XS Studio

A hair and beauty salon in central Geneva

XS Studio is a hair and beauty salon in Geneva, at Rue de l'Arquebuse 22 in the Quartier des Banques, with a second salon listed as XS Studio Coiffure Bel-Air. It covers hair (coiffure), beauty treatments (esthétique) and nails (onglerie), for women and men. For weddings, the relevant line is in its own words: "la réalisation de coiffures personnalisées pour une cérémonie de mariage est une de nos spécialités", creating personalized hairstyles for a wedding ceremony is one of its specialties. Wedding makeup (Maquillage Mariage) is on the menu as well.

The site calls the salon "une véritable destination beauté complète", a complete beauty destination, and the menu bears that out: cuts, color, balayage, extensions, Brazilian smoothing and keratin, updos and blow-dries, makeup, brow and facial treatments, lash tinting, several kinds of manicure, and a barbershop.

For the wedding

The salon's expertise section says it has staff specially trained in highly specialized techniques that need great skill, and names personalized wedding hairstyles among them. The hair menu lists "Coiffure / Brushing" and "Chignon" (updo), which are the services a bride would book for the day.

The makeup menu lists four looks: day makeup, a soft evening makeup, an intense evening makeup, and wedding makeup. The beauty menu also has lash tinting, brow epilation and facials, which fit into the days before a wedding. In the full site menu, wedding makeup has its own page (Maquillage mariage) under the beauty section, which is where a bride should look for what the service includes.

For the groom and the men in the wedding party, the salon runs a barbershop with men's cuts, beard care and men's color. Children's cuts are listed too. A wedding party that wants hair done in one place, bride, groom and page boy included, can book it at one salon.

Nail services cover classic manicure, Russian manicure, semi-permanent polish, gel nails and a custom manicure (manucure sur mesure).

Hair services in detail

The homepage describes several of the hair services at length.

• Extensions. The salon says it has real expertise here and uses only natural hair extensions, which it describes as strands often sourced from India, Asia and Brazil, added with a specific technique for length, volume, thickness and shine.
• Brazilian smoothing (lissage brésilien). A keratin-based treatment that the page says smooths and softens natural or colored hair, reduces frizz and makes styling easier.
• Balayage and highlights. A coloring technique that lightens selected strands for a more natural, luminous look.
• Cuts. For women, men and children.

A bride planning extensions or a smoothing treatment for the wedding would book these ahead of the day. The page does not say how far ahead.

Products and team

The salon works with Keune. The page says that after many years of trying and comparing products the choice fell on Keune, and that it has been an official Keune partner for more than 5 years. It describes the range as designed for the health of hair and scalp, and lists the problems it addresses as the brand presents them: dandruff, irritation, dull or damaged hair and hair loss.

The team is described as highly qualified in cutting, styling and coloring, able to work with all hair types, and up to date on current trends and techniques. The salon promises a personalized experience in a spacious space with a contemporary, elegant design and the latest hair care equipment, under the heading "Espace et discrétion" (space and discretion). The salon's stated belief is that everyone deserves to feel good in their own skin, summed up in the line "Chez XS Studio, c'est vous qui êtes la star!" (at XS Studio, you are the star). The footer links a LookBook and a blog, which are the places to look for examples of the salon's work before booking, and a section headed "Ils nous font confiance" (they trust us) sits above the contact details.

Access, hours and booking

• Address. XS Studio, Rue de l'Arquebuse 22, 1204 Genève (Quartier des Banques).
• Parking. The site names the Parking de la Tribune de Genève.
• Hours. Monday to Friday 10h to 19h, late opening on Thursday until 21h, Saturday 10h to 17h.
• Booking. Online booking ("réserver en ligne") and a call button on every page. Phone 022 320 52 52, email info@xsstudio.ch.
• Gift vouchers. Available for both the Arquebuse and the Bel-Air salons.

The site has a French and an English version, selectable from the menu. For a couple from abroad that means the services can be read in English before booking. The online booking link lets a bride fix a salon appointment from abroad, and for a wedding party the phone line is the more direct route, since a group booking on the day is not something the booking button describes.

What the site does not settle

• Wedding prices. The homepage shows no prices. The menu links a Tarifs (prices) page, which is the place to check first; the homepage does not say whether wedding hair and makeup are priced there or quoted on request.
• Trial. A trial hairstyle or trial makeup is not mentioned.
• Styling outside the salon. The site does not say whether the team comes to a hotel or venue on the wedding morning, or only works in the salon. For a wedding outside Geneva this is the deciding question.
• Language of service. The site has an English version, but it does not say which languages the stylists speak.
• Bel-Air salon. A second salon is named on the map and in the voucher menu, but its address is not given on the homepage.
• Bridal party. No group or bridal-party arrangement is described.

Who it suits

XS Studio suits a bride getting ready in central Geneva who wants her wedding hairstyle from a salon that names wedding hair as a specialty, and who would like makeup, nails and the groom's cut in the same place. The long opening hours, including Thursday evenings and Saturdays, help fit a trial or pre-wedding treatments into a short visit.

The caveats are that the site says nothing about working at the venue or about trials, and the homepage shows no wedding prices. A couple marrying outside Geneva, or wanting the stylist to come to them, should ask about both before anything else.