As salons prepare to open their doors at last, we’re gearing up to get groomed: from facials to massages, brow threading to pedicures, the treatments we’ve missed all year will be available to book. But where are your first ports of call? In an ideal world, where would you be headed when salons reopen on May 10?

As perfumer Jo Malone told us, when asked what she would do when this is all over, apart from throwing “an amazing girl’s pink lunch (rosé wine and lots of laughter!) with the people I love the most and celebrate life and friendship, I am going to have a big pamper day … I will also treat myself to the longest manicure and pedicure that I possibly can …”

Here’s a little black book of tried and trusted experts, from waxers to threaders and beyond – but it’s by no means exhaustive. Do let us know your own favourite spots, whether it’s a waxer extraordinaire or a marvellous masseuse, and the great salons and therapists we’ve missed.

FOR FACIALS

A selection of some of our favourites:

Essentials Salon, Baggot Street, Dublin 2

I don’t feel a facial is complete without an extensive facial massage and someone whose technique is faultless is Agnes Gajewska. She recommends alternating one of her face-sculpting sessions with a regular facial. The treatment comprises cupping, aesthetic taping, osteopathic techniques and and muccal massage (A-list facialist Sarah Chapman also incorporates muccal massage into her bespoke therapies). A side-effect of the massage is the production of endorphins which superficially takes away the sight of stress from the face – I certainly need this. Gajewska also demonstrates some facial yoga exercises and advises gua sha on a regular basis, to which I am now a convert. PMcC. www.essentials.ie

After such a long wait, my summer plan is to splurge on luxury facials. I will be booking a bespoke facial by Olga Kochlewska at Skin by Olga. A visit is the sum of many parts: Kochlewska combines personal expertise, luxurious products such as Valmont and Biologique Recherche,  with a non-invasive Oxylight treatment. This targets fine lines, pigmentation, wrinkles (tick, tick, tick!) by boosting collagen production. Microdermabrasion, ultrasound and microcurrent stimulation are also part of the process. PMcC. 34 Donnybrook Road, Dublin, D4. https://skinbyolga.ie

Head to Glasthule for face treatments, from threading and facials to cryotherapy, with skin expert Nuala Woulfe and her team. As Dublin’s flagship SkinCeuticals clinic, Nuala Woulfe is the go-to for results-driven skincare. Get good honest skincare advice, and have personalised SkinCeuticals Custom DOSE mixed up – your post-lockdown skin will be sorted. As well as Botox treatments, Woulfe offers non-surgical treatments such as IPL, radio frequency and LED. Nuala Woulfe Nu Aesthetics Skin Clinic and Serenity Day Spa, 4C Glasthule Road, Sandycove, Co Dublin. www.nualawoulfe.ie

Visit Corinna Tolan at the Monica Tolan Beauty & Skincare Clinics in Balbriggan and Malahide (and try out the cryotherapy globes she has developed for at-home use). In the meantime, online skin consultations are €50. Caudalie skin treatments from €95. 01 8411 678 / 01 8456110; www.monicatolan.com

If you’re a bit hesitant about booking a facial, Jenny Faison and Jenny Fitzpatrick of Calm Beauty offer an online Facial Experience, guiding clients through the treatment; they anticipate that facial clients will return that little bit more slowly to the salon. “During each session, clients will get our combined 20+ years of experience,” says Faison. “We supply everything needed plus some lovely extras as we want this to reflect what Calm Beauty is all about. It’s a nice way for someone to try a broad range of Thalgo skincare without a huge investment, such as the Spiruline Boost, a newer range targeting skin that’s been stressed, is fatigued or perhaps outdoors a lot and exposed to environmental pollution.” Each experience is €50 and all the client will need is a small bowl of water and a hand towel. www.calmbeauty.ie

If you’re looking for something more indepth than a facial, Ultherapy is a collagen-boosting treatment (Strictly’s Tess Daly and Kirsty Gallacher are fans) that’s used to stimulate collagen to lift and sculpt the face. See www.ultherapy.co.uk to find an Irish practitioner near you.

The Institute of Dermatologists offers a range of facial treatments with registered consultant dermatologists, from dermal fillers and laser to PRP injections and Belkyra, a new-to-Ireland injectable treatment designed to melt away fat in the chin and neck area. From around €1,300 per treatment. There are also excellent Biologique Recherche facials with national trainer Megan Byrne. 01 912 3030; www.instituteofdermatologists.ie

FOR BROWS

Shavata Studio for brows in Harvey Nichols Dundrum; plus the Beauty Rooms, which offers a weekly changing treatment by the store’s finest brands, from Valmont to La Prairie. 020 7201 8088; www.harveynichols.com

Go to The Beauty Lounge on Clarendon Street for a range of threading, lash and brow services, from €10, as well as Aveda blowdries (€39), cuts and colour, and mani/pedis by Nails One, from €20. www.brownthomas.com/appointment-booking/

I’m hoping Nicole at C-Studio Beauty in Blackrock can give me back my eyebrows … Brow threading €15, facials from €70 (with complimentary skin mapping). SMcD. C-Studio Beauty, Main Street, Blackrock, 01) 210 3624; www.cbeautystudio.ie

FOR BODY

South County Dublin’s best-kept secret (recommended by Sarah Halliwell) is Andreas Body Restoration. Book the most amazing hour ever in the hands of highly skilled therapist Andras Paroczai, based in Dun Laoghaire, who is able to massage your cares away – he is an expert is relieving stress and tension, wherever you hold it in the body. My whole family are booked in for his reopening … From €55; facial €80. AC. www.andreas.ie

