Top 10 Best Beauty Salons in Exeter

Exeter's Thriving Beauty Scene

Exeter supports a beauty industry considerably more developed than its population alone would suggest. A large student community, a substantial professional workforce, strong tourism traffic through Devon and a wedding market drawn to the county's venues combine to create year-round demand. The city centre, Gandy Street, Fore Street, Magdalen Road and the surrounding villages all host independent salons, alongside spa facilities within hotels and dedicated aesthetic clinics.

Standards have risen sharply in recent years. Clients now research qualifications, expect patch testing and consultations as standard, and increasingly choose salons on the basis of product ethics and sustainability as much as price. The businesses profiled below reflect that maturity, each occupying a clear position in the market.

1. Gandy Street Hair Studio

Located in one of Exeter's most characterful lanes, Gandy Street Hair Studio has built its reputation on colour work. Balayage, colour correction, grey blending and precision cutting are its core strengths, delivered by stylists who undertake continuous education with leading colour houses. Thorough consultations, realistic advice about what a client's hair can achieve in a single session and careful bond-building treatment protocols distinguish it from salons that promise transformation regardless of hair condition.

2. Cathedral Yard Beauty Rooms

Occupying a period building near the cathedral, these beauty rooms offer a broad treatment menu covering facials, waxing, lash and brow work, massage and manicures. The setting is calm and unhurried, with generous appointment times that avoid the conveyor-belt feeling of high-volume salons. Its facial treatments use professional-grade skincare with genuine active ingredients, and therapists are trained to build multi-session plans rather than selling one-off indulgences.

3. Exe Aesthetics Clinic

Medical aesthetics requires clinical governance, and Exe Aesthetics Clinic operates with registered practitioners, documented consultations and cooling-off periods for injectable treatments. Its services include skin analysis, chemical peels, microneedling, laser treatments for pigmentation and thread veins, and advanced anti-ageing protocols. The clinic is notable for declining treatments where expectations are unrealistic, an ethical stance that has earned it considerable trust locally.

4. Magdalen Road Nail Bar

Nail work is a craft, and this salon treats it as one. It specialises in gel and builder-gel manicures, structured pedicures and nail art, with a strong emphasis on nail health. Correct preparation, appropriate removal techniques and cuticle care prevent the damage that poorly executed gel application causes. Rigorous sterilisation protocols and single-use files are standard, and the salon has become a reference point for clients recovering from damage sustained elsewhere.

5. Quayside Spa and Wellness

Positioned near Exeter's historic quay, this spa combines treatment rooms with thermal facilities, offering day packages alongside individual bookings. Its massage menu spans deep tissue, hot stone, aromatherapy and pregnancy massage, and it has developed a strong reputation for treatments aimed at stress, poor sleep and desk-related muscular tension. The wellness framing, rather than pure pampering, attracts a broad client base including men, who remain under-served in many spa settings.

6. Devon Organic Skin Studio

Clean beauty has moved from trend to expectation for many consumers, and this studio has built its entire proposition around it. Treatments use certified organic and cruelty-free products, packaging waste is minimised, and therapists are trained to advise on home routines that genuinely suit each skin type rather than upselling large product stacks. It is a particular favourite among clients with sensitive or reactive skin who have struggled with heavily fragranced professional lines.

7. Southernhay Bridal Beauty

The wedding market in Devon is substantial, and Southernhay Bridal Beauty specialises in it. Services include trials, bridal party hair and makeup, pre-wedding skin preparation programmes and on-location work at venues across the county. Punctuality, scheduling discipline for large parties and makeup that photographs well under both daylight and artificial lighting are the qualities clients consistently praise.

8. Fore Street Barbers and Grooming

Men's grooming has expanded well beyond a simple haircut. This establishment offers precision cutting, beard sculpting, traditional hot towel shaves, skin treatments and scalp care in an environment designed to feel welcoming rather than intimidating. Its barbers are trained in current styling as well as classic technique, and the shop has built a loyal multi-generational client base.

9. Pinhoe Lash and Brow Lounge

Specialist lash and brow studios have grown rapidly, and this lounge focuses exclusively on that discipline. Services include classic and volume lash extensions, lash lifts, brow lamination, tinting and precision shaping tailored to face structure. Mandatory patch testing, careful isolation technique to protect natural lashes and honest aftercare guidance separate it from operators who prioritise speed over lash health.

10. Heavitree Holistic Therapies

For clients seeking treatment rather than cosmetic enhancement, Heavitree Holistic Therapies offers reflexology, aromatherapy, Indian head massage, reiki and therapeutic bodywork. Practitioners hold recognised qualifications and insurance, and the practice works alongside rather than in place of conventional healthcare. Its clientele includes people managing chronic pain, stress and the physical effects of demanding work.

Industry Trends Shaping Exeter Salons

Several shifts are visible. Skin health is displacing surface cosmetics, with clients investing in ingredient-led facials and professional-grade home routines. Sustainability is influencing purchasing, from refillable products to water-saving backwash systems. Booking technology and online deposits have reduced no-shows and allowed smaller salons to operate efficiently. Inclusivity is improving too, with more salons investing in training across all hair textures rather than specialising narrowly.

How to Choose the Right Salon

Check qualifications and insurance, especially for aesthetic treatments. Read reviews for consistency rather than isolated extremes. Book a consultation before committing to significant colour work or injectables, and be cautious of any provider unwilling to discuss risks or refuse a request. Hygiene standards are visible if you look: tool sterilisation, clean towels, single-use items and tidy work stations tell you a great deal about a business.

Final Thoughts

Exeter's beauty salons offer genuine depth, from technically outstanding colourists and specialist nail technicians to clinically governed aesthetic practices and holistic therapists. The strongest share a common trait: they prioritise long-term client relationships and honest advice over quick sales, which is exactly what makes them worth returning to.