The Little Sanctuary

The Stores, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 4QJ

About us

A unisex hair salon based in Gillingham Dorset.

Gillian and her creative team welcome you to enjoy this relaxed experience.

Let nature care for your hair.

Read more...

Opening hours

Monday 10:00 - 16:30
Tuesday 09:30 - 17:30
Wednesday 09:30 - 17:30
Thursday 09:30 - 20:00
Friday 09:30 - 17:00
Saturday 09:00 - 17:00
Sunday Closed

Reviews

4.97
790 verified reviews
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Value
Result
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Atmosphere
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colour and tinsel

Bella
9th Dec 2025
5.0

Katie always does an amazing job on my hair, i’ve been with her for years since before her joining the sanctuary and I wouldn’t have anyone else, I can confidentially walk in and just tell her to do anything because she always knows what I like. All the girls at the sanctuary are lovely and make you feel so welcome, thankyou to everyone for my service today!

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HD brows

Harriet Hooley
6th Dec 2025
5.0
Appointment verified by Salon Manager

Been going to Elsa for years, she does an amazing job x

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Amazing as always

Becky Lewis
5th Dec 2025
5.0
Appointment verified by Salon Manager

Liv always makes you feel welcome! Cuts my hair beautifully and takes her time especially with my thick curly hair x

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Loved meeting Gillian and delighted with my cut!

Tara Vachell
2nd Dec 2025
5.0
Appointment verified by Salon Manager

So happy to have found The Little Sanctuary. Gillian listened to what I needed and my hair looks great.

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Hair by Olivia

Hannah Aitken
29th Nov 2025
5.0

Everything about this salon is wow, from the people to the salon itself, just love every experience their thankyou🤩🤩

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Good curly cut

Emma
26th Nov 2025
5.0

Katie did an absolutely amazing job with my curls! I don’t usually get good results with salon routine/products but I was so happy with how it looked that I didn’t even restyle when I got home! Will definitely be back 🥰

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Little sanctuary Shaftesbury

kate garrett
22nd Nov 2025
5.0
Appointment verified by Salon Manager

Ruby!! Well what can I say you are a good little hairdresser with great skills. Thank you so much for my love wash and blow dry plus my tinsel too . See you next month . Kate 😊

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Lois

Anonymous
15th Nov 2025
5.0

Lois always makes me feel and look beautiful. She is always so friendly and couldn’t recommend her more

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Fantastic

connie sapsford
14th Nov 2025
5.0
Appointment verified by Salon Manager

Had a restyle with Lois today, it was amazing she really listened to me and gave some fantastic tips will definitely be back

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Great

Anonymous
14th Nov 2025
5.0

Really lovely service as always :)

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Cut and blow dry

Caroline Fawcett
11th Nov 2025
5.0
Appointment verified by Salon Manager

Friendly, attentive and professional team. Very happy with service and hair cut. Happy to recommend.

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Fast and efficient

Samantha Simmons
10th Nov 2025
5.0
Appointment verified by Salon Manager

Had a great time, will definitely be back. And there was a dog!! Adorable.

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Appt with Izzy

Denise Ames
7th Nov 2025
5.0
Appointment verified by Salon Manager

Under the supervision of Roddy, the in house trainer, Izzy cut me an excellent bob. The salon is comfortable and inviting and the staff are lovely. Thank you.

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Average spa full body, face and scalp massage

Janice Cox
5th Nov 2025
5.0
Appointment verified by Salon Manager

I was very impressed and came away feeling very relaxed. My only comment would be that I was sometimes aware of the masseuses nails.

