If Chique, Bandra’s latest spa-lon has plans to become the suburb’s new beauty haunt, it would be taking its history quite literally. Neighbourhood gossip has it that the bungalow Chique is housed in was once a shoot location for a cheesy 90’s TV horror show. Boo-ffant?

The Colour Purple

We entered the cheery, floral premises to realise that the only thing scary about Chique is the disturbing shade of purple on an exterior wall and a lone swing that seems to be swaying on its own (or was it just our imagination?).

Steeling ourselves, we proceeded up the stairs to find that this unisex salon and spa is steps ahead of your neighbourhood beauty parlour but still a few rungs below a spa chain. Big windows with leafy views, a pedicure station, hair section, two spa booths with steam room are already installed, with Buddha statues and calming music rumoured to be arriving soon. Zen pal!

Saint Val

We scanned the beauty menu in the midst of some chaos – workers putting in last minute fittings, a pedicure customer demanding a glass of Tang, and general confusion among the staff. But ironing out all the creases is owner Valerie (also a flight stewardess), who chats and charms the tongs off customers.

Hit the Bar

Chique offers a clean space for modestly priced beauty treatments (full waxing for Rs 550, threading Rs 20); slightly pricey haircuts from those apparently trained at a range of salons including Toni and Guy and Mad O Wot (Rs 1,000 for a senior stylist); and competitively priced massages (Rs 400 for a regular foot rub, Rs 1,000 for a 30 minute back massage).

But what bpb recommends you do at Chique is get nailed. Having poached two of Nail Bar’s best and most experienced men, the mani-pedis here are awesome, and starting at Rs 350, quite reasonable. We picked an Aroma Spa pedicure that sexied up the regular foot ritual with a scented scrub and foot to knee massage, lasting over an hour. Aside from some initial hot water availability issues, the treatment was pleasing.

Skeletons in the Closet

While Henna painted our nails a pretty shade of midnight blue, we glanced around, looking for remnants from Chique's horror show days, but ultimately finding nothing more frightening than a lady wielding eyebrow pluckers (ouch!). Looks like the purple house has shoved all its skeletons in the closet. No hair scare here.

Getting there: 9, Synglesh Villa, 1st floor, road number 3, Union Park, in the lane next to Candies, Khar (W), call, Rs 700 for a spa pedicure, ask for Christmas discounts.