Urban Escape

VOICES OF URBAN ESCAPE

Meet Mosa 🤍

Some people are simply part of the heartbeat of a place — and Mosa is most definitely part of ours.

Mosa has been with Urban Escape since February 2010, taking care of our space, our team and our clients with her own special brand of warmth and energy. Our hospitality and housekeeping superstar, she’s one of those people who quietly keeps everything running beautifully behind the scenes — usually with a laugh and a little mischief thrown in. 🤍

What does she love most about Urban Escape? The people and the feeling of being here. She describes it as friendly, comforting and a little like home — even, she says, “like therapy.”

And Mosa’s advice to her younger self feels particularly special:

Never feel as though life has left you behind. You can change your path at any age. Don’t be so hard on yourself — and never stop learning. Education is the key to everything.

And Mosa is living those words.

She recently completed a nail course and, with lots of encouragement and hands-on training from the Urban Escape team, is slowly making the move from behind the scenes to the nail desk. 💅🏽 Watch this space… because before long you may be booking your appointment with Mosa, Nail Technician — and we couldn’t be prouder of her.

As for a fun fact? Mosa insists she’s “boring.”

We strongly disagree. 😂

She’s a funny, good-natured little live wire with a real zest for life. Sundays might involve drinks and a catch-up with friends — sometimes the kids are invited, sometimes they most definitely are not! 😂 She’s also quite the well-travelled local, having explored plenty of South Africa, with Cape Town firmly next on her bucket list.

Mosa’s story is such a beautiful reminder that there is no timeline for becoming more, learning something new or choosing a different path.

You are never too late. You are never left behind. You can always begin again. 🤍

We can’t wait to see where this next chapter takes you, Mosa. 💅🏽

WomenSupportingWomen

VOICES OF URBAN ESCAPE

Meet Thembi 🤍

Every business has an OG… and ours is Thembi. 👑

Thembi has been with Urban Escape since day one. Before the doors had even opened, while we were still shopfitting our very first space, she was there. I still have a photo of her sweeping the floors, ready and raring to get started as a nail technician.

And she has never left. ❤️

All these years later, Thembi is one of the most consistent, loyal and dependable people you could ever hope to have on a team. She knows her stuff, she’s brilliant at what she does, and over the years she has built an incredibly loyal client base of her own.

She’s also been here so long that she now feels she deserves shares in Urban Escape. 😂 Apparently loyalty has a dividend.

For Thembi, Urban Escape really is a second home. She loves her colleagues dearly, loves her clients, and — according to her — even loves her boss… despite the fact that her boss “gives her a hard time.” 😂❤️

What advice would she give her younger self?
“Focus. Chase your goals. Don’t get married. And don’t chase the boys.” 😂

And then there’s Thembi’s other great love… money. 💰😂

Thembi has never been shy about knowing her worth — or reminding me of it. In fact, no Urban Escape staff meeting is officially complete until Thembi has raised the subject of a salary increase. 😂 At this point, I’m fairly sure she attends the meetings purely to renegotiate her package.

Between the salary increases and the shares she believes she’s entitled to after all these years, Thembi is quietly working her way towards a controlling stake in Urban Escape. 😂

And the fun fact we didn’t know?
Our Thembi has a serious love of beautiful lingerie. 👙✨
Who knew?!

Thembi, Urban Escape simply wouldn’t be Urban Escape without you. You’ve been part of this journey from the sweeping-the-floor days to everything we are today — and having someone so loyal, reliable and committed beside me for all these years is something I value more than you know.

The original OG. The salary negotiator. The lingerie lover. And very much part of the heart of Urban Escape. 🤍

VOICES OF URBAN ESCAPE

Meet Busi 🤍

Busi may be one of the newer faces at Urban Escape, having joined us in February this year, but she has slipped into the Urban Escape family so naturally that it feels as though she’s been here much longer. ❤️

As one of our receptionists and hostesses, Busi is part of that all-important first impression when you walk through our doors — and she genuinely loves making people feel welcome.

Her favourite thing about Urban Escape is the calmness of the space and the genuine love and care within the team. For Busi, it’s about creating that same feeling for every client who walks in: somewhere they can relax, feel looked after and, for a little while, feel as though they’ve found a home away from home. 🤍

She has also found herself a rather fabulous work wife in Maki. 😂 Busi describes her as kind, lovely, witty and, most importantly, “a keeper.” The two make a wonderful team at reception, and we love the warmth and energy they bring to the front of Urban Escape.

What advice would Busi give her younger self?

Back yourself. Be confident without being arrogant. Keep an open mind, be willing to try new things and occasionally say yes to something you might normally never consider. Sometimes the best parts of life are waiting just outside your comfort zone.

And the fun fact? 🐾

There is one very important lady in Busi’s life… and she has four legs.

Meet Shepherd, her beloved German Shepherd and quite possibly her favourite person. 😂❤️

Busi dances with Shepherd. She has full conversations with Shepherd. And her camera roll contains more photographs of Shepherd than it does of her own son. 😂

Given the choice between spending time with people or spending time with Shepherd… let’s just say the humans shouldn’t take it personally.

She is quite literally Busi’s best friend. 🐕

Busi, we love how effortlessly you have become part of our little Urban Escape family. Your warmth, calm nature and genuine desire to make people feel at home are exactly what our front desk should be about.

