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Carol's Beauty Center
Rating Details »
- Hours:
Mon., Wed-Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
- Accepts Insurance:
- No
- By Appointment Only:
- Yes
22 reviews for Carol's Beauty Center
Carol has moved to a brand new location:
220 E Valley Blvd
Alhambra, CA 91804
I don't remember the exact address, but she's upstairs in the plaza close to the middle.
The new place is renovated and a much improvement from her last place.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/15/2008
I was never a facial person, but now I am totally sold. I come to Carol's salon once a month and my… Read more »
On my last entry, i was still selling the last 4 of my sessions but I sold all 4 last saturday. Thank you for the late interest ladies!
3 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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9/24/2009
Hello!! I still have 4 sessions left under my name =) please contact me if you wish to buy these… Read more »
This place is better than average although realize you get what you pay for. You can get $200-300 eyelash extensions that will probably last a week... But honestlly for their prices I say it's an absolute bargain! I wear heavy eye make-up and I'm too lazy to CAREFULLY wipe it off. I'm actually pretty rough with my eyes, I rub them a lot and to my wonderful suprise the eyelash extensions last me for about 3 weeks considering how much i DO NOT take care of them... I've paid the fancy prices before and to my experience they've only lasted a few days more - IF that... all in all... they all use EYElashes, Glue, Tape for your eyes and pliers(same stuff)... it doesn't matter where you go or how much it is. And for the people afraid of the scissors or when it accidentally gets stuck to your bottom lashes... sometimes we blink or the hairs move during the process so unfortunatly they get stuck. It's happened to me before too! don't be afraid to give it a second shot they only move or try to seperate the hairs with the scissors because of the fine point they DON'T actually CUT your lashes so don't be afraid! For the price and from my 4th and on-going experience give this place a try!
Just went to Carol's for the first time yesterday to their new facility and I am still very disturbed.
I went for a facial and eye lash extensions. Facial was ok, pretty standard minus any sort of exfoliation process.
Here's where the horror starts...I've gotten extensions done before and loved them so I figured for about $40, it's worth a shot. How bad could it be right??? WRONG!!! The lady who did my lashes used so much glue that my bottom lashes got glued to my top lashes. At the end of the procedure, she said in Mandarin "Bu pa, bu pa" meaning "don't be afraid" right before she began to "clean off the glue" on my lashes with those small NAIL SCISSORS! How the heck am I not supposed to be afraid when you're within millimeters of my eyelid and eyeball "cleaning off glue"?!
When she was finally done, i still could not open my eyes. My freakin eyes were still glued shut. She she continued to nip away at the "glue" some more. She kept saying during the process "Wow, hen piao liang" meaning "so pretty". I finally got to get up and look at the lashes and first off, they were far from good. Nothing like the lashes I got done at other places. Secondly, the stupid lashes were poking my eyeball. She didn't glue them on flush with my lash line so some of them went past my eyelid and were poking my eyeball. So I pointed it out to her and you guessed it, she cut them with the nail scissor.
I did one final check and this is when I became very disturbed. I realized the "glue" that she was cutting off, was actually my bottom lashes! SHE CUT OF ALL MY BOTTOM EYE LASHES!! WTF?! Not like I had a lot to begin with but now I have like 3 random lashes left and a bunch of stubs!!! Who does that?! Isn't there glue cleaner or something?! I could not believe it! Buyer beware!!! If you've never gotten your lashes done professionally before, you may not know the difference but I have, and this is ridiculous!!!
If you're tempted to save a few bucks and try out some eye lash extensions, DON'T DO IT HERE! You can get them done at Hair Fetish in Chino Hills for $95 ($35 touch-ups)
Wow. Based on the other reviews, I feel like I went to a different place. Carol's Beauty, right? The place that's located upstairs in a dingy strip mall in Monterey Park, right?
I'd been needing a facial for awhile. I had been to Youthderm in Temple City several years ago and was happy with it but after reading the glowing reviews of Carol's, I thought I'd go out on a limb and try it because it was closer to my house.
