Beauty Stop is located in the Woolworths building at the Airport DFO. They operate roughly 9am-5pm…read moredaily, with a later start on a Sunday. Parking is free onsite, and they take walk-ins and bookings. No late night shopping Thursdays - if you're a full time desk jockey like me, I'd book in for your weekend appointment.
I've been a regular here for over 2 years; I'm in first thing on a Saturday morning every 3-5 weeks. The reason I first started going was the location; I'd been working as a cook at one of the cafes out at the DFO and Beauty Stop was the closest, competitively priced salon I could get pampered at after a hard slog. DFO staff get a discount of either 10 or 20%, and there are loyalty cards which offer a $5 discount after five visits and a $10 discount after ten, so it's worth checking it out, as long as you don't mind getting addicted!
Ambience ****
Kylie runs Beauty Stop and it's fitout is four nail stations, four pedi chairs and two privacy rooms for waxing and tanning; she usually has decorations sprinkled all over the place for Valentines Day and Christmas. The radio is set to 96.5FM for which Kylie gets some slack for from her co-workers, but at least you know there isn't any hard doof-doof on, or half a movie you hadn't seen yet playing on the TV.
The other regulars I've seen are up for a chat with each other, compare nails, shoot the breeze - this really is a comfy atmosphere where you're not really feeling rushed (not that I'm there at peak hour) and you can chill and enjoy your service.
Services on offer *****
Of the extensive services on offer, I've sampled permanent tattooing (top lid eyeliner), manicure, pedicure (and I'm a nervous ninny when it comes to people touching my feet!), waxing (Kylie managed to convince me to get my pits done and I have NEVER looked back, though she still can't talk me into a bikini or a Brazilian, everything else is now fair game!), acrylic and gel nails, shellac (highly recommended compared to regular nail polish!), and piercing.
They also offer spray tans, eyelash extensions, massages, tooth bling and skin care product consulting. The only service I'd want which is not on offer is eyelash perming, which I have found elsewhere. But if I could get it all done at the one place, that would be mint!
Service *****
Your best bet is to book in advance if you can; walk-ins are always welcome but you might be looking at a 15-30 minute wait - best not to be in a rush. If they're busy they'll give you a rough time of when to come back, or you could ask if they'll be quieter later because salons are all about looking and feeling good, and that's not something you can express service. There are enough places in walking distance that you can shop, eat, and drink and come back.
If you've ever been turned off by the silent, mask-faced bandits at the Professionails or American Nails salons, you'll love it here. The crew at Beauty Stop are up for a natter while they pamper you and a few of them have been tagged as preferred by their customers. Don't be afraid to pipe up in the middle of your nail service if you want a change - and don't be afraid to go as wild or as tame with designs as you like - they seem to have them all, just remember there are small surcharges for designs and toppers - all of which are listed on their price list.
Additional notes:
There are usually promotions going on at Beauty Stop on a seasonal basis - if it isn't on the website, ask when you call up to book if there are any promos going on, there almost always are!
It's been a while since I compared prices, but I've never felt over-charged, and probably never will, given that I have the reassurance that they know me by face, I'm comfortable asking for whatever I want, and generally show up in whatever 'morning after a Friday night' shape I present myself in.
