The London waxing boutique – STRIP – with its salons in Chelsea and Notting Hill has brought its unique waxing experience to Soho. It has opened its doors just off the main shopping area of Oxford Street, which is a convenient little spot for all shoppers to pop in and get some quick hair removal just in time for Summer.

On the outside STRIP certainly doesn’t have the appearance of a discreet waxing salon; it looks a little daunting and tacky with its bright blue and pink paint. However once inside those neon doors you are greeted by a beautiful collection of lingerie including pieces by Elle Macpherson and Calvin Klein. A little confusing until you realise that waxing and lingerie together preen and dress the intimate regions making a perfectly sexy combination. 

First for me was the preening. STRIP offers a wide range of treatments for men and women from the simple underarm wax to the Hollywood – I was only brave enough on this occasion to try a simple eyebrow and bikini.

STRIP uses a variety of specific Lycon waxes, which are designed to prevent ingrown hairs, redness and limit the pain of waxing. There is a selection of themed ‘boudoirs’ each with black and pink padded doors and decorated in bright and vibrant wallpaper to suit the ‘flavour’ of wax chosen by the client. Options include lavender for more sensitive skin and even a ‘Manifico’ wax specifically for men’s tougher hairs. I was advised to try a different wax each time I come to STRIP to find the best one for my skin. This time I opted for the chocolate wax designed to leave the skin incredibly smooth and with a delicious chocolatey smell. This wax is spread directly onto the skin and is quickly peeled off to give a relatively pain free wax compared to the linen ‘stick and rip’ methods.  The LCD TVs at the end of the beds are also a cute addition, which attempt to distract from the wax itself (well every little helps). Overall I was left with well-shaped eyebrows and a smooth bikini wax, ensuring every hair was entirely removed.

The best part of this experience for me was the fantastic service. From arrival to departure the staff were welcoming and put me at complete ease throughout - an essential part of such an intimate treatment.

After the preening came the dressing and I spent over 20 minutes browsing the exquisite pieces of lingerie that STRIP stock. If you don’t fancy a wax this boutique is honestly worth a visit just for some lingerie shopping.

We also sent our editor along to try out the spray tanning services, perfect for that pre holiday touch up. Amanda had a great experience, the girl was super friendly and certainly made her feel at ease - not easy when you are standing there in paper pants - and the application was quick, dried within minutes and didn't stain the white jeans she was wearing when she arrived.  The tan was even, golden and ensured she wasn't pasty white when she arrived in Singapore.

Overall STRIP waxing boutique offers one of London’s best waxing experiences and is definitely value for money. With its excellent staff, clever technique and undies to lust over, if I am ever brave enough to try out the Hollywood this is the only place I would come!