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Excellent

Sioned Owen
1st Nov 2025
5.0
Appointment verified by Salon Manager

First visit here, Lois was brilliant, giving my hair a much needed tidy up, will deffo be back and reccomend to others! Thank you! :)

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Katie

Sarah Perry
1st Nov 2025
5.0
Appointment verified by Salon Manager

Always have Katie to do my hair, she does a fantastic job and I couldn’t more highly recommend

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Lois

Jane Vacher
1st Nov 2025
5.0
Appointment verified by Salon Manager

I had a fantastic hairdo with Lois. She always takes care and is very professional. The atmosphere at the Little Sanctuary is relaxing and warm....staff are friendly and respect each other. Thanks to Ruby for a very thorough hair wash. 5* service!

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Best in town

Carol anne Smith
31st Oct 2025
5.0
Appointment verified by Salon Manager

The Sanctuary is just that, a wonderful experience from start to finish. Great people, great place, great hairstylist.

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Fabulous Dermaplaning Facial

Sophie Stopps
28th Oct 2025
5.0
Appointment verified by Salon Manager

Elsa is honestly super lovely the easiest person to talk to and makes you feel comfortable and cozy from the minute you get into the salon. I had a dermaplaning facial and the products and how my skin looks and feels is amazing, so smooth and glowy! She has great tips for keeping skin healthy after your appointment as well. I highly recommend and i’ll be coming back regularly to have this treatment done x

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Outstanding Talent

Naomi Culley
24th Oct 2025
5.0
Appointment verified by Salon Manager

Today I visited TLS as a model for a trainee, for someone that has OCD I was definitely stepping out of my comfort zone just like our up and coming Hairdressers do.
I had the most wonderful greeting as soon as I entered the salon by the In house Teacher who was overseeing the session and then by Ruby who I was modelling for.
Ruby started by asking about my hair and what I would like, I then had my hair washed, the Aveda products felt and smelt amazing, the head massage was a real treat. Ruby cut my hair to such a high standard with Lee offering advice and guidance throughout, for myself it was great to have a better understanding of the process involved and the depth it takes to become a Hair Stylist, also for someone who has just left a career in education to then see a young person flourish is something I am very passionate about. Ruby was praised throughout her training session which was very nice to hear. TLS in house training is outstanding, something I’ve never experienced in other salons. My hair has changed since going through the menopause, darker in colour and very curly. Ruby styled my hair beautifully, I can’t stop running my fingers through it! Would I be a model again? Absolutely, Ruby you’re one to watch 🌟

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Lois

Jane Wareham
23rd Oct 2025
5.0
Appointment verified by Salon Manager

Had a brilliant restyle with Lois this afternoon. She listened to what I wanted and gave some brilliant advice. Beautiful result . I am blown away.

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Beautiful nails

Hannah Perry-Brown
22nd Oct 2025
5.0
Appointment verified by Salon Manager

Had my first appointment with Elsa, she is absolutely lovely. She has a fantastic range of different colours and glitters, and clearly has very good detail skills that you can see in her documented work on Instagram.

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Excellent as always

Suzie Q
18th Oct 2025
5.0
Appointment verified by Salon Manager

Fabulous experience. Thank you .As always so delighted with the magic Gill creates .

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Perfect everytime

Kellie Safe
18th Oct 2025
5.0
Appointment verified by Salon Manager

Yet another lovely visit to The Little Sanctuary, and I wouldn’t dream of going anywhere else.

As always, I felt welcomed, comfortable and at ease being in the salon. The staff are continuously fantastic and friendly.

Hannah always does the most wonderful job at perfecting my ever so long and thick hair.

Hannah was also super accommodating and patient when giving my one year old his first haircut.

Overall, my experience is always the very best and the coffee and cake on offer is the cherry on top.

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Lovely colour session today

Jem
17th Oct 2025
5.0
Appointment verified by Salon Manager

I visited the salon today as a model for Ruby. She was very attentive and listened to exactly my vision for my hair. Having just had a baby (12 weeks ago), my colour was drab and lifeless. I walked away feeling beautiful and love my new hair. Thank you so much to all the girls for looking after my little boy whilst I was being pampered.