I arrived a few minutes early and parked my car on the street. My BF decided to get a foot massage at one of those $15 an hour places while I got my facial. We walked down the street together, looking for Carol's. We stopped at the door that opened into a stairwell. The walls of the stairwell were stained and staircase looked rundown. My BF looked at me with this "are you sure you want to try this place?" We walked upstairs to the front of the shop on the 2nd floor, which is shared with a travel agency and some other business. He still looked unconvinced. I cheerfully reassured him and we parted ways.
Man, the place is ghetto. The "reception area" looks like someone's living room that is decorated with rejects from the local discount furniture store. It is divided from the area with the facial beds with what appears to be a hair salon station. In the facial area, are four beds and a small shabby screen that you change behind. The screen does NOT offer full privacy. I've been to some ghetto places but when you're looking for a place to relax and rejuvenate, ghetto does not come to mind. After I walked in and took a look around, I had that fight or flight feeling. I suppressed it even after I went to the bathroom before my session -- a bathroom outside Carol's in the hallway, which was also rundown and had no soap or paper towels - all the while convincing myself that if the facial was good and reasonably priced, I could put up with the environment.
However, the facial was sub-par. I had a woman who did not speak a lick of English. Not that I want a chatty Kathy but when I get a facial, I like it when the esthetician tells me what she's doing and I want to be able to tell her what I want. This woman did not do a single extraction, which was one of the reasons why I was there in the first place. In fact, I have NO idea whatsoever what was performed on me but all I know is that I paid $90 for a "skin lightening facial" with no noticeable differences after I left.
The whole experience left a bad taste in my mouth. Instead of relaxed, I left feeling cranky at the thought that I had just spent $90 and 90 minutes of my day at this ghetto "salon." Just the thought of when I happened to look up at the arm of the steamer above my face during my facial and saw that it was crusty makes me shudder. And, to add insult to injury, when I met up with my BF afterwards, he said he got this great foot and shoulder massage for an hour for $20.
The following weekend, I booked a facial at Youthderm. What a HUGE difference and at similar prices! [See my review of Youthderm]
I don't know how this place got so many high ratings. The eyelashes I got were very uncomfortable. I had my lashes done several times prior to this at some korean salons and it felt so natural and I had nothing stabbing my lash line. I looked at my lashes afterwards and i noticed she used so much glue on them which made my lashes feel so hard and crispy. It cost only $60 but I wouldn't do it again even if they paid me.
I was also watching the other lady apply lashes on my friend and her hands were so shaky it was trembling all over the place.... I dont know what she was trying to do to my friend! It ended up coming out so horrible she had to take them all out and get it retouched it by another person.
This place is not very sanitary, they used the same glue and tweezers on a new customer without even cleaning them. gross** definitely not for me.
Carol's Beauty Center is in a nicer location than before. I go there for facial's only and have not tried any other service. Their facial pricing is extremely reasonable for the amount of time that they spend on your face. I have been there more than 5 times and every time it has been a great experience. They don't try and sell me any products nor do I have to go there every month. There is only one other place that has given me the best facial (see my other review) but she is 2x more expensive, so I like Carol's because I could go often. I only splurge on the other place when I have a gift certificate. So if you are someone who likes to get a good massage at a great price, Carol's is the place to go.
So before I came to Carol's I decided to try a fancy facial place so I knew what a good facial was since I never had one before. When I say fancy I mean it cost over $100, is located in a fancy place, in a fancy city with a fancy russian lady with a crazy accent and celebrities like Joan Rivers visit it.... I needed a bases of comparison so I forked over the money. After that fancy session with the fancy lady, I felt like I looked well....super tired. I dunno whether I was suppose to look tired or maybe the anxiety of my facial-cherry being popped drained my energy but yeah... I thought I looked perty haggard.
So where was I going with all this again... Oh yeah.... ok so Carol's is ... not fancy. It's not located in a fancy place, nor is the decor fancy at all... Carol does have an accent and calls me sweetie and baby a lot but yeah... nothing fancy here. Just GOOD FACIAL. When I first went I was a little skeptical ... I wasn't planning on getting the membership, I figured if it was just ok then it's only $60 down the drain. But after I saw my face from the first facial I was hooked. Totally drastically cleaner!!! So of course I got the membership (10 sessions, coming out to $39 each time).
