Friday 25th November: WAH! Soho, opening night

Here is Sharmadean Reid at the opening of her newest nail salon in SOHO.  She is one of my favourite London characters and for that reason, a contributor to my book about this city.  I asked Sharmadean for her Top 5 Beauty Shop Tips, and here is the original text:

SHARMADEAN REID

TOP 5 BEAUTY TIPS

It wouldn’t be a London book without hailing the Queen Bee of beauty – Sharmadean Reid MBE (voted 1 of 15 people who will define the future of arts in Britain when she was 24).  With a background in trend consultancy she had the insight to see a gap in the market for an emerging nail art phenomenon about to go mainstream.  Using the branding of her fanzine WAH! she opened her own nail bar in Dalston and used the space for exhibitions and launches. The E8 premises has returned after a concession within the labyrinth of Oxford Circus Top Shop meanwhile the empire has metamorphosed into a nail care line on high-street chemist shelves.  The designs that Sharma invents for shows at fashion week or for her musician friends (M.I.A, FKA TWIGS) can now be reinterpreted by teenagers at home across the nation.  Hailing from Wolverhampton, I bet the teenage Sharma would have been pleased as punch to know she’d become one of her generations leading entrepreneurs.   She’s a fountain of knowledge, a force of inspiration and a fun tornado of energy to have whirlwind around.

1)    John Bell andCroydon

I love the old world meets new world feel of tHis space. It truly is a global apothecary yet its completely modern and energised. All pharmacies and beauty stores should check their approach. 

50-54 Wigmore St, London W1U 2AU

-->

1)    Planet Organic

The best selection of natural products and because I also believe health is inside out, I love that I can buy food which will nourish me as well as Dr Haushka, REN, Wild Nutrition and all my other fave products...

Westbourne Grove, Devonshire Square, Muswell Hill, Islington, Wandsworth, Torrington Place, Tottenham Court Walk

2)    Panacea Beauty

This little gem has all sorts of weird health products like slippery elm porridge… but I also love that instead of taking a whole brand range, they will just feature cult products like my absolute fave Nubain Heritage African Black Soap body wash.

99 Muswell Hill Broadway, London N10 3RS

3)    Baywood Chemist

I just moved to West London and there are loads of great chemists there, but I really love this one, a mix of higgledy piddgledy deadstock products as well as luxury beauty brands…….. and its on the most beaut part of the Grove. 

239 Westbourne Grove, London W11 2SE

4)    Liberty Beauty Hall

For my luxury beauty, I always shop here. Its been my fave since I first moved to London. I love wooden spaces and I love the traditional feel. Although it can get quite crowded I still go there at least once a week to buy and browse.

-->

Regent Street,  W1B 5AH