The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

Cairo boasts a generous helping of four and
five star hotels that offer high-quality services from spas and beauty salons
to fitness clubs. While services tend to be pricey, the quality
and professionalism usually make it worthwhile. Unfortunately, this is not the
case with the Sherif Adnan Salon at the Hilton Zamalek Residence.

The salon opened a year ago on the hotel’s mezzanine level, around the same time that the Safir Hotel became the Hilton Zamalek
Residence, but when this reviewer walked in it looked as if it had just opened,
both in terms of cleanliness, which was a good thing, but also because of the
scarcity of beauty products available for use or purchase. Be warned that if
you come to the Hilton Salon, the only brands that will be available to you are
Pantene and L’Oreal, and even then the products available are not very
numerous.

Be sure to have in mind exactly
what it is you want when you enter the salon because there are no product or
price lists available, which is more than a little annoying if you’re on a
budget and are trying to decide what you can or can’t afford.

Threading is available at a pricey 20LE per
area. If you are looking for any guidance when it comes to shaping your
eyebrows rather than just cleaning them up, you probably won’t receive it here.
Waxing is also available here, though the salon offers no price estimate; saying
only that prices vary.

Manicures and pedicures are available
for 40LE and 50LE respectively. There is no special area set aside for
manicures and there were no pedicure tubs in sight; the manicurist will come
sit beside you instead. Be prepared to hold the soaking bowl in your lap, and
if you have any preference regarding the shape of your nail or the tint of a French
manicure; speak up or you won’t get a say at all.

As in most places, you can expect a
relaxing shampoo and what is perhaps an excessive head massage. Sam is very
helpful in choosing a cut that will suit your face and hair type; but beware that it might end a little bit shorter than you want. You can expect a fair bit
of conversation, whether you speak Arabic or not. A women’s shampoo and haircut
will set you back 100LE and if you would like your hair styled, it is another
70LE, otherwise you will just be sent away with hair that has been partially
blow-dried.

Half of the salon is dedicated to men’s haircuts and shaves, which come at a flat rate of 60LE. Considering the
salon’s complete lack of a female staff except for the
manicurist, who left when she was done, this venue may be better suited for
men.

Come prepared to pay with cash. If
you try to pay with a card you will be told that the machine is ‘full’ anyway
and the salon will have someone escort you to the ATM machine downstairs.