Salon and spa visits are part and parcel of life for most of us British Mums. Even those who favour the low maintenance approach will now and again succumb to the odd mani and pedi at one of Dubai ubiquitous high-end nail spas.

So it’s no wonder really that our daughters want to join in and enjoy a spot of pampering with Mummy. Whether it’s a weekly occurrence, accompanying you while you have your nails done, or a special treat, many salons and spas now cater for children and some have been specifically designed to pamper our little princesses.

Yet when planning a pampering session for your child, there are a couple of factors to consider:

Play it safe

While salon sessions can be fun, you don’t want to expose your Daughter to unnecessary and harmful chemicals. Before booking an appointment, check that skin products are fine for sensitive skins, and preferably organic.

Nail polishes and their associated products can contain many chemicals such as camphor, toluene, formaldehyde, DPD and formaldehyde resin and you should always ensure that children’s nail polishes are free of these. Three such brands in Dubai to look out for are Zoya, Little Bu and Snail Nails, and they’re available in a wide range of salons and spa’s:

Zoya is designed for adults but safe to use on children.

Little Bu nail polish is a water-based, wash-off nail polish that has been created specifically for kids. It’s non-toxic, odourless and offers a natural alternative to traditional solvent-based polishes.

Snail Nails contains just three ingredients: water, acrylic polymer and non-toxic colourant. It is 100% washable and does not need any nail polish remover.

The salon environment

While your salon or spa might welcome children, other customers may not. Your regular salon will normally be designed for tranquility, rather than play and therefore a noisy child, or one that wants to run around while waiting for your treatment to finish, doesn’t always make for a relaxing experience for you (or your fellow customer!) Quick to realise this, beauty venues designed explicitly for children such as The Hello Kitty Day Spa and Caboodle are enjoying lots of success in Dubai.

                                                                                     Caboodle

More than just a pamper place, Caboodle comes from the team behind the successful Sisters Beauty Lounge chain, offering beauty services together with soft play and creative workshops in one venue. Designed in quirky, vibrant colours that will appeal to both boys and girls, Caboodle offers all pampering packages with organic and chemical free products. DVDs, games and toys are also on offer to keep your little one occupied and entertained while they (or you) are trimmed – and this paves the way for fuss-free hair cuts; hooray!

The play area and classes are held in a separate room, allowing you to drop your children off and enjoy some pampering alone too. Themed daily activities range from messy play to movie Friday, and there is café serving nutritious snacks.

                                                                                     Hello Kitty

With it’s pink interiors and featuring the infamous Hello Kitty character, the venue has been decorated with fun squarely in mind. Children’s Kitty Princess experiences include a first haircut with certificate and hair lock, facemasks, strawberry manicures and chocolate pedicures, as well as BFF and mother-daughter beauty treatments. Children’s products are organic and have been specially created for sensitive skins. Adult’s ‘Kitty Queen’ packages are also available, including massage, soiree make-up, haircuts and mani-pedis, and there’s a café selling some sweet treats and specific children’s party packages.
So whether you opt for a themed venue, or take your child to a regular salon or spa, Dubai has plenty on offer for those who yearn to be yummy, just like their Mummy!

If you would like to write for British Mums we’d love to hear from you! Please drop us an email at blog@britishmums.com

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