New to the team, but already very much one of us. 🤍

Voices of Urban Escape

Meet Ingrid 🤍

Some people don’t just work at Urban Escape — they’re part of its story.

Ingrid joined us in December 2011, just five months after we opened our doors. She’s one of our true OGs and remembers the early days of handing out Urban Escape flyers at the local Spar — and even at the traffic lights! How far we’ve come. 🤍

Ingrid is an exceptionally knowledgeable skin therapist, but it’s her beautiful, calm and gentle nature that makes a treatment with her so special. And if you’ve ever had one of her facials, chances are you’ve become an Ingrid client for life.

Her favourite part of her job? Connecting with her clients and changing lives through changing skin.

Ask her to choose a favourite treatment and she struggles — she says they’re like her children, each one different and each with its own outcome! But for serious skin results, she loves combining microneedling and professional skin peels.

What would Ingrid tell her younger self?
Every path life takes you down teaches you something. Don’t worry too much — somehow, everything always works out in the end. ❤️

Before skincare, Ingrid was a fashion model! She still loves fashion, but these days you’ll also find her happiest in her garden. She has serious green fingers and says gardening is her happy place. 🌿

Nearly 15 years later, Ingrid remains such a special part of Urban Escape — and we simply can’t imagine it without her.

Here’s to one of our originals. 🤍

Your skin deserves a little extra love this August 🤍

Enjoy R150 OFF all Dermalogica facial treatments at Urban Escape this month — the perfect excuse to give your skin some professional attention and leave feeling fresh, glowing and beautifully cared for.

And there’s more…

Purchase any Dermalogica products in-store during August and you’ll automatically go into the draw to WIN a Dermalogica hamper worth R5,000! 🎁

Better skin, a little saving, and the chance to take home an incredible Dermalogica hamper? Yes please.

📍 Urban Escape, Hobart Grove, Bryanston
📲 Book your Dermalogica facial or pop in to shop your favourites.

T&Cs apply. August 2026 only.

Voices of Urban Escape

Meet Patience

Some people just have a wonderfully gentle way about them — and Patience is one of those people. 🤍

A nail technician and part of the Urban Escape family since September 2014, Patience describes Urban Escape as her second home and her happy place. She loves the friendships she has built with her colleagues and, of course, the relationships she has formed with so many of her clients over the years.

Her favourite treatment? Pedicures! 👣
And particularly the massage — which we’re sure many of her clients will be very happy to hear! 😄

If Patience could give her younger self some advice…

“Look after your body. Eat well, exercise and take care of your health.” 🌿

And Patience has a dream of her own. One day, she would love to take everything she has learned and own her own beauty business.

Outside of Urban Escape, she’s mom to 10-year-old Thando, loves spending time with her family and is a devoted churchgoer.

After almost 12 years with us, Patience remains the same beautiful, gentle-natured person we’ve come to know and love — and we’re incredibly lucky that Urban Escape is still her happy place. 🤍

Inner Vixen 🖤

Dark, glossy and just a little bit dangerous. The kind of colour that makes you look at your nails more than you probably should.

If your nails are due for a little attention, consider this your sign.

Book your gel mani at Urban Escape and bring out your Inner Vixen.

📱 011 463 5951 or book online

Voices of Urban Escape

Meet Busi

If you’ve ever left Urban Escape staring at your nails and thinking “WOW”… Busi would consider that a job well done. 💅✨

Busi has been part of the Urban Escape team since 2016, and she’s a nail technician who takes her work seriously. She loves painting gel and, in her own words, “I want my manicures to look WOW!” Perfection is always the goal.

But there’s much more to Busi than beautiful nails.

Over the past few years, Busi has faced some difficult moments living with epilepsy, including experiencing seizures at work. One of the things she is most grateful for is knowing that when things get tough, she is surrounded by a team who genuinely cares for her and looks after her. 🤍

If she could tell her younger self one thing…

“Study hard and get an education. And don’t rush into becoming a mother—there is plenty of time for that.”

Today, Busi is the proud mom of three — Natasha (20), Malcolm (18) and Miguel (12) — and she says she’s loving this stage of motherhood now that they’re getting older. ❤️

And something you might not know about Busi…

She’s a keen volleyball player and gets onto the court in Cosmo City whenever she gets the chance. 🏐
And when she’s off duty? She loves nothing more than relaxing with her older kids, enjoying a glass of wine and the occasional hubbly-bubbly. 🍷😄

Ten years at Urban Escape, three children, countless beautiful manicures and still aiming for WOW every single time.

That’s our Busi. 🤍

Meet the women behind Urban Escape. 🤍

This Women’s Month, we’re celebrating the incredible women who make Urban Escape the warm, welcoming place it is.

Welcome to Voices of Urban Escape—a series dedicated to the talented women who care for our clients every day. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be introducing each member of our team, sharing a little about who they are, what they love most about what they do, and asking them one simple question:

“What’s one thing you wish your younger self knew?”

We hope their stories inspire you, make you smile, and help you get to know the amazing women behind the experience at Urban Escape.

Here’s to celebrating women, supporting one another, and recognising that every woman has a story worth sharing.

Happy Women’s Month. 🤍