Is City of Beauty convenient to get to?

Yes, City of Beauty is located at 46 First May Street, making it easily accessible by public transportation or on foot. The salon is situated between Izmailovsky and First May metro stations, so you can't miss it!

What kind of services does City of Beauty offer?

City of Beauty offers a wide range of services, including haircuts, nail care, and treatments for both men and women. They also have a kid-friendly section, making it a great spot for families.

How long do appointments typically take?

Appointment times vary depending on the service, but most haircuts and nail services take around 30 minutes to an hour. Treatments for my husband can take a bit longer, but the staff always keeps me informed about the expected wait time.

Is City of Beauty a good value for money?

In my opinion, City of Beauty offers great value for money. Their prices are competitive, and the quality of services is top-notch. However, some services can be a bit pricey, so it's worth doing your research before booking an appointment.

Can I get a refund or exchange if I'm not satisfied?

Yes, City of Beauty has a return policy in place. If you're not satisfied with a service, you can request a refund or exchange within a certain timeframe. Just be sure to check with the staff beforehand to confirm their return policy.

Does City of Beauty have any promotions or discounts?

City of Beauty occasionally runs promotions and offers discounts, especially during holidays or special events. Be sure to follow them on social media or sign up for their newsletter to stay informed about upcoming deals.

Is City of Beauty suitable for kids?

Yes, City of Beauty has a kid-friendly section with services designed specifically for children. The staff is welcoming and accommodating, making it a great spot for families to get pampered together.

Can I book an appointment online?

Yes, City of Beauty allows online booking through their website or social media platforms. You can also call them directly to schedule an appointment over the phone.

City of Beauty Review: Honest Thoughts on Haircuts, Kid-Friendly Services, and More

I've been going to City of Beauty on First May Street for five years now, and I've tried just about every service they offer. Let me share some general impressions, and then I'll get into the specifics of the haircuts, kid-friendly services, and treatments for my husband.

It's conveniently located at 46 First May Street, which makes it super easy to get to.

City BeautyThe salon is situated between Izmailovsky and First May metro stations. Inside, it's bright, clean, and tidy. There's a coat-check, and two receptionists handle phone calls, administrative tasks, and quoting prices. The staff is diverse, with women from Eastern Europe working in the hair salon, Asian women in the nail bar, and a Slavic woman at the reception desk. There's a clean bathroom at the end of the corridor, with two sinks in the main area and one in the VIP lounge. Let's start with the women's haircuts.

Women's Haircuts

When I was younger, I used to get a haircut every four months. I'd only splurge on the cut itself, which cost 5,000 rubles. From my three tiny hairs, the stylist would work some magic and create an incredibly voluminous and stylish look within 1.5 hours. However, I had to part ways with her due to her lack of respect for my time. The last time I waited for her was an hour, and I'd even booked an appointment in advance. She knew I had a baby at home on breastmilk, but she didn't seem to care.

I used to go to City of Beauty for manicures, so I decided to try them out for a haircut. My mom would say, 'I cried.' There was no volume, no style, and it was a total letdown. I didn't dare go anywhere for a long time. I grew out my bangs and let them go, but time heals all wounds, and I went back. I was lucky to find a stylist who creates a great look for me. Although her work style is different from my previous stylist, she's found the right volume, and that's all I need. I pay around 1,000 rubles for a haircut and brow correction, which is a clear saving. With the 5,000 I used to spend, I can now get a manicure, pedicure, and two haircuts per quarter.

If you're not looking for something complicated, you can definitely try your luck at this salon.

Dyeing

This was a disaster. The first time I dyed my hair in a single color at a regular salon, the color wasn't bad, but the dye turned my hair into a mush.

I've been to the VIP salon twice now, and I've made it super clear what I want: red hair and WHITE WIDE STRIPS on my hair. I mean, they can be slightly yellowish due to my hair type, but the main thing is that there are two colors and they're clearly distinguishable. Honestly, I don't care what you call it - balayage, ombre, or whatever the latest trend is - I just want CONTRAST.

