Just around the corner from the Santa Maria Novella Station and mere minutes from the Duomo is a pink palace where a complete pampering package awaits. Ilyos Hair & Nail Spa (via del Giglio 27R) is where you’ll find Osjana and her all-female team, offering hair, nail, make-up and spa treatments, with prosecco, herbal teas, tea and coffee adding to the experience.
The all-pink decor makes it clear that this is a place that celebrates femininity, with 15-minute consultations preceding all treatments so that clients’ needs are fully understood. The historic building was formerly home to a hairdressers in the post-war period, with frescoes hiding beneath the panels and a centuries-old door nook as part of its character. You can even purchase accessories and hairbands at the counter, with Rocco the dog adding to the fun and a picture-perfect flower wall creating the ideal backdrop for your post-new look pic.
Hair treatments
Those-in-the-know will be pleased to hear that Ilyos uses Philip Martin’s hair products, a bio-organic range that uses natural and active ingredients. Their other main go-tos are Wella and Cotril, with care for hair at the forefront of all their sessions—Ilyos sets the standard for blondes!—ensuring your locks are in as lush a condition as possible before pulling out the scissors.
Nail treatments
Not only is your hair in good hands, your nails are in for the star treatment also. From manicures to gel to acrylic, their online nail menu features everything from acrigel and ‘Baby boomer’ to nail art, with a scroll through their Instagram feed bound to give inspiration. Whether you’re in for a haircut or a pedicure, all clients are treated to a hand massage with the Ilyos handcream, meaning you’re truly looked after from head to toe. Osjana tells us that March is set to see plenty of pastels, with a new OPI green and lilac and nudes set to be trending!
About Osjana
With almost 20 years of experience, Osjana Kokoshi began working at a salon in Campo di Marte at 16, before training with Wella and then Vidal Sassoon in London, eventually opening her own salon in viale Redi at 26. The dream was always to open in the centre, which she did in November 2022. Osjana has even taken part in Sanremo and the Venice Film Festival, with many clients stopping off on their way to fashion week or just before they hit the catwalk. Bridal parties come to Ilyos as a one-stop-shop, with hair, make up, nails and spa treatments all in the one place, creating the perfect setting for your big day preparations, or for any big day, in fact! Eyebrows, eyelashes, hair removal and massages are all available, with a soon-to-be spa service set to open in the neighboring Palazzo Gaddi.
Hair Botox
One of the Ilyos bestsellers is their trademark Hair Botox, which reconstructs hair and gives it a deep and lasting treatment. Consisting of hyaluronic acid for anti-aging, keratin, zinc, iron and magnesium for growth, and pistachio and argan oils to give luminosity and hydration, the liquid treatment is combined with water to create a “miraculous serum” that is added from roots to tips and left for 30 minutes under the Ilyos climazone. Only 20 per cent is then washed out, with water that’s almost cold, in order for it to be reactive. Your hair is then dried normally and sealed using hair straighteners, continuing to react until you next wash your hair.
Ilyos is open Mondays to Saturdays, 10am-7.30pm. English, Spanish and Italian are spoken, with the full treatment menu available online and dramatic transformations and inspiration viewable on Instagram.