The facial consist of, depending on your skin condition of course, steaming, peels (i loved the fruity one she did for me the other day), mask, massage, extractions and oh yeah she tweezes your eyebrows...
Most of the ladies there are great, if you tell them you have an event or are gonna meet people later they wont do as hard of an extraction. My friends and I have been there enough times to try all the ladies and my favorite is probably Susan, altho Carol is great if you want a good massage with your facial. There is one lady there tho that's perty awful and I wonder if a lot of the bad reviews are because of her...
As for the products, I normally dont get the products anyways and she doesnt pressure me to buy them. She does nag and nickpick at my skin but so does the Russian lady and from what I heard a lotta other places. I usually just listen to them talk till I fall asleep. Altho I have to say Carol's nagging had some positive effects... she made me feel bad about eating all this spicy food and not drinking enough water... so I've cut back on the spicy and been drinking more water and my skin and pores has definitely improved a bit. Just don't take it too personally...
So far each friend I've brought to Carol's have ended up getting her membership, whether it's for eyelash extension, massages or just facials, it's all under the same membership and yes you can share them! It's such a good deal.
Great place to get personalized facials and eyelash extensions! My auntie has been going there for years and she has always had great skin. Went today for the first time and am really happy w/ the eyelashes they gave me. :-D Join the membership and get one facial treatment "free". Carol and Cathy are the only ones there who seem to speak english well tho.
FYI - they're located in suite A, upstairs
Wanting to find a good place for facials, I turned to Yelp to guide me. After a few searches, Carol's Beauty Center popped up with some pretty sweet reviews of this place; Plus bonus brownie points that it was just a short drive away from me.
Upon entering the establishment, I was a bit skeptical. I felt as if I have stepped into an all-in-one Chinese household clashed with bad 80's furnishings. The decor was nothing worth mentioning, but I decided to give it a try anyway.
Despite of all the superficial aspects, I must say I was in for a surprise. It's not your lovely spa atmosphere, yes, but you definitely get what you pay for. Carol takes extra steps to make sure you are comfortable and informs you about every step she is doing. The facial is very detailed accompanied with a nice hand treatment, wonderful 15-20 mins massage from face to shoulders and arms. The whole facial lasts about an hour and 20 minutes. I arrived there late and she was very accomodating, even staying past closing to finish my session.
I originally went in for the one facial price, but I loved it so much I purchased a pack which is good for facials and eyelash extentions for the low low price of $39 per session. You can always split that with a friend or use it for yourself in a span of whenever.
---- UPDATE 01/08/09 ----
They have moved to their new location on Valley and Garfield. I like the new location MUCH better than the fallen old location.
Carol is the one who usually gives me my facial and I've always enjoyed her services, but on my last visit I have another staff member who's name I fail to remember.
Let me start by saying that just because I have pimples on my face DOES NOT mean I want every single one of them extracted, popped, douched out and left as a carcass. YES it's painful so please DO NOT ridicule me if I flinch and say no more. I don't know about you, but personally I do not enjoy blotches of facial scars.
ALSO, please do not casually bring up some new diets that you know of. Thank you for your blatant concern, but I'll take care of that part. Believe me, I've heard and know just about every single fad diet plans available to the market out there. You just worry about my face and nothing more.
4.5 STARS if possible! I went to Carol's Beauty Salon today after reading reviews from fellow yelpers. The place itself is no frills, but they sure get down to business with beautifying my face. I got Susan and she doesn't speak much English, but Carol came in to do a bit of translating when we were discussing my eyebrows. I even came prepared with a picture of the eyebrows and she did a fantastic job. My facial today included: cleansing, steam, exfoliation, eyebrow tweeze, blackhead/whitehead extraction - that was a bit painful ( but no pain no gain), some sort of electric zapping machine that doesn't feel like much, but promotes skin healing I think, facial massage, hand wrap, mask, and a mini head, neck, shoulder and back massage. I think I was there for 90 minutes or so! I seriously lost track of time.
The facial massage package was $390/10 sessions and you get one facial free. So $390/ 11 sessions! She also has a special for the holidays where you buy the above package and you also get to choose between a few GM Collins full sized products retailed at $45! I think you could choose from sunscreen spf 15, body wash, body lotion, and something else.