Gosia Ulamek of Tranquil Heaven, in Glenageary, comes highly recommended for deep tissue massage, particularly if you play sports or have back issues. Be prepared to wait for an appointment – it’s worth it. From €30 back massage. Book via 087 711 3819/email: tranquilheaven@gmail.com / www.tranquilheaven.info

The spa at EdenOne in Ballsbridge is set to reopen on June 7. We got a voucher for Christmas and cannot wait to visit this state-of-the-art spot. The pool and facilities are beautiful, the changing rooms luxurious and there’s plenty of space to distance, even in the sauna; plus there are healthy lunches in the smart café/bar. We had a brilliant massage here on a previous visit and can’t wait to return. Book via email: reception@edeon.ie. www.edenone.ie

Velvære (pronounced vel-va-ray) is the medi-spa located in Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, Dublin. Inspired by an original Norse word meaning wellbeing, it’s design-led, and spread over three floors. Treatments and therapies are from custom-made skincare range Codage Paris (the spa is the first in Dublin to stock the brand) – try the bespoke Codage Paris facial – and results-driven skincare brand iS Clinical. There are five treatment rooms, a dedicated medi room, two express medi-chairs and a relaxation area. Velvære also has a thermal vitality pool, black aspen Finnish sauna, thermal steam room, drench shower, Caribbean storm experience shower and ice fountain … I’m already there in spirit! PMcC. www.velvaerespa.ie

FOR WAXING

First on our list is Sugar Bare – put your tender skin in the expert hands of specialist Michele (on Leopardstown Road), who will use sugaring, a very natural and effective method of hair removal. From €30 legs, €21 bikini. www.sugarbare.ie

We rate German franchise Wax in the City – try the newest branch in Stillorgan (next to Nimble Fingers); they’re also on South William Street. Treatments are fast, efficient and convenient (in non-Covid times there’s no need to book ahead). They use a vegan wax that’s kinder to the skin. Prices from €24 basic bikini. Use the App to book in. wax-in-the-city.com

For laser hair removal (from €90) or waxing (as well as a range of other beauty treatments), book in with Eavanna Breen at Akina Beauty in Lower Leeson Street, Dublin 2. www.akina.ie

FOR HANDS & FEET

After a year of painting my own nails I will be treating myself to a mani at Tropical Popical – I might even go wild and get some of their specialty nail art while I’m there as a break from my usual nude polish! Book via email hello@tropicalpopical.com. SC www.tropicalpopical.com

I’ve often booked The Salon at The Shelbourne if I’m meeting a friend for dinner after work. An expert blowdry and manicure (or pedi) often accompanied by a glass of bubbly in a lovely location is just the right transition from desk to dinner (if not disco!). I say bring it on! PMcC. www.theshelbourne.com

I want to go to Edvard and Pink in Dundrum Town Centre and have the Margaret Dabbs pedicure there [€80, 60 minutes) … can’t wait to resume that occasional mother and daughter coffee and salon trip too … actually going to Dundrum will feel like visiting a foreign country – a treat! I’ve been having the odd coffee outdoors there but really look forward to browsing inside … SMcD. Edvard & Pink, Dundrum Town Centre, www.edvardandpink.ie

I’ll be heading upstairs at the Frascati Centre in Blackrock – it’s a body and beauty one-stop shop. There’s Peter Mark, SiSu, Sugar Coated for nails and Sugar Daddy barbers for the guys. RS. www.frascaticentre.ie

A manicure at Mink Dublin is always efficient and luxurious. Book in via the website for Ballsbridge or Donnybrook. From €30 for a mini manicure; €45 mini pedicure. www.Mink.ie

How I have missed a weekly manicure at Tiffany Nails, Blackrock. Quick and efficient this is service with a smile and perfect for a lunchtime treat. PMcC
087 7076213

The Well in the Garden spa at Cliff at Lyons is in a beautiful location, and offers a range of luxurious yet down to earth treatments that use natural ingredients such as bog peat and homegrown lavender. Go for the Peat for the Feet treatment which includes a salt and rosemary exfoliation, a mud mask and a file and polish. €100, 60 minutes. Day package from €180. Book on 01 630 3500 or email reception@cliffatlyons.ie; www.cliffatlyons.ie

Skinfull Affairs on Exchequer Street Dublin and also Dundrum offers vegan-friendly treatments such as brow threading (€15), tinting and manis (from €17). www.skinfullaffairs.ie

For manis and pedis, head to Sugar Coated in Blackrock’s Frascati Centre – from €15 for file and polish; €20 feet. Also offer HD brows, lash extensions, lash and brow tints and spray tanning from €20. 01 283 6721; www.sugarcoated.ie

FOR SPRAY TANS

Oslo is a good option for speedy blowdries in smart surroundings (Mespil Road and Ranelagh) and they also have a wide range of other services, from Vita Liberata spray tans (from €25) to make-up application and nail file and polish (€25). www.oslobeauty.ie

Spray tans at Hive Salon in Castleknock, Dublin 15 start from €22 (they also do brows, nails and the rest). www.hivesalon.ie/what-we-do/spray-tan

Lemons of Clontarf has Bellamianta spray tans from €30, plus a range of other beauty services. 48 and 51 Clontarf Road, Dublin 3, 01 833 7907; www.lemons.ie