Hair Centre

Shop 508 Chi Fu Landmark, Pok Fu Lam
tel. 2881 7890

Stylist:  John Chiu

John was recommended to me by our relocation agent.  I decided to go for it, as her hair is short, and my hair was short, and hers looked good, with nice highlights.

I gave John my colour details, which I made sure to get before leaving England.  He knew exactly what Toni (my old colourist - not Toni of Guy, even though she worked there) was talking about, because he had, in fact, trained at Toni and Guy in England about 10 years ago.  He gave me a great cut and the same colour.  All for about a third of the price it would cost in a salon in Central.

I've since dragged my kids and husband there.  Hubby was unconvinced and went somewhere else the next time.  He went back to John after that fiasco.

I've also recommended John to more than four friends, who have all gone to him and been very happy with their cuts/colours/styling.

The only downside is the location.  If you are going from Wan Chai you can take the 37A bus, and I think there is a 42 bus from Central.  But if you are in Pok Fu Lam you have to either make a couple of bus transfers or take a taxi there (or drive).

Rating:  4

N.V. Nail Spa

Shop 214, China Merchants Tower, Shun Tak Center, 200 Connaught Road, Central
tel.  2499 8889

I finally broke down and got gel nails done.

Although it is a bit high maintenance of me, I like to think that it is actually low maintenance.  It means I only have to get my nails done once every 2-3 weeks, and then I don't have to worry about them at all in the interim.  Before I did it, I had to give myself a manicure every week, cutting, filing, de-cuticling....and that was without polish.  If I wanted to have polish, I would be lucky to have it last 3 days without chipping and looking ratty; and as I hate having scraggly nails, I would end up taking off the polish and perhaps re-applying it.

SO.  Now that I have fully justified my getting gel nails, I have to say, this place is great.  I found it by just walking past and peeping in.  The ladies were having a slow day (Christmas Eve) and I just went for it.

The quality of the nail work is very high - they take off most of the previous gel and then apply new gel each time.  The shape and thickness of the nail is so good that most people just think I have nail polish on my incredibly beautifully kept up nails.  The price (package only) is commensurate with other high quality nail salons.

Downsides:  the time it takes to do it - 1 1/2  to 2 hours;  you only get the good pricing if you purchase a package, which means you are locked into going there for almost a year.

Rating:  3