Nickel Spa

In the age of the metrosexual, it was never going to be long before manicures, massages and facials made their way onto the menu for members of the male species.  Even so, I have been quite surprised by the number of spas exclusively for men that have suddenly cropped up around the city and the speed with which that has happened.

Slick and well branded, these establishments are a world away from the old school barbers shops or dodgy ‘massage’ parlours that used to be the only (slightly misrepresentative) health and beauty options available to the London gentleman.

Nickel (this being the fifth Nickel Spa to open worldwide) in Covent Garden is right up there with the best of them when it comes to PR and image.  It’s a brand and a spa created by a man for men and as well as a spa Nickel has its own exclusive skincare range (the products are supposedly ‘high performance’ but I’m not sure what that means exactly). The shop/spa presents a relaxed, masculine environment- which is evident the minute you step into the whitewashed shop space with its clean lines and neatly stocked shelves.

The treatment rooms are compact and smart and invariably decked out in very manly dark colours with not a smidgen of whale music or incense in sight (or should I say smell).

The treatment menu ranges from £65 for an Anti Ageing Facial, Microdermabrasion (don’t ask!) from £95, eyebrows waxing from £15 and £90 for a deep tissue massage.
The spa also offers Botox at £295.

Rather charmingly the website has a guide for spa first timers on everything from what body hair they could consider removing to what waxing actually feels like. Here’s an extract from the website about a potential situation arising from a massage… “Should an awkward situation, ahem, arise then there’s no need to panic. These things happen. Think about your tax return, mother-in-law or George Bush and all should return to normal in no time. We promise there will be no pointing, staring or public acknowledgement”. Splendid!

The spa also has its own range of products that are available to buy from the shop if you particularly liked the feel of whatever you were treated with on the day. So go on fellas, this isn’t the 50’s; everybody’s at it so don’t be shy. Check it out at www.nickelspalondon.co.uk.