Mohamed El Sagheer Spa & Beauty Salon: Top Beauty Services in Katameya Heights

With Titans branches popping up all over Cairo, working out is becoming harder to avoid. Their largest of the branches is located underground, at the back of the 'Landmark' building in the up-and-coming Fifth Settlement of New Cairo. The entrance is found at the bottom of a funny, tunnel-like stairway which sits at the base of a crystal blue, outdoor swimming pool complete with a waterfall. Unfortunately at the time of our visit, although it looked inviting, we decided against a dip as the water was absolutely freezing. The lobby – and indeed the rest of the gym – uses hues of grey and red with shiny, light-coloured wood floors. The next room is a small but well-stocked juice and snack bar, selling various nutrition bars and of all sorts of branded proteins.Passing through a set of frosted double-doors lands you on the edge of a vast L-shaped workout area. Cardio machines such as treadmills, cross trainers and exercise bikes are lined up in rows, most with iPads attached to the tops. We're not sure how easy it is to use an iPad whilst sweating out, but it's a nice touch for light workout routines.Moving deeper into the mirrored room, along with various weight machines, are large free-weight stands to one side. Here, the weights range from 2kg to 50kg, perfect for both beginner and advanced weight training. There’s a separate room for group sessions, as well as men and women-only fitness classes, specialising in fat burning, toning and muscle building. They also host ladies-only Zumba and belly dance classes. However, for a general workout, there is no ladies-only area. In the clean and simple locker rooms, members can also enjoy a private jacuzzi and a sauna. Upstairs, Titans also have a small but adequate squash court. The gym also boasts an onsite doctor and nutritionist to help you achieve your specialised dietary and body building goals. Titans Wellness Center's membership packages are offered as  one month (900LE), three months (2300LE), six months (3150LE) and one year (4400LE). A year-long membership is discounted for couples and costs 7800LE for the two. Along with all inclusive facility use and free classes, each package comes with at least one personal training session and a meeting with the nutritionist. After the sessions included in the chosen deal, personal training sessions start at 1500LE for twelve sessions, 2600LE for twenty-four sessions and 3500LE for thirty-six. There are also several different freezing options respective to each length of membership, with the exception of the one month membership.Titans is one of the more expensive gyms, but it prides itself on offering an entire workout experience which is definitely reflected in the range of facilities available and well-kept work out areas.

Many upper floor salons in Cairo block out their windows with dusty posters of questionable hairdo’s – not the Beauty Salon in Zamalek, though. Sitting on the first floor of a residential building on El Malek El Afdal Street, their window is clear and adorned, either side, with large Grecian pillars. The décor of the place was probably fashionable once upon a time, with black and grey marble floors and walls, black and gold vintage chandeliers and fussy mirrors; although the salon was a little outdated, everything seemed neat and tidy, creating a rather charming feel.

We booked in advance but happened to be the only customers anyway. As soon as we walked in, the staff bent over backwards to make us feel comfortable; smiling constantly, lighting incense, offering us drinks and generally being friendly and chatty whilst being unobtrusive.

The salon offers various treatments including haircuts for 75LE, blow-drying for 50LE and they’ll touch up your roots for 250LE-350LE. A mani-pedi is 60LE, whilst eyebrow threading is 30LE and a full body wax starts at around 200LE. After relapsing into a nail-biting habit, a manicure was essential (30LE), as was a wavy blow-dry (50LE).  

Quickly, we were towelled up and beckoned over to the basins. We spotted a couple of hairs already sitting in the sink, but the towels seemed clean. We waited for ages before the water heated up and when it did, it struggled to steady at one temperature. On a more positive note, the woman washing our hair was both gentle and thorough, and wrapped our hair tightly before leading us into the next room for our manicure.

As expected, the room was smaller than the hair salon but was still roomy, with wooden decking beneath large, comfortable-looking armchairs where patrons would sit for their pedicure treatments. We were lead to the standard nail bar on the other side of the room and the work began. We started with a warm soak before the technician trimmed back our cuticles, using her own nails for scraping and some sterilised clippers, before our nails were cut short as requested and filed smooth. We were given boxes and bags of assorted nail polishes to choose from in just about every colour, matte or metallic, from a multitude of brands. The nail technician’s hands were a little shakey but the results were still just above average.

Afterwards, we were ushered into the hands of the hairdresser who proceeded to prance around like a ninja, gently volumising our roots and quickly wrapping it around several round hairbrushes. In around twenty minutes, he unleashed our clean, wavy, smooth barnet, perfectly textured and flicking up from the bottom. We were delighted with our new do and will certainly be returning before a night out.

The salon itself might not be the most attractive, but it oozes charm, particularly from its hospitable staff. The Beauty Salon provides personal, fast and effective services and may make a good – and more cost effective – alternative to the busier, mainstream salons.