Top Star Nails

Having moved from San Francisco, I was disappointed by the lack of nail salons in London. I was well overdue for a pedicure (something I used to think of as an «affordable luxury») and I longed for the convenience of All Season Nails, two blocks away from my old apartment in Nob Hill, and one of more than a dozen within walking distance. I’m now in Notting Hill and I read the poor review of Nails 2000 (closest to my flat), so I ended up at Top Star Nails in Shepherds Bush (which I did actually walk to but it was far from convenient). ANYHOO. For £20 I got a basic pedicure which looks fine. The problem I had with this place is that it was extremely crowded and in no way relaxing. Its not entirely their fault because there aren’t a lot of other options, especially in that price range, but when I’m getting my foot scrubbed not 8 inches from another woman who is waiting her turn, its kind of gross. They didn’t have massaging spa chairs (which I am OBSESSED with) and I was kind of crammed in a corner. Then the woman who was looking after me handed me off to someone else to paint my toes, so I had to gather everything I had with me and literally climb out of my corner to another part of the room and I ended up sitting at a manicure table with her kneeling on the floor under the table. Awkward! I walked away with pretty toes but the overall experience sucked.