Parking was a breeze in the back as there's a free public parking lot that allows you to stay for 2 hours.
Eyelash extensions are only 40$ there! :D Well if you join their 6sessions or 10 sessions (+1 free session) for 40 each session. :)
Such a good deal! Seriously, I based my decision to go here because of the reviews, and I'm super happy with the results. I went with my roommate and she also got her eyelashes done with me. We both had two styles. Mine were long and sparse, while she chose hers shorter, but more dramatic.
I'm sure their facials are really good too. Can't wait to check it out again next month.
I love this place.!! they speak chinese but it's totally okay as the main owner, Carol totally understands what you want.
After reading all the positive reviews, I decided to give Carol a try. I went in for a facial last week. She extracted so many pimples that it left so many scars at first. I couldn't see anyone for four days!! BUT now my skin is glowing~ She asked me if I had anything important the next day to decide how much extraction she can do. So you can tell her to just extract say, the smaller pimples if you have an event in the next 2-3 days or so. Also I usually hate it when estheticians try to sell their products and was very skeptical when Carol sold me an almost full line of skin care products. I bought them because she told me there is a two-week guarantee. And the Collin Paris products were amazing on my skin! I ditched my Jurlique and Dr. Hauschka the next day.
The place, however, is a bit ghetto. You change at the corner of the room behind a shabby divider. There are three beds in one room. When I went, the bed next to me was occupied and the lady kept chatting with her esthetician. I didn't get any rest (unlike other spas I always fall asleep.) The bathroom is outside her saloon, and it's shared with a travel agency.
If you don't care about those things much, I'd recommend this place. I got the smaller package ($39/session for 6 sessions) just to give it a try, and it's looking positive so far. I am looking forward to the eyelash extensions they offer!
Facial includes: eyebrow tweezing, cleansing of the face, blackhead/whitehead removal (PAINFUL), face mask, arm rub, hand wrap, and a short back massage to end your facial. It's always so relaxing that I always tend to doze off...as do the other customers that I can hear by their snores.
I like the products they use and I like how my skin looks brighter after every session... though it's only temporarily.
The only thing that Carol gives a flying f**k about is your $$$. She will try her best to get you to buy her package and her products which honestly you can just buy online for cheaper since she is using C.M Collin. Her strategy is to tell you how dog ugly your skin is and that she can fix you up in no time. She hired this one lady there, I think her name is Jennifer. Jennifer cares way more for the client's skin than Carol will ever do. One time Jennifer was trying to clear out all the black/white head on my skin then Carol interuppted and said, oh all you have to do is her nose (bitch!).
i went there once so i'll continue updating my reviews.
again, it's cheap but im comparing it to my other facials. the thing i loved most about this place was the steam. for some reason my face never got steamed at this other place i used to go to.
also, carol did my face and she extracted this one pimple that never used to go away completely. i look at it now and it's disappearing. score!
the one thing i didn't like so much was that she did answer the phone when she was doing my face. i couldn't see whether or not she washed her hands before touching my face so I have no way of knowing how sterile the environment was.
also, there was this loud ass biznatch next to me, crying about her eyelash extensions. she was being bizarre. again, no way of knowing if it was the customer being weird or if the extensions themselves are weird. i had it done before somewhere else and it stung a lot. maybe i'll get them done here next time i go so that i can compare the results.
i'll probably go again next month to refresh my face (and write about it).
Wow! I read all the positive reviews and really wanted to check this place out. I've been trying to find a good local salon and I think I finally found it! The place is pretty small. There were about 3-4 beds in one room.
Carol was so sweet! The facial was great! They do so much and it's so cheap! They clean, exfoliate and steam your face. Then they extract your white/blackheads, which was REALLY painful. I was crying like a little girl and Carol kept apologizing saying it will be over soon. I kept telling myself, "Beauty hurts!" Afterwards, they used this electric machine for your face. It sounded like she was zapping my face, but it didn't hurt at all. The noise was just a little scary. They put a peel off mask on my face and it felt so cool and minty. They also gave me a hand wrap and massaged my head, neck, back, arms and hands.
