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Aveda Institute, Covent Garden - 4 bubbles
Shy Spy was invited to Aveda's glass beauty castle in Covent Garden, where they pampered our princess from her toes to her tresses. She discovered the best scrub she's ever had, oodles of essential oils, and radiance. And then, unfortunately, she found the shops.
Was it easy to book?
First impressions?
How did they welcome you?
What happens next?
Which treatments did you have?
What were the treatments like?
How did you feel afterwards?
What happens afterwards?
Long-term effects
Was it worth it?
Who do you think would like it?
Why did you give the spa this rating?
Would you go again?
Was it easy to book?
The spa manager, Gevi, helped me with my booking. The advice was helpful as lots of the treatments looked inviting.
First impressions?
Despite knowing Covent Garden fairly well, I couldn't quite place where the Aveda Institute was. I then felt incredibly ignorant when I turned the corner onto High Holborn: in front of me was the huge glass-fronted beauty factory that is Aveda's flagship salon. That just goes to prove that my Neal Street-induced shopping frenzies have clouded my normally clear vision. From the outside, the Aveda Institute looks like a large, trendy hair salon (or strangely like a human-size ant-farm if you look from a distance). It has vast glass windows, exposed concrete beams and lots of good-looking staff members buzzing around, all dressed in obligatory head-to-toe black. The ground floor contains the hair salon, waiting and retail area, manicure stations and café. On entering, you step into the waiting area in front of the window, where you can check in at the main desk. The spa treatment rooms are downstairs.
How did they welcome you?
The receptionist asked for my name and appointment time, then asked me to take a seat in the waiting area. The waiting area was quite full, shared by both hair salon and spa customers. It is obviously a popular salon. As part of your induction into "Aveda World", while you wait, you get to watch a video of Aveda sourcing ingredients in tropical locations. Everything was Aveda-branded: the products, the "Aveda tea" in an Aveda paper cup, Aveda hair brushes, Aveda earth-tone colours used in the décor, and the Aveda natural/global décor with wicker and bamboo-a-plenty. This worked well as it gave the waiting room an overall coherence. It looked like everything had been perfectly co-ordinated rather than just having logos slapped on indiscriminately. After my "Aveda tea" (which tasted like a healthy green tea blend), Gevi, the spa manager, greeted me and took me downstairs to the spa area. We got to this via a door beside the café serving area. I thought this was slightly strange; a little like going into a secret underground bunker. However, as soon as you step down the stairs, you enter a very peaceful, dimly-lit area that makes you forget about the busy streets outside. It was remarkably quiet, too, considering that a busy road is directly outside the salon.
What happens next?
I took a seat in the spa waiting/relaxation area. There are chairs set around a low table with tea, water, and a bowl of product samples laid out for you to help yourself. This area was nicely decorated, with some well-placed ethnic-looking touches: little Buddhas and a live bamboo arrangement that fitted around a curved wall. It was a bit dark, though, which is good for relaxing, but not so good if you want to read. I had a drink of water, then Gevi took me into one of the four treatment rooms.
Which treatments did you have?
I had a Botanical Skin Resurfacing Facial (60 minutes, £80), and the Caribbean Therapy Body Scrub (60 minutes, £80). Gevi recommended this as it's her favourite treatment. My treatments ended with Hair Replenishment (30 minutes, £20), or a "hair spa" as Gevi referred to it.
What were the treatments like?
