Beauty & Spas in Tamalpais-Homestead Valley

Ongoing education keeps Studio 4 staff up-to-date on hair and makeup trends, as well as safe products and techniques. Stylists spritz hair with gentle sulfate- and paraben-free products from brands such as Kevin Murphy and Unite, and aestheticians custom-blend skincare concoctions to pamper acne-prone or menopausal skin. In addition, feather extensions supply locks with avian flair, and Brazilian-blowout keratin treatments smooth frizzy strands by up to 90%, with results visible on Studio 4’s before-and-after page or in bowls of suspiciously flattened rigatoni noodles.

Tucked away beneath the carved wooden eaves of a Victorian-style house, San Francisco Face and Body aims to provide a haven from everyday worries and cares. The friendly staff concentrates laser-like focus on customer service, customizing aromatherapy scents, massage techniques, and mask ingredients to each client’s skincare needs. Aestheticians smooth hirsute areas with numbing natural analgesics and imported French waxes designed to grip hair, not skin, easing the pain of separation without the need for regular Skype dates with estranged former moustaches.

Trio Salon offers traditional haircuts and coloring services alongside European facials and microdermabrasion. The salon also helps to kick-start the next generation of style with a children's service menu of scaled-down hairstyles and manicure treatments. During nail services, technicians add dynamic color to freshly buffed keratin with a full palette of polishes, or for an additional fee, CND shellac applications that remain chip-free for weeks. And for holistic care, the onsite massage therapist can supplement any service with a neck and shoulder massage or dole out a full Swedish or shiatsu bodywork treatment to anyone who’s sore from climbing the corporate ladder at the ladder factory.

After dedicating 20 years to the world of wedding catalogs and publications, Lili Shahabi decided to once again start working with private clients. At her spa, Lili works as the lead master colorist and stylist specializing in formal updos and wedding services. In addition to prepping brides for the moment the veil or paper bag is lifted, Lili and her team provide services for hair, skin, and nails. The team members commit themselves to learning new techniques and staying ahead of trends while also searching out innovative products such as glo minerals, a makeup line designed with natural high-pigment minerals and antioxidants.

Professional makeup artist Patricia Guerrera has accrued 15 years of beauty experience in Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, and Boston, where she mastered an aesthetic art that accentuates clients’ natural comeliness for special occasions. The Montecito Messenger sings Tru Beauty’s praises, crowing that the organic facial products work “instantly” and that clients feel “spoiled.” Guerrera tackles finer details with lash and brow-tint services or eyelash applications, all of which help eyes garner more attention than Sophia Loren in a clown costume. Facials cleanse the countenance with organic and high-end products, and facial or Brazilian waxes lift away unwanted fuzz. Guerrera wields upscale makeup products such as M.A.C and Benefit Cosmetics when she prepares faces for weddings, special occasions, or long stints of hiding from the mob. The thorough makeovers begin with primer and foundation, and then intensify personal pulchritude with mascara, cheek color, lipstick, and eye shadow.

At Salon Darya, aesthetician Tooran Kami draws from 25 years of experience while doling out her specialty facial treatments and waxing services. Using skincare products by Jan Marini, she customizes her microdermabrasion and facials according to each client's unique skincare needs, whether their complexions demand deep cleansing, extractions, or a calming sequence of read-aloud bedtime stories. With a staff that includes stylists, color experts, and a makeup artist, Kami ensures her salon is well-equipped to handle any beauty conundrum, and extends her aesthetic know-how to high-tech solutions such as permanent makeup and electrolysis.