Walking up the steep and narrow stairway in this building with an interior design drawing on the medieval castle style, you expect a gruff, sword-carrying, Mel Gibson ‘Lion Heart' figure to await you rather than a happy clan of sissor wielding hairstylists from De Way Style Shop.

The new beauty salon offers a wide range of services, from hair dos and manicures to intensive make-up work, but prices are not cheap here. Management isn't shy about tooting its own horn with respect to its service and popularity.

"Although we opened only six months ago, we have won quite a popularity. Not only with stray pub crawlers but also with respectable business and financial circles," De Way manager Olga Oleinik said. "I would recommend that you make a reservation or else you may have to sit in a queue. This is a place where you can feel yourself as a real aristocrat," she added.

De Way's services are quite professional but it is for those who have the money to drop on regular and thorough care of their face and body. A hairdo is 850 to 1,000 rubles, American streaking is 1,500 rubles, face makeup is 1,000 to 1,500 rubles, manicure is 410 rubles for women and 500 rubles for men and nail elongation is $100. With ‘average' salaries around $100 dollars or 3000 rubles, you won't find many ‘average' people knocking down their door to make an appointment. There is a flexible system of discounts for regulars — up to 10 percent.

Management claims that the hair stylists employed by the salon have taken advanced studies and training at such prestigious institutions as the Russian Academy of Hairdressing Arts or the Romero Spanish School.

They are open about the techniques and styles they use.

"We do face makeup only over embellished skin. Shining eyes and lips are most trendy now," stylist Marina Sugonyako told me. "The magic of sparkling will make any woman, regardless of age, irresistible. It is important not to overdo it. It is up to a stylist to decide what fits you the best — ‘icy' eyes, carrot-red lips or apricot mascara and steel-gray lips," she added.

In addition to hairdos, De Way offers acrylic and non-acrylic methods of nail elongation employing self-hardening tars, gels and cremes. The salon's pride is the ‘Chameleon' fancy nail decoration and artistic manicure with artificial diamonds.

"Those who like eccentric images are welcome to choose our original nail piercing and artistic manicure with gold inclusions. Golden nails will look fantastic during this summer," nail stylist Esenia Slyunkova said.

Right at the reception desk you can buy various cosmetics and perfumery from world's leading manufacturers, such as Wella, Sebastian, Cartie and Chanel.