Cucumba

I walked in and was treated exceptionally well. Only had to wait 10min to get a waxing. Great customer service skills. Ajee was not only quick but also very thorough and super nice. Great experience, if I would live here I would totally become a regular.

Really like their mani-​s and pedi-​s.
The therapists are thorough, and within 30 or 50 minutes your nails and toenails, as well as hands, toes and feet get a complete makeover. I first came across them on Wahanda however depending on what special offers they have at the time it’s also worth booking directly.
They always have good availability.

This place is really great. If you’re ever in Soho and fancy chilling out and treating yourself… head over to Cucumba! I came for a half an hour massage and it was like £33. It was very good. I want to get my nails done next time!

Just had the worst chair massage I think I’ve ever had. The therapist clearly didn’t know what she was doing — she didn’t know how to adjust the chair to fit me, turns out it was broken, and so spent the first ten minutes crushing my face into the headrest. I asked to move to another chair but the next one was also broken, so again my neck was really squashed throughout the massage. I went in with stiff shoulders and came out with stiff shoulders, a sore neck and a headache. And I’m £23 worse off. Total waste of time and money, deeply annoying.

A great place to get your nails down before a night out, has the salon is a walk in service great being in the middle of west end! :)

The Cucumba menu is sorted by price and time. Instead of getting confused by the immense variety, take a look at what you need and how much time you have. Do you want only a nail polish change for 7 quid? Or do you want the full works– exfoliation, nail shaping, cuticle pushing for 30? Do you want a quick waxing of the brows for 7? Or do you want full grooming, tinting, and shaping for 30?
I like the flexibility of the menu as it takes into account diverse budgets and preferences, but the place is a bit hectic and haphazard. The back massage was really good, the mani was good although the selection of polishes is a bit lacking compared to other salons I’ve been to, and the eyebrow waxing was horrible. My eyebrows look like large heads on tiny bodies. 20 min massage, 10 min mani, and 10 min waxing cost me 50 quid and 90 mins (a bit time waiting around), which wasn’t too bad but I will keep looking for a better place.

I am my own worst enemy.
I know that Cucumba pees me off. I know that they are overpriced and lack luxury. But sometimes there’s no time to book ahead, and when a girl needs a wax, a girl needs a wax. And I’d tried literally everywhere else but Strip was busy all day and Ministry of Wax had nothing until 3:30pm and the staff at TopShop had all been evacuated due to a fire alarm, the selfish bastards. So I was forced to visit Cucumba again because they were quite literally the last place on earth — well, in Soho, but same difference.
They welcomed me for a walk-​in appointment but that’s probably because they charge TWENTY EIGHT POUNDS AND FIFTY OF YOUR ENGLISH PENCE for a bog-​standard bikini. What the actual effing god is that all about? Complete insanity. That really is an awful lot of money for 15 minutes of one-​on-​one with a full-​time masochist and I physically retched as I pulled out my poor battered credit card.
And yet, and yet. .. it was the best wax I’ve had in this country. For god’s sake. I really didn’t want it to be. Look, since we’re amongst friends and I’ve already given away my entire life’s history in my previous reviews, I’ll just go the whole hog on the TMI (apologies in advance). So, she really took her time, did everything properly, was incredibly attentive to the evenness and aesthetics, and asked if I was happy with it. Somehow her technique was less painful than normal, and the — um — area certainly looked a lot calmer afterwards than it has been in the past, although having said that the wax they use isn’t just warm but BLOODY hot, and if you think about how much it hurts when you simply touch your finger against the stove — well. Use your imagination. Plus, they made me take off my knickers but didn’t give me paper ones to wear. I’m something of a veteran in the field but that was a first-​time experience. If I’d been a waxing virgin it would have put me off for life. Added to all of this, it’s like a doctor’s surgery rather than a beauty salon, with cubicles that are simply curtained off from the corridor, and no attempt made whatsoever to prettify the space. It shouldn’t matter (it clearly makes no difference to the service, after all), but in all honesty, it does.
Completely baffled as to whether or not I like this place. Really can’t work it out. I guess it’s proof that you get what you pay for; how annoying.

Cucumba is a great concept: a good variety of walk in beauty treatments that you can vary according to how much time you have to spare. A 10 minute manicure, a 30 minute massage and so on.
It’s a shame the execution is less impressive — especially at the price point. Service was slow (strange for what is essentially a speed beauty salon) and less than friendly, and the price is about three times what you pay for the same service in the United States.
Cute idea, but I probably wouldn’t go back.