Caribbean Therapy Body Scrub: I booked this expecting just a body scrub -- mere exfoliation and an application of moisturiser. However, to use the words of the you-know-what ad, "This isn't just a body scrub..." While I filled in my Aveda forms (not the usual health forms, but ones that ask you to work out your mood, as well) my therapist, Lindsay, treated me to a welcoming foot scrub. I then lay down on the wide and comfy heated treatment bed. Lindsay began my treatment with reflexology. Lindsay offered me a choice of three essential oils to complement my treatment. After closing my eyes and inhaling the lovely smells, I plumped for ylang ylang at the start of this "sensory journey", as the therapists call it. After a soothing smooth of oil, Lindsay applied the scrub all over my scrubbable bits. The lovely Caribbean scents wafted up as I was buffed to perfection. Unfortunately, the shower is out in the corridor, so you do have to shuffle out in a robe to wash the scrub off. Lindsay had left a clean robe, slippers and plenty of clean towels ready for me. The shower was well-stocked with Aveda shampoo, body wash, and other bits. I'm quite small, so I don't really have a problem with the size of shower cubicles. However, I think the shower may be a little small for some. The shower wasn't in keeping with the rest of the décor, just an ordinary white plastic-edged cubicle, but it was spotless. Back in the treatment room, I popped back onto the bed and Lindsay finished the treatment with an application of body cream that was more full-body massage than a slathering of lotion. It was a great way to leave you feeling relaxed and your skin smoothed at the same time. Botanical Skin Resurfacing Facial: My facial began with a consultation with Aveda's facial specialist Christina. After deciding what I wanted to achieve, and what would be good for my rather battered, dehydrated skin, we decided on a facial that includes Aveda's method of natural microdermabrasion, which they call "botanical resurfacing", using their tourmaline range. Like the body treatment, the facial involved lots of lovely essential oil scents. Christina applied a mask to my face. After leaving it to work its magic, she rubbed the fairly coarse layer off with a gentle technique that left my skin amazingly soft and smooth without any redness whatsoever. Following my facial, I got ready to go back upstairs for my "hair spa" in the main salon. Hair replenishment: This treatment doesn't involve dipping your locks into a Jacuzzi or such like. It's a moisturising wrap for tired hair. For the accompanying neck and shoulder massage, I sat leaning forwards into a padded seat, in a strange contraption that looked like it had been borrowed from the London Dungeon. My therapist then applied a "hair mask", and attached a steamer around my head. The steam helps the product penetrate the hair shaft while you flick through a copy of your favourite magazine. (This is a trendy salon. Wallpaper was offered. I was not disappointed.) The steam does make your head get a bit hot -- watch out if you've got make-up on -- but it leaves your hair silky-soft. The therapist finished my treatment with a blow-dry, so I left looking rather fab.
How did you feel afterwards?
I left feeling buffed, radiant, and perfectly groomed. Under normal circumstances, I am not that confident without my foundation on, having less-than-perfect skin, but I didn't even touch my make-up bag before I left.
What happens afterwards?
I was in Covent Garden and the shops were still open, so I gladly swished my lovely hair, and showed off my glowing skin in Mango, and Urban Outfitters, and...(Unfortunately, one of the side-effects of good treatments is over-confidence in shop mirrors...)
Long-term effects
The facial left my skin looking exceptionally radiant for a day afterwards, but it didn't have the long-lasting effects some of the less natural exfoliators have.
Was it worth it?
The Aveda treatments aren't cheap, but they were very good. I would definitely pay that price for the body scrub, but I'm not sure my wallet would stretch to the facial and hair spa every time. But a blow-dry is a great way to finish a day at the spa!
Who do you think would like it?
The Aveda Institute is quite trendy, so young urbanites will like it. However, I noticed that customers covered quite an age range, so: anyone out on a day's shopping trip who needs a treat; anyone getting ready for a night out in London; those wanting some spa indulgence without leaving with messy hair!
Why did you give the spa this rating?
We gave the Aveda Institute 4 bubbles. The therapists were friendly without being overbearing, and treatments were really good. I absolutely loved the Caribbean Body Scrub - it was probably the best scrub I've had. I'd definitely recommend it for a pre-holiday treat. The one shower out in the corridor isn't ideal, and while my treatment plan was perfectly coordinated, if you don't book a blow-dry, then you'll have to sit in the salon and dry your own hair. Getting ready to leave in the spa area rather than in the salon would be preferable. With a better layout, and a bigger shower, this spa could have got top marks.
See more on how we rate the spas
Would you go again?
Absolutely. If I lived in London, the Aveda Institute would be perfect for preparing for a night out.
We visited the Aveda Institute in April 2008
* Follow this link to purchase Aveda products from lookfantastic.com
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