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Excellent

Gosia Brown
14th Oct 2025
5.0
Appointment verified by Salon Manager

Lois understood exactly what I wanted. She listened carefully and looked at the sample photos that I brought to the salon. She talked about what she would do, and carried out the styling precisely as agreed. There was no rush and she checked at all stages whether I was happy. She has a lovely personality and made the session very enjoyable. I will definitely be back. Many thanks.

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Excellent!

Anna Lewington
14th Oct 2025
5.0
Appointment verified by Salon Manager

Olivia was brilliant with her colouring skills, adding the perfect highlights after overall colour last week. Thanks too to Izzy for her very gentle hair washing, drying and hand massage. This all followed a brilliant cut from Roddy a week or two ago. Thanks everyone!

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Excellent!

Anna Lewington
14th Oct 2025
5.0
Appointment verified by Salon Manager

Olivia was brilliant with her colouring skills, adding the perfect highlights after overall colour last week. Thanks too to Izzy for her very gentle hair washing, drying and hand massage. This all followed a brilliant cut from Roddy a week or two ago. Thanks everyone!

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Men’s training haircut

Leigh Boulton
10th Oct 2025
5.0
Appointment verified by Salon Manager

Ruby and Roddy both did my haircut this week. Ruby carefully listened to me during the consultation and asked about what I would like and any issues I had with my hair. They both took the time and care create a brilliant ‘choppy’ look on top with volume and neat sides. They helpfully advised me on products to use on my hair. I’m extremely pleased with the result. A big thank you to Ruby & Roddy for their time and care 😊

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Highly recommend Lee Gammon

Jenny T
6th Oct 2025
4.5
Appointment verified by Salon Manager

Excellent cut & highlights from the very experienced Lee. He listens to what his customers want & delivers. He’s not scissor happy & is good at both cutting & colouring

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Luxurious Experience

Courtney Wills-Wood
6th Oct 2025
5.0
Appointment verified by Salon Manager

A treat yourself experience. Very relaxing and kind atmosphere. Couldn’t recommend more. Gillian was amazing and knew how to cut curly hair, so impressed with my curly cut!

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Great salon

Tamsin Edmed
2nd Oct 2025
5.0
Appointment verified by Salon Manager

Really great - always enjoy my hair cut. Do you not serve customers tea/coffee/hot chocolate at your salon anymore to make it extra special and relaxing?

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Excellent

Sue Cuff
2nd Oct 2025
5.0
Appointment verified by Salon Manager

As always very delighted with my appointment this morning. Everyone is so charming and helpful and an excellent cut as always from Hannah!

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Highlights, cut and finish

Alice Xavier
30th Sep 2025
5.0
Appointment verified by Salon Manager

Best hair appointment I've ever had with Katie at the Little Sanctuary. The colour is PERFECT. She took the time to assess and alter my usual formula to get a different tone that suited my complexion far more that previous highlights. And put them in expertly so the result is so high quality - I love my hair again. Thank you so much Katie!

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Mrs

Charlotte Cannon
30th Sep 2025
5.0
Appointment verified by Salon Manager

Superb cut as always. Fantastic attention to detail. Client satisfaction a priority. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Hair Appointment

Michelle Hudson
23rd Sep 2025
5.0
Appointment verified by Salon Manager

This was my first visit to the salon in Shaftesbury. Katie was very professional, caring. friendly and did an amazing job. The hand massage was fab too. Thank you team. I will be back. Highly recommend x

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Another Fantastic Visit to Lois at The Little Sanctuary

Donald Morris
18th Sep 2025
5.0
Appointment verified by Salon Manager

I cannot recommend Lois at Little Sanctuaries highly enough! I’ve just had my third appointment with her, and every single visit has been a fantastic experience. From the moment I walk in, she makes me feel welcome and at ease. The salon has such a warm, relaxing atmosphere, and Lois’s professionalism and friendly nature really shine through.

She always takes the time to listen to what I want, offers great advice, and the results are consistently amazing. My hair looks and feels fabulous every time – the cut and finish are always spot on.