I’ve had my Brazilian waxes done here for the past 2 years i’ve never requested a particular person for an appointment, and have probably rarely had the same beautician. The amazing thing about this is i’ve never had a bad experience, so can only guess they only employ well qualified/​experienced waxers. It is on the expensive side, I can get the same wax for £10 less near my home but I trust Cucumba to do a fast, painless (relatively!), professional job.

I’ve spent the last seven years in the US where cheap, good nail places are a dime a dozen so that’s where I’m setting my precedent.
The location is solid, and the store itself is bright and clean. The staff were also pretty friendly.
While I was there a birthday party group came in, and they were really accommodating about catering to them and their needs which makes me think this place is better suited for group activities. The girls were getting a whole array of services (nails, make-​up, vajazzles) and the set up is very open and social so a good atmosphere for that kind of thing.
I was just in there to get a pedicure, and here are my issues:
— No actual pedicure chairs. I was sitting on a banquet putting my feet in a bowl of water and then on the guy’s knee as he did my toes.
— Toes were lightly filed, but that was it. Not what I want from a pedicure. You need to get aggressive with those suckers.
— No dryers. I just had to sit and wait for about 20 minutes.
Verdict: Looks like a lot of fun if you’re in a group, but for a swift efficient experience, probably not the best.

I tend to go for Pedicures more often than manicures as I hate painting my own toes (always end up creating a complete mess).
So when I came across this place off Oxford street and near my favourite fast food place, I had to give it a quick try.
The main appeal for me was the time taken in the treatments. Everything is broken down by how long you want to spend in the Salon. I also found the prices very reasonable.
I took advantage of the deluxe pedicure which I was booked in for (they do also accept walk-in’s). I was very pleased with the level of service and the fact that even though my treatment was for 30min the therapist did not rush it.
I will definitely be visiting them again and make use of the other treatments.

Iam a very understanding and easy going person and i dont like writing bad reviews.
Unfortunately neither the service nor the treatment were up to standard.
I will not return :(

I was thinking of giving it 5 stars, but then i thought about how pricey it was… so 4 stars is enough! :p
The good thing i like about cucumba is that most of them have great skills, so you don’t have to worry if that person you dont know might do a shitty job.
The facial threading is really good, also the brazillian waxing is amazing. I am not saying that it is painless from them. but the outcome is what it counts.
Btw, once you reach there, you can ask for green team/​juice/​water, they are free.

I am a sucker for gimmicks and this place is extremely gimmicky. They style themselves as an Urban Pit stop and they have timed procedures such as a TopUp under 10 minutes, a QuickFix 10 minutes and so on. Cute, huh?
Unfortunately the spa was seriously not slick. It was like your little sister decided to set up various beauty stations in her bedroom. It was unprofessional and downright awkward.
I needed a bunch of services so I decided to get them all done here. First up was a facial that was pretty pathetic and uncustomized. Then I had a pedicure with the same esthetician who was extremely friendly and really this was none of her fault. But they didn’t have pedicure chairs so I had to lift my leg up onto her lap and a bucket of water was brought out for me to soak my feet in.
I had one more procedure, the most important, eyebrow threading but the one person who could do it was busy. Even though she saw me during my pedicure and she knew she had to do me after. I then had to wait close to an hour for my eyebrow threading. I only stayed because it was really dire and the receptionist kept lying to me. Telling me the person was done with her other client and about to come out. Oh and I had called and booked all these services, so really it should have been co-​ordinated.
When I finally got my eyebrows threaded, which is extremely expensive in London, it hurt! The girl kept snapping at my skin and it stung. When I get my eyebrows threaded it’s virtually painless. That’s how it should be, right?

I, like Corinna H. below, discovered this place on my lunch break, and was so thoroughly delighted by it. Cucumba specializes in quick and easy little services, such as the aforementioned 20-​minute head massage, or a 10-​minute polish change. Since everyone in Soho is just running on their way somewhere, this is a perfect idea for a business and the perfect location for it.
I went in for a brow wax, which just was on the positive end of «decent». Nothing life-​altering, but it looked ok. The line on my left brow wasn’t entirely straight, but not so bad that passers-​by would notice it without being prompted. It was quick and not too painful, and the esthetician was chatty and pleasant.
The only thing that worried me a bit was that the estheticians were taking turns on Reception and bouncing from one client to the next, often going from a waxing to nails and vice versa. I know that, at least in the States, estheticians are trained in both facials/​waxing, and nails for their certificate, but I worked in a 5-​Star spa in college, and there was a definite culture of «Estheticians figure out which thing they’re best at and stick with it.» Most would do ONLY facials or ONLY nails, and only the newbies would bounce between the two disciplines. The idea that the girls at Cucumba were so versatile is either a mark of being really, really good and flexible, or being fresh out of esthetics school and not having settled on a specialty yet. Not to be a jerk here, but I would like to think that the woman shaping my eyebrows knows waxing inside and out and does dozens of eyebrow waxes every day and hasn’t just dipped her fingers in polish remover. Maybe I am just a jerk.
So, points for the awesome business idea and great «spa menu,» and small minus points for the minor bald spot and the suspicion I get from the multi-​talented estheticians.

