Shavata Eyebrow Salon and Brow Perfector

(Please excuse the shoddy, weird photo at right. It's going to have to do for now, as I can't really post this without some photographic evidence of the results of my experiments.)

The last three times I've had my brows done, I've gone to Shavata's salon at Harrod's fifth floor Urban Retreat.

My first time, I had Shavata herself wax and pluck my eyebrows. I was annoyed at being made to wait 15 minutes without explanation (not all of us are ladies who lunch - some of us sacrifice lunch to get our brows done), and Shavata didn't seem overly sympathetic about it. "I need to spend time with each client," she explained, as if this somehow made sense of the fact that no one had told me she was running very late, and as if it somehow extended my lunch break by a quarter of an hour. I also had to ask to have the tops of my brows waxed. "I don't normally do that," Shavata said. Well, since I was paying £29 (about $50 US), I wasn't shy about asking her to do so anyway. When I told her about a major brow brand in the US with whom I used to work - before the brand's figurehead's legal troubles set in - and offered comparisons between their set-up and hers, Shavata asked many questions, took notes, and did not thank me for the help. As for my brows, the arches were a little overdramatic but still looked great. I knew I'd be back: My eyebrows, sadly, mean too much to me to take many risks with them.

The second time I went to Shavata's salon, I had one of her trained brow therapists instead of the woman herself. The therapist in question told me that she didn't know how to wax the tops of eyebrows (huh?), but that she could thread them. I told her to go ahead and do everything by threading. Egads, it was painful, but the results were beautiful. The therapist was delightful, and I enjoyed that session as much as one could possibly enjoy having hairs ripped out of ones eyes for fifteen continuous minutes.

My most recent visit to Shavata's was last week, when I had a different therapist. I was in a hurry and not up to the pain of threading, so opted for a wax and pluck. Everything looked fine when she finished, so I was satisfied, despite being shot quizzical, wordless looks from Shavata, who was tending to another customer in another chair. She did not smile or say hello to this repeat customer, much to my relief. I just couldn't bear pretending to like someone who isn't very bothered about wasting my time - especially when I'm spending so much money with her on a regular basis.

I'm going to keep going back to Shavata's salon, but only to see her therapists. From what I've experienced, their work is as good - if not better - than their boss's, and comes £8 less expensively.

As for the Brow Perfector product, I won't be buying it again. I asked my therapist last week if they had a brow powder, and she told me that they did, handing me the Brow Perfector. As my pot of brow powder broke and shattered to dust in my makeup bag some time ago, I was pretty desperate for a new supply. So I was not thrilled to open the Brow Perfector after leaving and discover that it is not a powder at all, but more like dark coloured foundation. It is rather fiddly to apply it evenly, and the dinky brushes provided are too poor in quality for a product that costs £19.50.

Can you tell that I'm not overly thrilled with the whole Shavata experience? If anyone has any recommendations for friendly, expert brow artistry in London, please do let me know at once.

Comments

[Amy Alkon]

How stupid of them to fall short in these areas that seem so basic. It takes very little -- but I guess a lot -- for me to be happy with salon service: friendliness, accomplishment at the given task (meaning you know your field inside and out, top [brows] and bottom). When you're in LA, I recommend Luba at Enessa. Naturally, I only know about Enessa because Hill recommended it, so you know it has to be good. Oh, she does threading. Sorry. So maybe ask Hillary for a waxer. Or take a lot of Advil!

[Amy Alkon]

Oh, and I forgot -- concern for your time and basics like that.

[boudica, baby]

Although it is not a powder, H&M's brow pencil's are damn good.

I'm blonde and find it impossible to find the right shade and texture but these work fine and are a bargain at little over a £.

My brows are an absolute state. My next buy will be some of that new-fangled hair grow serum, then, perhaps I might have something to work with!

xxB

[Gabrielle]

I think Feroza in covent Garden is very good, I'd be interested in what you think of her, she's not cheap either at £18 and does threading not waxing but the three times I've been there I've not found it painful at all. I went there with my eyebrows an absolute state (since moving from Australia I've found it very difficult t find a good shaper so have been butchering them badly myself) we've been working on growing and shaping them over the past three months, tomorrow hopefully she will finally be happy with the shape and we can move into the maintenence phase....

Her website is below.

http://ferozasbeauty.co.uk/threading.htm

[Faith]

The cheapest threading in Singapore only cost a mere SGD4... Only £1+. Their service is excellent. The Indians have perfected the art. Too bad, London is too far away from here.

[Helen Dyson]

On reading your comments, I was very surprised with your ‘Shavata’ experience. I have been going to get my eyebrows waxed regularly for years and only with Shavata and on a few occasions, with her other team members. This was instigated after reading an article in Vogue, how one could transform the look of your eyes by an eyebrow shape. Up until that time I had not touched my dark, thick eyebrows and now I don’t know how I went for years doing nothing!!!

Anyway, firstly I would not know what to do if Shavata were not around to do my re-shape and I have never been disappointed. Secondly, my time too, is very precious, like a lot of ladies who have to juggle so many things on a daily basis. I nip in during my lunch hour, on my way to meetings and I must say there has been times when due to work, traffic and general life I have been a little late, who has not?