I'm a total newbie when it comes to this, but the way the stylist worked with my hair really surprised me. She spent ages doing the chemical treatment, and I only realized later that she must have messed up and then had to redo it. At the time, I was in a total zen state and didn't even notice. In the end, I got two shades that were almost identical, with thin strips all over my head. It was kind of cute, but not even close to what I wanted.

From what I've observed, the stylist in the VIP salon is a woman who works with a lot of attitude. I've watched her work on several clients, and every single one of them left unhappy. Each time, she'd say the same thing: 'your hair is like this, the lighting is like that, this color suits you, that one doesn't.' And people still leave her tips. I guess we Russians are just too conflict-averse.

I won't be going back to that salon, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

Here's how I did it myself.

Styling

I went to the salon before the New Year's party and asked for a VIP zone styling session. The stylist suggested doing a root ghd. I'm sure many of you are familiar with this – it's where you use special clips to clamp down your hair at the roots and hold them for a few seconds. I had no idea what this was, but I agreed. They promised the style would last for three days, and they delivered on that. However, the result looked a bit unnatural to me.

I looked like this after the styling session.

Styling sessionStyling session

At the dinner table.

New Year's party

By the second day, the volume really grew on me. It blended seamlessly with my overall style.

Styling session

Day three – it was business as usual.

Styling session

If I had to do it all over again, I'd probably say no thanks. For me, a regular blow dryer and some styling cream are more than enough. Of course, it all depends on your hair type, and my opinion is pretty subjective. The total came out to 920 rubles.

Task accomplished, so I'd recommend checking out the salon in the City of Beauty.

Via this link, you can see my shampoo and hair balm for a healthy mane.

Getting the kids' hair cut

Since I'm a regular at this salon, I signed up for the UDS Game app. For every paid receipt, I get points. One point equals one ruble. That's how I've been using my points to get my eldest's hair cut. The cut itself was just like any other – cheap and tidy. The whole process took place in the main room. Each stylist (they even provide a special cushion for the chair – and you're good to go) works with you individually. I stood right next to the kid, who's now 5 years old, and the stylist did an amazing job. The last time, I paid for the cut using my points – 170 points were deducted. The whole thing took 10 minutes. Although the kid wasn't seated on the special cushion, but rather on some old drawers, I don't even want to dwell on that. It was quick, well done, and affordable. The kid was calm, the stylist was polite, and it was a great experience.

Here's how they cut the kids' hair:

Getting a 5-year-old's hair cutGetting a 5-year-old's hair cut

I've been using this salon for my own haircuts, and you can check out my experience here.

UDS Game

I'd recommend sticking with the standard kid's haircut at this salon.

Men's haircuts

I've taken my husband here, and he gets his haircuts elsewhere. I 'suggested' this salon to him, and he's been going there for a while. Out of 20 times, only one time did they mess it up, but in this city, it's a different story - they mess it up almost every time. The other salon he goes to charges 400 rubles, and he looks like a peacock, while here, it's hit or miss - sometimes it's fine, sometimes there are patches. I mean, it's not a huge saving if you're going to end up looking ridiculous.

By the way, the receptionist called me after his appointment and offered me some discounts.

I wouldn't recommend men's haircuts here, unless you're going to see the same stylist every time.

Nail care

I came here for the first time specifically for the nail service. I'm terrified of getting an infection, but they seem to take the necessary precautions. Before each client, the technician puts the tools in a craft bag, signs a logbook, and opens it in front of the client. Then, they take the individual number from the bag and write it in another logbook. It looks like they're following proper protocol.

The nail service is done carefully, and I like that. Of course, it depends on the technician - sometimes they leave behind cuts on the skin around the nail. Some technicians disinfect immediately, while others don't seem to care (both the technician and the client need to disinfect their hands before the service). I've gotten over my fear of disinfection, and I now ask them to do it. If you've ever had nail fungus, you know what I mean.

