Beauty & Spas in Oakland

What do teenage girls and pro football players have in common? They both want to look good. For nearly two decades, Face and Body by Taylor has been pampering clients who range from prom-prepping teens to professional athletes, including former Oakland Raider Charles Woodson. Backed by a service menu that caters to both genders, the spa's certified technicians carefully wax eyebrows, soften skin with homemade aromatherapy body scrubs, and primp fingers and toes with careful buffing and an optional layer of Shellac, Gelish, or OPI lacquer. The spa eschews the feminine pink paint and framed watercolors of X chromosomes typical of a standard salon and instead features sophisticated wood-laden decor that ensures a welcoming environment for men and women alike.

In a world of solemn responsibilities and stern rules, Flirt Nail Lounge stands as a haven of whimsical femininity. Bright pink walls, purple shag carpets, and signs declaring, “A princess sits here” cast off the grownup world to let guests revel in luxurious nail services elevated by a host of pampering extras. Nail techs sit on plush pink ottomans as their clients melt into tufted white armchairs above them, their feet dangling in the warm water of sinks set into the floor. In addition to performing manicures and pedicures with OPI polish and no-chip Shellac lacquer, the techs specialize in painting ornate designs—replete with 3-D accoutrements such as gemstones, gold accents, and can openers—on natural nails or acrylic extensions. The lounge also features a private room for waxing treatments and a boutique that brims with bath oils and cupcake bath bombs by Sugar Rush.

As a Paul Mitchell partner school, San Francisco Institute of Esthetics and Cosmetology arms its students with top-notch beauty industry knowledge. Right when students are bursting with know-how, but just before they start their careers in salons and spas, they break out of the classroom to pamper clients. They run through a retinue of treatments, including hair services such as updos and highlights, skin treatments in the form of anti-aging facials, and makeup services.

With the peak of summer heat upcoming, there's no finer time to pave the way toward fewer shaves. Stop into Pretty Parlor to beautify your southern hemisphere with a 15-minute basic bikini wax ($25) or go for the gusto with a full 30-minute Brazilian ($60). The parlor also offers a variety of services for facially aesthetic brilliance, including lip or chin waxes ($10 each) and mood-altering eyebrow waxes ($15). Owner Sarah D. LaShelle, who has been wicking away follicles for eight years, will happily tailor the session to your skin type, addressing any issues or concerns before sending you home smooth and with complimentary wax balm. For a full list of pricing and services, check out the Pretty Parlor website.

Green Apple brings a holistic approach to its professional skin services, offering all-natural treatments in a comfortable, welcoming salon environment. During the 60-minute Bio Organique facial, a careful and skilled aesthetician will use 99% natural and certified organic ingredients to make your skin look and feel its best. The facial also incorporates the use of energy-point massage, so while your face’s dermis is lavished with the rejuvenating powers of fresh fruit, your neck and shoulders will be treated to ease away tension and stress. Call ahead to schedule an appointment.

Since he dyed his first head of hair in his native Brazil, owner and master colorist Odilon Vasconcelos has spent almost 30 years styling hair in France, Spain, Argentina, and the U.S. He prides himself on imbuing Ele-Ela—Portuguese for "him and her"— with "elegant yet unpretentious surroundings." To round out this carefully tended environment, Vasconcelos has recruited an expert team of stylists, including Jesse Nino, who has garnered extensive experience working in the fashion industries of both New York and Los Angeles. Odilon, Jesse, and the team use Brazilian Blowout, Phyto Organics, and American Crew products to deck out humans and supposed humans with a fresh look. Visitors can also get gussied up with manicures, pedicures, and waxing.