Spot our before and after makeover!

Hello May!
The sun is here and we could not be happier about it. After such a cold and windy spell, just being able to put the awning down again feels like a proper celebration! This month there is quite a bit going on from show prep finally reaching the first big moment, some exciting new treatments on the menu, and a few things that have felt worth sharing as we head into half term. I hope you enjoy the read.

Salon news
And that is not all we have been celebrating. Those of you who have visited recently, or even just driven past, may have noticed that our forecourt has had a makeover. We are so pleased with how it has turned out, here’s a little before and after. What a difference it makes, and it is going to make parking so much easier too.

It’s here!
I’m in the last few days of a 20-week prep that started back on 29th December, and this Saturday is show time!
It has been quite a process. I started at nearly 3,000 calories a day, high carbs, high protein and minimal cardio. As the weeks have gone on the calories have come down and the cardio has shot up. Right now I’m at around 1,300 calories a day, made up of low carb, low fat, and high protein. My training includes an hour of fasted Stairmaster every morning (which is a bit grim), a 1 hr 15 min weight session, followed by 20 minutes on the cross trainer. I do get the small luxury of 1 full rest day though!

This week is peak week, where the real magic happens. You basically look completely different in just a few days! By this point I’m fairly flat and depleted, so the goal is to refill the physique before the show. Cardio tapers, carbs and water go way up (to 7.5 litres a day!) and I’m doing a daily video check-in with my coach to make tweaks and look at my stats.
The weekend could potentially be a double, a Saturday qualifier feeding straight into the Sunday championship, so I’m going in on a big one! After that the first round of shows are two weeks apart, and all over the country. I’m super nervous but equally as excited, wish me luck and I’ll let you know how I get on!

Something new at Icon
We are really excited to introduce two new holistic facial treatments to the menu, both using the beautiful Neal’s Yard Remedies range.
The first is our new 60-minute Holistic Neal’s Yard Facial. It begins with a double cleanse and light exfoliation, moves into a slow facial massage, and finishes with a nourishing mask while you enjoy a scalp, neck and shoulder massage. It is deeply calming, and the natural, organic aromatics make it a genuinely immersive experience. Perfect if you need to properly switch off.

The second is our Holistic Mini Facial with Back, Neck and Shoulder Massage, also 60 minutes. This one pairs a tension-releasing back massage with a Neal’s Yard mini facial, finishing with a gentle scalp and neck massage. Great if you carry a lot of stress in your back and shoulders but still want that facial glow. Both treatments are bookable online or just give us a call and we will get you sorted.

For parents getting through exam season
Speaking of looking after yourself, if you are one of the many parents holding it all together behind the scenes right now, we really do appreciate how much goes into supporting your teenager through such an intense period. GCSEs are well underway and it is not just hard for them, it is definitely hard for you too.

The good news is that half term is just around the corner, and we hope that brings a little breathing space for you and your family (and for once the weather looks like it is going to be AMAZING).

In the meantime, please do not forget to look after yourself too. It is so easy to put yourself last when you are focused on supporting someone else (especially when it is your child). Whether it is one of our new facials, a massage, or just an hour to sit quietly and have your nails done, we are here. Get in touch and we will do whatever we can to help you feel like yourself again.

Creativity and wellbeing week
This week, 18 to 24 May, is Creativity and Wellbeing Week, a national festival celebrating the power of creativity and culture to enhance people’s wellbeing.

It is also a timely reminder that wellbeing does not have to mean grand gestures. It can simply mean carving out a little space for yourself, and on a street like Gloucester Road, full of independent businesses and genuinely talented, creative people, there are so many ways to do that.

Maybe a coffee at one of our many lush local cafes. A little treat from Joe’s Bakery and a browse in the beautiful Gloucester Road Books. A little something new from the fabulous Fox + Feather (their new summer stock is amazing!) or simply stopping to take in Bex’s beautiful artwork in our window, because creativity like that, the kind that makes you pause for a moment, really does do something for the soul.
Wellbeing looks different for everyone. Whatever yours looks like this week, we hope you find a moment for it.

A final note
What a month it has been. Show prep crossing the finish line, a freshened-up forecourt, new treatments on the menu, and the sun finally showing up. It feels like a lot to be grateful for all at once. Thank you for reading, for your kind messages, and for being such a lovely part of what we do at Icon. Half term is nearly here, the lighter evenings are well and truly with us, and June is just around the corner. Until then, take care of yourselves.

Lots of love, Lucy x