I've got to say, the finish on this product is pretty underwhelming. The quality of the polish is below average. If you're lucky, it might last till evening. Although they do apply it in two coats, with a topcoat, it still chips and flakes off within three days. It starts to wear off and get scratched even before that.

I did a manicure just 60 minutes before this, and I was expecting it to dry. But when I got home, I noticed a dent on my index finger. And there was already a scratch on it from the salon.

ManicureManicureManicureManicure

I tried using the gel polish for New Year's, but ended up spending the holidays in the hospital instead. Here's my review from back then, and you can see the gel polish in it. To be honest, I struggled to remove the polish, and it took me six months to recover my nails. Gel polish just isn't my thing.

The nail technicians have a pretty negative attitude towards regular manicures. They do their job fine, but you can tell they're not happy about it. I mean, it's pretty cheap, 480 rubles with the finish, so I've started giving them a tip before the manicure, just to avoid any issues.

I highly recommend the manicure at this salon, but I wouldn't recommend the nail polish application.

Pedicure

I've had to deal with ingrown toenails twice, a year apart, and it's been a real nightmare, even with local anesthesia and a qualified staff. A nurse at the clinic suggested I find a good pedicurist, and I didn't really understand how that could help at the time. But then I went to the Beauty City and it all clicked. The procedure itself is a breeze. They put a hot water container in a disposable bag and I soak my feet in it while the technician prepares everything. They all wear gloves and masks, and they work on my nails, cuticles, heels, and the space between my toes. They put on disposable slippers and, at my request, they wrap my feet in disposable bags in the winter. They can also give you a massage for an extra fee and apply cream.

I highly recommend the pedicure at Beauty City.

Brow correction

I'm not a fan of eyebrow dye, so I stick to correction. They do it perfectly and neatly. The only downside is when I get it done at a barber shop instead of a beauty salon, I have to sit in an awkward position with my head on the backrest of the chair. But they always do a great job.

I highly recommend the brow correction at Beauty City.

Massage

I did a full-body massage course on sale and it was a great deal. I even convinced my husband to try it while it was on offer. We both enjoyed it, but after four sessions, you start to feel like you're not getting any new results. I wouldn't have paid the regular price for it.

Beauty treatments

I've been to this place three times. The first time, I just got a simple facial. The second time, I got my eyebrows done. The third time, I went in for a deep clean. I've had facials before, but this place took it to a whole new level. They used all sorts of harsh chemicals and creams that left my skin feeling like it was on fire. I was in agony. The pain was intense, and I was crying buckets. After the procedure, I had to leave the house with a mask on for several hours. It was totally invisible on my skin, but it was definitely there. I couldn't even touch my face for a while. I waited the required time, rinsed it off, and applied some biopanten to soothe my skin. For a few days, my face was bright red and flaky. My skin was literally peeling off. But, when it all healed up, my skin looked cleaner and more even-toned than ever. To be honest, I wasn't too concerned about breaking out in the face. What I was worried about was the pain. Before you go, think about where you'll be for the next week. Be prepared for some serious discomfort. If you're not ready for that, don't bother. Because, let's be real, six months later, my skin was right back to where it started - 3000 rubles down the drain.

I would not recommend this beauty salon in the City of Beauty.

My Recommendations

1. Tip before the procedure, after they give you the total cost.

2. Stick to basic services: a single-color dye job, a standard haircut, and a mani without polish.

3. Suggest this place to your grandparents - the prices are actually pretty reasonable.

4. Sign up for their loyalty program.

City of BeautyCity of Beauty

5. Keep an eye out for promotions.

City of Beauty

THE VERDICT

I'd recommend City of Beauty - it's a budget-friendly salon that delivers decent services for the average Joe. Just don't expect too much. The prices are low, but the staff isn't exactly qualified. Be prepared for some disappointment if you're not just looking for a quick trim or a basic manicure. I've been going there for a mani-pedi without gel polish, a haircut, and a trim for my son. If you're looking for anything else, you might want to try a higher-end salon.

There's a nice park nearby, Izmailovskii Park, where you can take a stroll with your stroller, grab some food, and have some fun.