While I had the mask on, Cathy came by to apply on the eyelash extensions. She was so nice too! It didn't hurt at all. I think the only time I was tearing up was towards the end. She had to pull the tape off from under my eyes. OMG! The tape was super sticky and it was painful to remove.
The whole experience lasted about 2 hours. I ended up getting the 10 sessions + 1 free session for $400.00. You can use the session toward a facial or eyelash extensions. If you want to do a touch up for your eyelash extensions, you have to go within a month and it will cost $10.00. The facial made my face feel really clean and smooth. The eyelash extensions really opened up my eyes. I plan on coming here at least once a month.
** Update **
I've been back to Carol's twice in one month to get my facial fix. My first facial was mostly as an experiment since I'd purchased the package deal and had nothing to loose. My face was getting kind of dry recently but I still get the occasional pimple and more blackheads than I'm happy with so I knew there was some room for facial improvement. Carol and Kathy were both already occupied so I had another technician who didn't speak much English but Carol filled me in on the necessary commands. I changed behind a screen into a terry cloth towel wrap, slid into the table and was covered with a blanket. My hair was pulled back with a towel headband. Then the facial began. Many layers of product were applied and removed; I lost count of how many times my face was washed and almost fell asleep in the relaxing atmosphere. Mostly my skin needed a ton of moisturizing and Carol threw in a special moisture mask for which really made a difference. They were very liberal with the steam machine which helped for the blackhead extraction. They are not shy about attacking your blemishes or examining your face under the magnifying lens. While my face was getting massaged, my hands enjoyed a lotion application and were slipped into heated pads. Plenty of Asian-style massage, with pressure applied to key points on the face, scalp massage and a vigorous round of back-slapping to wake me up after the facial. My hair looked crazy after the scalp massage so I was glad I brought something to tie the hair back after. I left with slightly sticky skin because of the heavy moisture products my face needed and happily purchased some special serum to quench my skin at home.
My second facial had equal amounts of steaming which I now crave. Thanks to the serum, my face was more moisturized so Carol used a different kind of mask on me. No heated pads on my hands this time but plenty of product application and I even purchased another GM Collin product to add to my skin care plan at home. Carol may ask you to touch her skin for proof of the product's effectiveness and she's not shy about confessing her own age. She's talked me out of foundation and powders for everyday use and encourages me to use only moisturizer and sunscreen. My skin is defiantly looking better and I've scheduled another facial in two more weeks.
PS: Don't forget to tip!
** April, 2008 **
This past Saturday, I had my lashes super-sized at Carol's Beauty Center! Kathy painstakingly applied extensions for over an hour to my super-fair, natural lashes just in time for a formal banquet that night. No more mascara and I've got lovely, disco-length, Betty-Boop lashes. (There was a natural length option as well but a girl's gotta make a statement.) The actual application process was pretty painless. My eyes teared up a bit, but only because the eyelids were getting pulled and poked, not because there was any actual pain. A few times the glue fumes kinda made my eye sting and my leg *did* fall asleep at one point. For the most part, I just sorta napped and zoned out while Kathy worked her magic. No more painful or uncomfortable than getting an eyebrow waxing and totally fabulous results!
I can come back for a touch-up within a month for only $10 and a 6-visit membership is $240 (plus tip). It can be used for facials, eyelash touch ups, massage or bringing a friend.
** Update **
Even if you get a little impatient with them because they are so long, don't remove your lashes yourself. You might pull out some of your real lashes in the process and then you'll have to wait until they grow back before putting more extensions on again. Grr.
A pretty comprehensive facial for the price you pay. However, here's the tricky part: when I first called to ask about the services and the prices, Carol only mentioned the "membership price," which is not really a membership except you are committed to 6 sessions for $39/session or 10 sessions also for $39/session but they throw in one session for free. If I wanted a single facial, it was $65! I kinda felt tricked, but luckily I was able to split the 6 sessions with my friend.
And I've never been back and don't plan to after my three sessions are over!
