#levoi

Levoi – pronounced Le-vwah – is one of these places.  Right in the heart of Newcastle, it’s a basement level champagne nail bar with a colour scheme to die for.  Aiming to bring a friendly feel back to nail grooming after the influx of conveyor belt nail salons to the city in recent years.  There’s not a Dremel in sight at Levoi so you know from the outset that your nails are in safe hands.

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Hidden away at ankle level on St Mary’s place, close to the Haymarket, Levoi is a friendly welcoming salon that prides itself on not only its flair for creative nails, but also its service.  I’m greeted on arrival by owner Ann who tells me that the name Levoi is a simple anagram of her mother’s name, Olive.  Already pretty cute, right?  The colour scheme is a subtle tribute too, with soft muted greens and a signature nail polish created in her honour, it’s clear that family is at the heart of this business.

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With a bar stool nail bar as the focal point of the first room in the salon, I take my seat and before my butt has touched the leather, I’m handed a glass of champagne and a strawberry dipped in chocolate – the staple diet of Levoi clients.  My nails are prepped and sanitised before the cuticles are trimmed back and the tips shaped.  I’ve opted for a service called “One For The Road” which is the salon’s most popular treatment.  It includes cured gel that lasts up to three weeks and it’s Levoi’s own bespoke gel in a range of colours mixed and selected by the staff themselves, each one named after a cocktail, natch.

Now you know me pretty well by now Voyeurs: pastel hair and glossy black nails, that’s my jam, but today I’m throwing caution to the wind and I let Kayley Ann, my Nail Technician for the afternoon, decide on the colour.  I know, shocking.  She seems to have the measure of me as she selects a deep navy blue shade called Kir Royale, topped with a subtle glitter fleck, the finished product is called a Royal-Tini & it’s pretty fitting that they’re blue, as it’s Autism Awareness Month.  Winning.  After each nail treatment, hands are massaged with an own-blend of lavender infused olive oil which leaves my hands smelling flippin’ lush.

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The big difference you’ll notice with Levoi, is its laid back LA vibe;  Nothing is rushed, chat isn’t forced, and it’s a relaxing environment.  It doesn’t have that feeling of being turnover orientated, staff take time to chat and they’ll mix bespoke colours for clients if there’s something in particular you need to match.  Ann recently created a bespoke tartan checked nail for a client to match to a dress and says she loves a challenge.

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There’s a simple menu of services and it’s not just about the nails, Levoi offer a range of waxing services in a private room at the back of the salon, and even ear piercing.  There’s also the option of exclusive use of the salon for birthday or bachelorette parties, or times when you and your squad just want to monopolise the place like the girl bosses that you are.  Prices are competitive for a city centre salon and there’s parking close by meaning that you can ‘hit and run’ when you just need a polish for a big night out.

Wanna see the place for yourself?  Course you do.  You can find Levoi at 6 St Mary’s Place, Newcastle, and make sure you ask for a Bubbles Card which gets you your 6th treatment free.  You’re welcome Voyeurs.

Pixie xo

I was given an on menu nail service called One For The Road which takes 45 minutes and costs £35.

To book an appointment with Levoi call 0191 2305859

AN: This is a Rhodeyfest pinch hit for the wonderful @levoi. Sorry it’s taken such a long time to post!

Tony honestly couldn’t remember a time in his adult life when he had been without Rhodey or Pepper. He actually didn’t think he’d spent a full day without seeing one or the other of them in damn near twenty years. Dependent... didn’t even really begin to cover it. 

But thank god, because they were wonderful, patient human beings, Pepper and Rhodey never begrudged him his dependency on them. If anything, they encouraged it, because all three of them could see that Tony needed positive influences in his life, and Pepper and Rhodey were definitely positive influences. 

Tony couldn’t ask for better friends, really. 

“All right, grease monkey,” came Rhodey’s voice from the workshop doorway, and Tony turned just in time to see him walking towards him, arms outstretched, before he was enveloped in a big hug. “You stink.”

“Good to see you, too,” Tony laughed, patting Rhodey’s arm. “Is this how you greet everyone now?”

“Well Pepper didn’t stink like the inside of a dog’s asshole, so no,” Rhodey replied, pulling away from him again. “But seriously, it’s good to see you.”

Woah hey there friend! Thank you so so much <3 I’m really glad you like that old thing 8) 

I’m not really currently taking requests b UT I’m gonna post this and tag it so that I can come back to it whenever I’m looking for something to write/have the inspiration. And thank you so much for sending me some prompts! Hopefully I can get to them sooner rather than later :D 

I will be writing something involving the Grand Canyon being filled with blood at some point in the future. Possibly some sort of world-ending sacrifice. We will see.