows on repeat (£25) and nails on repeat (£75), which allow you to take advantage of unlimited visits to the bar across the month. “Our goal is to make this the most accessible for people that work nearby,” says Nissan. “So creating an environment and service that also works with busy schedules is a priority.”
Plus, in keeping with their clean beauty ethos, the bar uses non-toxic OPI Gel Polish, hand files and H&M’s own line of vegan and plant-derived nail polishes. What’s not to love?
During my visit, I opted for a long-overdue full removal and fresh chrome gel manicure, which comes in at £60 total. During the appointment, whilst chatting away about my previous appointments and nail health with my stylist Sofia, she buffed away the previous polish and gave me a handy nail guide with different shapes to choose from.
In order to preserve the health of my nails and stay true to their sustainability-first ethos, during the treatment, my stylist only used hand nail tools. That’s right; there was not a drill in sight! This is a particularly great feature if you suffer from slightly sensitive or weaker nails.
The appointment was about an hour long, and I was really pleased by both the beautiful colour and attentive yet speedy service, so I’m happily placing Dashl firmly near the top of my list for best salons in Central London!
Now to the cost. As well as the subscription services, there is an individual, one-off price list. Prices start from about £35 for a classic manicure with H&M polish and go up to a full-service gel mani and pedi (minus removal) for £85. You also have the option post-service to walk away with Dashl’s aftercare products. From brow gels (£19) to lip care (£31), they have you covered.
Is your interest piqued? Book an appointment, and find out more here. Plus, scroll on to discover my favourite Dashl and H&M beauty products.
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