Joburg sure isn’t a loss for beauty meccas — pretty much every corner boasts some kind of skin, nail, hair or make-up haven for us ladies to peruse. But, not all primping palaces are created equal — and finding the one that’s right for you can be a total drag. But, ladies, I'm telling you now: it doesn’t have to be this way. The upscale Parkmore salon that is Ginger has got all of your beauty needs covered under one roof!

Ginger, run by business partners Jenna and Kelly, is a trendy space that presents an intimate ambiance with a portfolio of the very best of hair stylists in Sandton. They offer everything from styling, cutting and colouring for women, men and children. I recently visited the salon for a mini hair makeover and was blown away by the quality of service we received!

To give you a little inside scoop on what I had done: I was daring enough to take my beloved platinum blonde locks to a gun metal shade of grey, which is totally trending right now. The Ginger team made sure that the two-hour-long procedure, which entailed bleaching, colouring and then finally tinting, went as well as possible. I was even treated to cappuccinos and red velvets cupcakes while my hair was styled — how glam is that?

Plus, thanks to Olaplex — the new hair treatment that reconnects broken disulphide sulphur bonds in your hair that happen during thermal, mechanical or chemical processes like bleaching — my strands took no damage whatsoever. I was pretty amazed, to be honest. Ginger is one of the top local salons that stock Olaplex as well as an extensive line of other high-end hair products.

I was one very happy lady when I walked out of the salon, and can assure you that the artistic team of stylists at Ginger can make anything a reality — perfectly sculpted upstyles, Brazilian blow waves, ombre highlights, bright or pastel coloured locks, you name it! The diverse yet exceptionally talented group of stylists are sure to deliver on what you want. You’re sure to feel 'safe' in their hands.

Apart from the fabulous hair treatments that I treated myself to at Ginger, I also decided to indulge a pedicure a few weeks later. Ginger’s in-house beauty bar, Lush by Gemma, offers facials, massages, manicures, pedicures, Vita Liberata spray tans as well as professional make-up services. And, you can be sure that Gemma is highly professional and a perfectionist of note!

I received the most divine pedicure, which included a scrub, buff, file, paint and massage. I opted for a lovely nude shade of Shellac paint on my toes that lasted right up until my next pedicure. For if you haven’t heard, Shellac is the newest, hottest nail paint — the smudge-proof gel lasts for weeks without chipping or cracking. It’s a chic, long-lasting alternative to nail polish that’s perfect for any socialite or working gal!

If you’re looking to transform your ‘do or simply treat yourself to a few beauty treatments (or both!), pop into this fabulous salon. You’re guaranteed to leave feeling and looking like a million bucks! Just be sure to book your appointments at both the hair salon as well as Lush by Gemma in advance, as Ginger has become very popular since it opened last year. Go on, spoil yourself!

by Candice May