The Beginning

Due to the growing waiting list for treatments at the original salon in Bruntsfield, sometimes clients had to wait up to 6 weeks for an appointment. Fiona decided to expand the business and opened a second salon in 2003. The business continued to grow over the next few years. In early 2011 renovations started on a prime retail location in the heart of Edinburgh’s New Town shopping district and Zen’s new flagship salon and skin clinic opened on Hanover Street in August 2011.

The beauty industry has been changing at an astonishing pace and Zen Lifestyle has been evolving too, in order to ensure that our clients have access to all the most up to date and most effective treatments. We continue to develop our offering and environment and strive to achieve the highest standards in client care, products and treatments.

We now offer a wide range of advanced anti-ageing and corrective treatments, as well as the latest cosmeceutical products and peels. We are home to a skin clinic offering minor cosmetic procedures including wrinkle relaxing injections and dermal fillers. Our most recent treatment introductions includ BTL Unison Celluite treatments, Rejuvapen, Clear + Brilliant fractional laser, and Exilis Facial Skin Tightening, Exilis Cellulite and Fat Removal.

Zen Lifestyle has been recognised numerous times by industry peers as an outstanding service provider and innovator. We have been lucky enough to win a total of 18 national beauty awards during the short history of the company.

In its survey of national salon owners in 2009, Professional Beauty Magazine named Zen Lifestyle as the ‘Most Desireable salon in the UK’, ahead of the Urban Retreat at Harrods and many other high profile salons throughout the UK.

In the 2009 industry awards ceremony Zen Lifestyle entered the industry Hall of Fame. This accolade recognises the salon’s consistent achievement and contribution to professional standards over many years. Zen’s founder, Fiona Fowley, was also given a major personal recognition, being awarded UK Salon Director of the Year.

In 2014 the business was presented with the prestigious UK Salon of the Year award at the the Professional Beauty Awards. This was the fifth time we were recognised as the best UK salon, including accolades the British Beauty & Spa Awards. At the 2014 ceremony we were also delighted to be recognised with the Employer of the Year Award.

Since 2013 the business has held the Investors People award for our dedication to staff welfare and development. We also hold the Investor in Young People accreditation.

In 2017 both our Hanover St and Bruntsfield were winners at the Regional Professional Beauty awards. Hanover St was recognised as Best Large Salon in Scotland, with Bruntsfield being awarded for Best Boutique Salon in Scotland. This success was followed up at the national awards in 2018, with each salon again being recognised as the best salon in the UK in its category. In 2019 Zen won UK Salon of the year in categories Boutique Salon and Large Salon. After winning Salon of the Year 3 times, Zen was then entered into the Hall of Fame.