About Us

Marcela’s is a boutique beauty salon situated in the heart of Kensington on the quaint and dainty Holland Street. With 20 years experience in this area, Marcela’s has become most famous for Manicures and Pedicures (we pioneered the Spa Chair movement in London — they are a must for the ultimate in comfort and indulgence!), with the unique “Just One Touch” method that Marcela created.

We like to provide our clients a relaxed and comfortable experience with the outcome of beautiful, rejuvenated hands, feet, body and face. Whatever the reason for your visit; pre-holiday preparation, post-holiday revival, party prep, a moment away from the husband and kids, or simply a weekly indulgence, once you walk through our doors you will feel our Latin setting (a samba beat is always lingering in the air) and become stress free in our professional hands.

Marcela’s Team

The team at Marcela’s is a close knit group of warm and friendly South Americans handpicked and trained by Marcela. Marcela has created distinctive recipes for her treatments including the all important special “touch”.

The “Just One Touch” training program ensures that all the girls are taught Marcela’s special techniques that give the best beauty results.

Twelve of the most caring and dedicated Manicurists and Pedicurists have settled down working as part of Marcela’s Team. Our senior manicurist and pedicurist Olinda has been serving the longstanding and loyal clients at Marcela’s for over fifteen years. In addition, two Beauty Therapists specialise in skincare, massage, waxing and threading, with “Just One Touch”!

Marcela’s team care for their clients in the way Marcela would herself and pride themselves on learning from the best. Marcela, although constantly working on innovative beauty-related projects, still spends as much time as possible at the salon with her clients and team. This is something she is committed to and it delights all who enter the salon.

Marcela’s Bio:

Marcela arrived to London from Colombia in the winter of 1985.

After having completed her Beauty Therapy studies at the prestigious El Sena school in her native land, Marcela began her own beauty business in Bogotá, which she later she sold in order to immigrate to the United Kingdom to study Art.

Marcela enrolled at the London Institute of Beauty Culture, where she obtained her professional qualifications while studying to obtain her beauty diploma in the UK. She used her beauty skills as a financial aid to her studies but soon discovered that her Latin approach and technique placed her in high demand. Soon she was picked to work with the talented and revered hairdresser Richard Dalton, who was the private hairdresser to Princess Diana. Marcela became well known among the VIP coterie that came to Claridges.

Leaving behind her dream of acrylics and watercolours but heading towards an even bigger vision, Marcela moved on to work at Harrods where she again gained an excellent reputation as a manicurist and pedicurist. Spurred on by the large following of loyal clients she was gaining as well as the great reputation that preceded her wherever she went, she moved from Harrods to working with Daniel Hersheson in Mayfair. In 1993 Marcela jumped at the chance to open her own small place on Thackeray Street, Kensington. Always one to be on the look out for the next big opportunity, this small start was to be the seed-planting that she needed and this space she affectionately came to call her corner in Kensington.

She continued to build her clientele for 7 years and at long last, when the size of the business could no longer take the growing number of loyal customers, Marcela found the perfect spot on the quaint and unique Holland street, where she has been for the last 13 years. Leaving behind the little corner of Thackeray Street, she became the owner of a prominent and established business which she infuses with her Latin culture and vibrant personality.

A few things you should know about Marcela:

• Whenever she is in the salon there is never a dull moment.
• She is always engaged in conversation with one or many of her clients, introducing them to the newest, latest, and next big thing beauty product. And she will give you her honest opinion on whether it works for you or not.
• In one quick exchange of words she will have you buying beauty product that you will soon discover you don’t know how you lived without.
• She is very hands on; don’t be surprised to find her one day at reception and the next receiving feedback from customers.
• She loves her Colombian coffee (late) in the morning and her English tea at 4pm.