It’s natural to want to look your best during party season. While we often dig out our finest sparkly dress, glitziest bag and shimmering jewels, nothing says radiant quite like glowing skin, shiny hair and an air of sophistication and relaxation. That’s why we’ve rounded up London’s best pre-party treatments to book now so you can feel and look your best during the most wonderful time of the year. From hair styling to massages, and facials to pamper days, discover our pick of the pre-party crop below. 

The limited-edition experience: Miller Harris x Duck & Dry

The perfect pre-party treat for fragrance lovers, luxury perfumer Miller Harris has partnered with Duck & Dry to launch a limited-edition festive experience at its Mayfair and Harvey Nichols salons until New Year’s Eve. Combining style and scent, the collaboration offers clients an expert blow-dry finished with a Miller Harris hair and body mist in either the brand’s signature and floral Scherzo scent or musky Tea Tonique, all while sipping a complimentary festive cocktail curated by Lockdown Liquor. Trust us, this is the ultimate experience to try this party season.

From £49, visit duckanddry.com

The cut and blow dry: Orel Hair and Beauty, Knightsbridge

Located in the heart of Knightsbridge, just a stone’s throw from Harrods, Orel was founded by celebrity stylist Oray Oz earlier this year to set a new standard in luxury salon experiences across hair, nails, and wellness. Home to master stylists trusted by celebrities, prominent business leaders, and public figures, the salon unites expert scalp and hair consultants all under one roof – and is the perfect choice if your tresses are in need of some TLC this season. 

Specialist hair services are designed to transform, restore, and elevate, from balayage and colour change treatments that create seamless sun-kissed blondes or bold statement shades using nourishing, cruelty-free formulas, to hair therapy treatments which target damaged strands, tame frizz, and boost shine with eco-friendly keratin, collagen, and hair botox. Our top pick? The Turkish Expert Blow Dry: a signature service inspired by Turkish artistry, delivering glamorous bounce or sleek elegance with long-lasting results. Ooh la la, indeed. 

From £45, visit orelhairandbeauty.com

The manicure: So.Shell, across London

Here at Luxury London HQ, we love a multitasker – and there are few nail bars as efficient as So.Shell. With teams spanning Chelsea to Covent Garden, and Battersea Power Station to Westfield White City, it promises manicures, pedicures and eyebrow treatments all done in 90 minutes. If you’re just looking for a simple but effective primp and polish, we recommend the signature Ukrainian manicure. Named after the country’s pioneering gel technique, polish is applied so close to the cuticle with a single brush that it will look freshly done for weeks to come. Promising to last up to a month, expect clean, sleek nails that will carry you through party season. 

From £63, visit soshell.uk

The spa: The Chancery Rosewood

Need a pre-party pamper day? Relax and unwind at the capital’s newest spa at The Chancery Rosewood. The extensive subterranean Wellness at the Asaya Spa has been designed by Yabu Pushelberg and is home to a Technogym-equipped fitness centre, a 25-metre swimming pool and five treatment rooms, as well as a sauna, steam room and relaxation areas. To elevate your spa experience further, look to official skin partner, Evidens de Beauté, and tap into its French-Japanese-inspired treatments – we like the sound of the new Skin Radiance Beauty Ceremony – or book a session with Dr Wassim Taktouk for body contouring, filler and cellulite smoothing. This is a spa day on steroids. 

From £250 per spa day pass, excluding treatment, visit rosewoodhotels.com

The celebrity-approved aesthetician: Shane Cooper

London’s most sought-after facialist Shane Cooper certainly moves in starry circles, having prepped and primed the skin of Maya Jama, Sienna Miller, Cara Delevingne and Hannah Waddingham before they hit the red carpet. Working out of a serene salon in South Kensington, Cooper delivers all of his facials himself – so you better book ahead if you want a Christmas treat. 