What really sets Lois apart is her attention to detail and the way she genuinely cares about her clients. It’s not just a haircut; it’s a full experience where you leave feeling refreshed, confident, and pampered.

Thank you, Lois, for working your magic – I’ll definitely be back again and wouldn’t go anywhere else!

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Fantastic transformation

Gabriella Fisher
16th Sep 2025
5.0
Appointment verified by Salon Manager

Gill made the whole visit an exceptional and exciting experience, an amazing eye for detail too!. Thank you so much 🤍

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Hair cut , shampoo and blow dry

Diana
12th Sep 2025
5.0
Appointment verified by Salon Manager

Hannah was brilliant, as usual, reshaped my head with a good cut and managed to get me 'done' in record time as requested....and then kindly lent me HER umbrella to go to my lunch party so that I didn't get soaked.
Wonderfully kind, skilled at her job and I'm so grateful.

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Appoint with Lee

Shona Winter
2nd Sep 2025
5.0
Appointment verified by Salon Manager

My 6 weekly cut was as always excellent. The reception welcome is always lovely and Lee was bang on time in taking me through. The cut was methodical and brilliant as he takes time to discuss exactly what I thought and what I would like to- cones up with terrific tweaks to make that style specific to me.
Lovely visit as always although the weather was wet!

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Lovely dermaplane facial

Michele Conisbee
2nd Sep 2025
5.0
Appointment verified by Salon Manager

I had a fab facial with Elsa, I have sensitive skin and it is now glowy and holiday ready! Thanks -! will be back

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Facial with Elsa

Lauren Osbourne
2nd Sep 2025
5.0
Appointment verified by Salon Manager

Another wonderful facial with Elsa! We are beginning to prep my skin for my wedding in the summer and so far the glow is fab!! If you are looking to brighten your skin Elsa is the girl for the job!!

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Hair

Bethany Hoskins
27th Aug 2025
5.0
Appointment verified by Salon Manager

Thank you so much to Ruby and Gill for making my vision come true. My hair was handled with great care and I was given information throughout my consultation and my appointment. They were really friendly and made me feel very comfortable making sure I had everything I needed. Thank you! My hair looks amazing and I will be back xx

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Lois hairs stylist hair colour blow dry

Tarn Winstone
27th Aug 2025
5.0
Appointment verified by Salon Manager

It was so lovely again to have my hair cared for by the wonderful Lois who did a fabulous colour and gorgeous blow dry - always a joy to be styled by her , so professional and very attentive caring to her clients ,

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Mrs

Theresa Denney
26th Aug 2025
5.0
Appointment verified by Salon Manager

Had a great cut with Lee, good listening and cutting skills!

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Content

LIZ WOMERSLEY
21st Aug 2025
5.0
Appointment verified by Salon Manager

Always happy with my hair when I leave the salon. Friendly staff

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Great experience

Charlotte Howarth
20th Aug 2025
5.0
Appointment verified by Salon Manager

Super easy to book and they fit me in so quickly, great experience and lovely people, thank you!

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A real treat

Angela Wareham
20th Aug 2025
5.0
Appointment verified by Salon Manager

I really enjoy my visit to the Sanctuary. The surroundings are calm and relaxing. I'm really pleased with the quality of my nails and such a huge choice of colours. I will be back soon . Thank you

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Elsa lash lift

Amelie Walting
20th Aug 2025
5.0
Appointment verified by Salon Manager

The best lash lift I’ve ever had, Elsa was lovely & the little sanctuary itself is refreshing & luxurious 😍

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Biab Manicure by Elsa

Claire Martin
14th Aug 2025
5.0
Appointment verified by Salon Manager

First time having Biab on my natural nails! Can’t believe how amazing they look from my first appointment can’t wait to see the growth in 3 weeks time! Elsa did such a great job I am so happy with them. So professional! Thankyou so much! Xx

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