I have come to the conclusion that in life ‘patience and kindness’ are key factors and I have been fortunate to experience these during my ‘eyebrow trips’ to Shavata.

Why if we are happy with a result do we have to look for the negatives lets be happy that we have eyebrows!!!!

I have recommended all my friends and family to Shavata and their experiences too are positive ones!!! Well must dash as I have an appointment with someone and I don’t wish to be late. Ladies, try Shavata, worth it!!

[H Sugden]

Desperate to tame my unruly eyebrows over a year ago, I made an appointment to see Shavata solely on her reputation. I was not disappointed.

She took one look at me and within 10 minutes the job was done. I had beautiful arches which instantly made my eyes appear bigger and brighter.

In fact so many people commented on how much younger I looked that I now see her regularly to keep the look. In all that time I have never had a bad experience with her. She is gentle, professional and has a great sense of humour - I nearly always leave laughing.

As to her timing yes, I have been kept waiting occasionally but she is always apologetic and when I have rung her salon desperate for a quick appointment she has always fitted me in somehow. Just a little bit of give and take.

I couldn't recommend her more.

[Liz Shaw]

Hi,
I've just been reading your website, having quickly logged on before going to bed about an hour ago to check out Shavata eyebrow shaping I am still sitting at my PC!
Anyhow, your website is great to read and I will be back to visit in more depth!
In the meantime, I'm wondering if you could recommend a good colourist, in London. Having had highlights for the last few years (the last 2 at Vidal Sassoon) my hair seems to be overloaded with colour. Although my colourist at Vidal is good, I feel I need to go somewhere where there is far more focus on getting a great colour (and healthy looking hair in the process).
Any suggestions will be gratefully received!
Thanks,
Liz

[Basanti Shah]

I can recommend someone in Cockfosters who is excellent. She is good and reasonable prices, never had any problems. Strongly recommend that you try her out. Her number is 07845663016 and her name is Sonal.

[simone wheaton]

Hi

I too have tried Shavata on the back of a couple of recommendations and to be honest she is not worth the price you pay.
Blink eyebrow bar (I went to Harvey Nichols) was better in terms of service and shape.
However vby far the best shape shape and most comfortable exerience was at Malika in the Toni&Guy salon in Canary Wharf.
The service was great and the therapists knowledge ( I believe her name is Ritu) surpassed anyone else I have seen. As a bonus it was the most pain free experience I have ever had - Ritu puts it down to Ayurvedic Oils that she developed herself.

If you are in London and can get to Canary Wharf - make sure you visit the Malika outlet in the Toni&Guy salon - she is busy so you can pre-book on 020 7531 2375 - though I was able to get a walk-in appointment

[simone wheaton]

By the way I forgot to mention that Malika do threading only - both below and above the brow

[mary kirkham]

I work as a beautician and eyebrows are my forte. I spend as long as I need to perfect my clients shape. I may run late sometimes due to clients being late but surely running a little late is no price for those perfect brows.

[Jackie Danicki]

I think that competent scheduling should avoid making clients late. And I'm sure that when you ARE running behind, you make sure your clients are kept informed and you express your apologies and regrets in accordance with basic etiquette. Right?

[Jennifer]

I recommend someone in Cockfosters who is excellent. She is good and reasonable prices, never had any problems. Strongly recommend that you try her out. Her number is 07845663016 and her name is Sonal.

[caroline graham]

Thanks for the suggestion from Simone. I too work in Canary Wharf and had been looking for a threader.

The Malika service and end result was fantastic.
The head massage at the end finishes it of perfectly.
Ritu was the threaders name - I don't plan on going anywhere else.

[Jackie Danicki]

Wow, I'm going to have to try Ritu! Here's hoping I can get an appointment between now and Friday...

[Anna]

I have to agree with original comment..have been to see Shavata several times over but do think that she has now become a bit overrated..doesnt make as much effort, rushes you in and out and is not as personal with service as used to be. I remember before she had own business and worked in salon in Mayfair .. much better! her assistants are just as good, if not better and the good news is that one of her fabulous assistants has just left shavata and is running her own business in knightsbridge too! Very precise at threading and little detail, not rushed, always on time with appointments and charges less than at urban retreat....overjoyed!!! :)

[maria]

went to shavata last year, the wax she used was too hot and ripped a layer of my skin off - on both eyebrows! i had never had them waxed before and she didnt even have the curtesy to warn me as to what she was about to do. i looked a right state, she offered no apology and i was left with scars that lasted weeks. she is unprofessional and uncaring, needless to say id never recommend her!

[Miss Liz]

Hi, I'm new to London and on the back of some references from work colleagues, took a punt and went to the Vaishaly Salon in Marylebone.

I've had threading and waxing before and this is the second best experience I've ever had (I went to the GOD of eyebrow shaping in Sydney - Nathan Williams at Parlour B). The salon was stunning, the clinician was polite, quick and the results - outstanding. Can't recommend them highly enough.

Next on the list is to find a good hair colourist! I usually have a half head of highlights (I'm blonde) - can anyone recommend a colourist?