If you have 15 minutes to spare and around £13 to spare you are in for a treat. This day Spa works with the busy lifestyle we live today. They have a very good service and the beauticians are kind and fast. They have to be fast with only 10 minutes to kake you feel like you have been there for hours. I love the quick fix hands, it takes 15 minutes but you walk out with lovely shiny nails and hands that look like a million bucks, it’s a total pick me up in a dull grey day.

I stumbled upon the little haven that is Cucumba whilst on my lunch break. It’s like a car pit-​stop for super rushed off their feet workers, who just need a little tlc to continue with their hectic day. So instead of going to eat one day I decided to treat myself here to a Cucumber lunch break.
All the treatments they do are listed under the time they take, so you just pick one to suit your needs. Only got a spare 20 minutes by the time you’ve been to the bank, grabbed a sandwich and bought a card for your friends Birthday that you forgot about? Then no problem! You can chose from various massages, a manicure, pedicure or a facial all for 60 minutes and under, with the quickest treatments being under 10 minutes!
You can just pop in or book, but as I noticed it was pretty busy the day I walked by so I just took a late lunch the following day in order to miss the mad dash of stressed out people looking for their quick fix. I opted for a ‘Pitstop Head Masssage’ for 20 minutes that was £20 and although yes, that’s £1 a minute it was well worth it. It totally relaxed me and I felt ready to take on the rest of the stuff piling up on my desk waiting for me back at the office.
What a great idea, Cucumber is fantastic for a quick service that will leave you roaring to go!

Paying £30 for a Brazilian after coming back from South America really does add salt to the proverbial wound that is getting your pubic hair ripped out from the follicle but, it has to be done, even in winter and my place of choice is Cucumba. I did once experiment with a cheaper option in Dalston and was limping for weeks after, never again.
My favourite therapist is Sheree, very professional, very nice, very quick. It does seem a shame to use this place solely for such an unpleasurable experience when they have so many fun ways to pamper yourself but I am quite capable of giving myself a manicure and sleeping in my own bed (they have snooze booths) and will put these luxuries on hold until I am in slightly more gainful employment.
Cucumba caters perfectly for work-​drink-​work-​date Soho in the best way imaginable because you can make ten minute ‘quick fix’ or ‘top up’ appointments there and get anything from a quick head massage to a chin wax, all for under £10. I would like to clarify that I do not and never have waxed my chin, but for those of you that do, this is the place to go.

The staff are pretty polite in here and it wasn’t too busy when I and a few colleagues went in for a pedicure. We opted for the 30 minute one, however it did actually take longer than this. I didn’t really feel like the treatment I got for £30 was worth the money, as she painted my toenails and massaged my feet a bit, but I can do a better job at home. It was ok, but not exceptional and definitely not enough to make me come back again for any other treatments.

Unfortunately I have to agree with the bad review — this place was really disappointing and strange — I had such high hopes. I was given a voucher to spend here which was fantastic, but. this definitely isn’t the place if you want a relaxing but quick spa or massage experience. It’s marketed as the urban pit stop and ladies, that’s exactly what it is. If you need a quick wax and don’t mind the person in the next cubicle hearing every strip and oooouch after each bit, then come here. There aren’t any private rooms — it’s dingy, underground, and basically a hospital ward with flimsy curtains between each bed.
I stupidly opted for a 45 minute back, neck and shoulder massage not realising what awaited So lying face down on what felt like an operating table and absolutely freezing cold (no heating down here either) the massage started with something resembling whale music, which then abruptly stopped after about 10 minutes so the rest of the longest 35 mintues of my life continued without the relaxing soundtrack, and all I could hear was people walking up and down, dropping things, talking about what they had for lunch, and wax strips flying off left right and centre. My masseur had obviously not eaten any lunch because her stomach was rumbling the whole way through. My head was pressed so hard into the table I left not being able to see straight with a headache, a red mark on my face and more stressed than when I went in!
So be CAREFUL what you choose here — any painful Brazilians may turn out to be a rather embarassing experience