The Vegan Manicure You Need to Know About

On a frosty, bright blue February afternoon, I ventured down to Live True London’s Vauxhall salon by the river, and enjoyed a leisurely pamper. I was immediately impressed by the customer service – the receptionist took both of my coats (it was freezing outside!) and offered me a drink straight away, before directing me through to meet Hajnal, my manicurist. I was in for a totally cruelty-free experience: I was trying out a new vegan polish with no nasties or parabens, and Hajnal was vegan herself! This was a great touch, as she had plenty of interesting stories involving yoga in Kerala, climate change chats with a UN advisor, and London life.

Nothing felt rushed, and as the polish slicked onto my nails, I sank back into my chair and let the conversation flow. I chose the cherry-red ‘Love My Nails’ ORLY Breathable Nails polish – it’s an all-in-one treatment that contains the benefits of a treatment, base coat, polish and top coat in a single application. The glossy formula includes argan oil, pro-vitamin B5 and vitamin C to help improve hydration… but unfortunately once the polish had dried, it chipped within two hours. I was pretty disappointed by this – I hadn’t expected the polish to be as durable as gel, obviously, but I had hoped for a longer-lasting finish; especially with the £30 price tag.

So, next time I fancy a vegan treatment, I would certainly return to the salon, but perhaps I’d try a different product. Live True salons also use the vegan Pureology range of haircare – so perhaps I’ll treat myself to a cut and bouncy blow-dry next time. For customer service, atmosphere and ambience, I would definitely recommend Live True London – you can also find them in Clapham and Brixton.