Charles Worthington

For no-nonsense blow-dries, great colour and cuts in bright, comfortable surroundings, Charles Worthington is your man. Don't be put off by the fact the salon's founder is a household name, now, by virtue of his ubiquitous haircare line and frequent television appearances – this salon is suprisingly low-key, and far more reasonably priced than many of its central London contemporaries. We have long frequented the Percy Street outlet for lunchtime blow-dries (from £36) and can’t fault the customer service – a bowl of nuts and glass of bubbly is always offered within seconds of sitting down (you can have unlimited top-ups for a £3 charge. By our reckoning, if you drink enough, you can break even). The salon is minimal but super-comfortable, and for a place with such a big name behind it, it is remarkably friendly. Upstairs (at both Percy Street and Covent Garden salons) you can get great manicures and pedicures from £13 – at the moment, they take place from a seat with footbowl rather than a full-on pedichair, but that is set to change later this summer. While the focus is on glossy cuts and colour, there is a punky new hair chalking service - for an extra £15, your stylist will give you some wash-out show-stopping colour in a prism of pinks and blues. Perfect colour for a night out that won't look like a nightmare the next day.