There are several body treatments available to target neck and jaw, and legs and glutes, but we recommend opting for the 90-minute bespoke facial and neck treatment, where Cooper assesses skin before getting to work with LED light therapy, a cryotherapy gun and microcurrent wands. Cooper is strictly non-invasive, and therefore doesn’t work with fillers or botox, instead using up to 20 different gadgets and gizmos that promise to reverse signs of ageing, and brighten and hydrate skin for that coveted radiance. Plus, he also stocks his at-home skincare range, including an award winning oxygenation mask, hyaluronic mist and foam cleanser (Olivia Dean is a fan) so you can top up the facial treatment long after you leave the salon. 

From £600, visit shanecooperskin.com

The brows: The Couture Brow at The Lanesborough Spa

Among The Lanesborough Spa’s roster of experts is Suzanne Martin, the woman behind the Couture Brow: a bespoke treatment that combines microblading with advanced aesthetic techniques to create natural, flattering brows designed to enhance your face. With a background in semi-permanent makeup, owing to her time at Dior as an MUA, Martin’s skill has earned her a worldwide client base. The session starts with an assessment of facial structure, before using mineral pigments and micro-needles to apply individual hair strokes. Think of this as an early Christmas present from me to me. 

From £1,400, visit lanesboroughclubandspa.com

The facial: Barbara Sturm Exoso-Metic Growth Factor Facial

For a facial with lasting results, look to scientific-backed products – and we recommend the Barbara Sturm collection. Pioneered by the eponymous German doctor, who has garnered an international reputation for anti-ageing and rejuvenating skin treatments, there are few better places to sample the Sturm collection than at the brand’s flagship spa on Mayfair’s Mount Street. To give your skin the ultimate boost this season, but without the need for too much downtime, we love the 75-minute Exoso-metic Growth Factor facial. 

Born out of clinical trials deep diving into cell-to-cell communication, this treatment is designed to improve skin texture by reducing the appearance of fine lines and therefore smoothing complexion. Making the most of Sturm’s Exoso-Metic collection, this is non-invasive but does use microdermabrasion and microneedling or microchannelling so can cause redness. Book this a week to two days before your big event and you’ll be good to go. 

From £500, visit drsturm.com

The MUA masterclass: Selfridges Beauty Hall

Selfridges has always offered shoppers a bit of everything, but did you know its recently relaunched Beauty Hall offers MUA sessions on tap? The state-of-the-art space opened last year and features a modern LED lighting scheme to ensure that both product and skin tones are perfectly lit, while each of the 37 in-store brands created new counter experiences. 

Peruse a selection of must-have beauty products, including Victoria Beckham Beauty, Rabanne Beauty, Valentino, Dries Van Noten and Burberry, before heading over to the Beauty Concierge (also available online) to book appointments, masterclasses and expert advice across every brand. Here, a team of eight dedicated artist-experts – who between them speak over 20 languages – can offer objective advice and insider knowledge across Selfridges’ 300 plus beauty brands. Prices range from £65 for Hourglass’ 45-minute Total Impact session ,which will deliver a bespoke look just for you, to £105 for a one-to-one, 90-minute occasion makeup session at the Charlotte Tilbury counter. 

From £65, visit selfridges.com

The massage: Hot stone massage at Four Seasons at Park Lane

There are few better places to enjoy a relaxing treatment or two than at the Four Seasons rooftop spa on Park Lane. Complete with panoramic views of Hyde Park and a treatment menu by luxury partners including Omorovicza, Cellcosmet, and Philosophia Botanica, opt for the signature hot stone massage to release tension and keep calm before your all-out occasion. Choose between 60 and 90 minutes of full body massage using aromatherapy oils and heated basalt stones designed to penetrate muscle and soothe aches and pains, leaving you feeling relaxed and recharged. It’s always best to stay completely hydrated and rested after a massage, so this could be a great way to enjoy some ‘me time’ the day before your next big event. 

From £265, visit fourseasons.com

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