Carol moved!! I've been going to Carol's for facials for about a year now, and this past weekend was the first time I've been to her new place. It's soooo much nicer than the old place. Every person gets their own room now (I think one of the rooms can fit two). I think she got all new bedding and robes, and you don't have to change behind the ghetto screen anymore! Plus, it no longer looks like someone's apartment, AND she has a bathroom too (no more walking outside to use the bathroom!). However, the new rooms are not completely enclosed. The top maybe 2 feet are open to the outside so you can still hear everything that's going on. If you get facials as a way to relax or relieve stress or if you need to feel pampered, this is not the place for you. You hear every conversation going on outside, random people come into your room looking for supplies, and you smell food when they are eating their lunches! BUT if your sole pupose for getting facials is to improve your skin, then this is a great place. At $39 a session, who can complain? I used to get facials at Burke Williams for over $100 per session with comparable results. I decided that I don't need all those fancy pants spa amenities. My skin is super combination (really oily in the t-zone and really dry everywhere else), and breaks out on occassion. Since I've been coming here it has evened itself out. My skin looks clear and glowy, which I have never had before. They also do a great job on my eyebrows, which is included in the price of the facial. They really take their time on your skin, with each facial lasting 75 to 90 minutes. I'm a happy camper.
It's true that some of their facialists don't speak English. I was talking to the girl that did my facial this last time in my horrible Chinese, and we were commiserating about how hard it is to learn a foreign language. She IS trying to learn, and if you don't use overly complicated words, she will understand you. If Carol knows you'll have a language barrier, she'll always talk to you beforehand to make sure she addresses all of your concerns.
I noticed that they haven't changed their address yet on Yelp, so here it is:
33 E. Valley Blvd. #212
Alhambra, CA 91801
(626) 288-6123
I regret going here because i shouldve listen to these girls on here lol It's so true how carol just cares about $$$. Just the way when you hand her over the cash, her pupils' dilates. She would do anything to make you buy her products. And yes, I did buy her products. I spent like 400 bucks for half membership year & products. I honestly think this place needs better service. Sit down, have a meeting, drink coffee...just anything... do anything to change the service! It's true that Carol loves to nitpick your pimples so that you can feel bad. By making you feel bad, you will buy her products! When you are in your robe, the door is ajar and the wall is so thin that you can hear loud conversations that you cannot get a peace of mind. i hate how she picks up the phone, puts it down and continues massage your face. Talk about germs and getting some serious diseases! i hate the Gm products, they are so expensive and smelly. When you apply it on your face, you will smell like a man. Yes, im serious. it reminds me bath & body works unsexual plant soap. So GM Collin smells like plant & guy's colongue. The smell is so strong that my mom could smell me in the next room. There is better facials than this. So after my first try, I went to *Bellevior by beverly hills* on valley blvd(my friend refeered me). I love thier products because I am actaully pimple free(i used proactive & it never works). Did you know that using acne treatments can also cause pimples. So organic works cuz no crazy chemicals. Bellevior smells feminie & elgant. like rose & honey. best of all. I am pimple free.
I decided to give Carol's Beauty Center a try for the reviews about the eyelash extensions. this place is a NO for EYELASH EXTENSIONS. You get what you pay for, and unfortunately i got sucked into dishing out $240 for 6 sessions. Its what's called membership. 6 sessions of either eyelash extensions or facials. sounds like a good deal no? well .. a single session of eyelash extensions would cost $60 and with the membership it cost about $40 .. not including tip. anyways, once the extensions were in place .. it looked decent, but not full .. something you'd expect for extensions right? a day later i was back at carol's because nearly half of the extensions had fallen off.. and i swear i did not pull them .. if you pull out you extensions ladies, they pull off your real eyelashes as well, so please don't. Carol's assistant redid the extensions for free, but i believe it to be an OKAY job .. like i said .. u get what you pay for. I ended up back in the shop 5 days later for a touch up $10 and once finished .... i didn't see a change!! you know what happened? The assistant CUT MY EYELASHES!!!!! how do i know this?? i went to get bottom extensions at Marie Nails in Beverly Hills and the girl from the shop said that my real eyelashes had been cut. oh my word ... Marie Nails fixed what they cost and added the bottom lashes in a beautiful manner. Btw, Carol said that bottom lashes couldn't be placed .. what the ......... please check my other reviews for lash extensions.
