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Sumi Beauty Salon
Categories: Beauty and Spas Hair Removal Beauty and Spas Skin Care Beauty and Spas Hair Salons Hair Removal, Skin Care, Hair Salons [Edit]
1734 W El Camino RealMountain View, CA 94040
(650) 965-8696
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 10 am - 7 pm
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Good for Kids:
- No
- By Appointment Only:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
157 reviews for Sumi Beauty Salon
157 reviews in English
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Review from Yun C.
8/17/2011
Since I discovered "threading" on Yelp..I've been going to Sumi to get my eyebrows fix monthly (ever wonder why my brows look so hot?!)...it's been almost 4 years now :)
The pluses:
- usually I come out happy with my eyebrows shaped perfectly just for me :)
- the price is reasonable.. it was $8 for eyebrows threading (including shaping) ..now they raised the price to $10
The minuses:
- Sumi is rarely there anymore (I think she's the BEST) ...I like Rosita too..but some other ladies who work there.. often times don't do as good as Sumi and Rosita
- The wait could be long!!!!! Even if you make an appointment... it's not always honored as customers just flock in and wait in line for service!
- Not sure about sanitation....they do handle payments and later go back to work immediately after without hand washing...plus.. the way the threading works.. they uses their lips to hold the thread...so I guess there must be some contamination there.. especially when the threader is sick.
I had haircuts here too twice.. it was cheap..only $15 ..but it's just "basic".. if you only need trimming.. go for it ..otherwise.. naahh!! -
Review from Grannaz A.
Sunnyvale, CA
11/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
I used to be very happy driving here for eye brow when Rosita was here and I would've given them a 4 star if I had written the review then but now she's gone and I've had Sumi do my eye brows for the last 2 times.
I'm writing thus review based on the last 2 appointments with Sumi herself.
Pros:
-soft hands, not much pain compared to other places I've been
-good price, 10$ for eye brows
Cons:
-expect wait when you get appointment from her on the phone, when she says it's not crowded, come in, it's usually ppl waiting still.
-she didn't ask what I wanted so I assumed she looked at my eye brows that were pretty think and knew or remembered that I wanted thick before trimming so thin!
- I asked her to clean it and make them as close to each other as possible, since one was already too thin. But even after the 2 requests I went out and I noticed in the car mirror that one is significantly longer than the other. I come back in and had to wait until next person's hair color was done!!I didn't have problem with waiting but I had problem that I had to come back and when I tell her they are nit the sane length, she asked did you want them the same length? I thought you wanted it like that!!!
I'm all for saving money but not at cost of sacrificing the quality this much so I don't think I'll be coming back again. -
Review from Cat C.
San Jose, CA
Updated - 11/10/2011
I'm sad to see my favorite person, Rozita, no longer there. No one does my brows the way she does. Out of desperation, I've tried one of the newer girls. She over threaded and gave me mismatched brows. :(
... Word on the street: Rozita is now at Aziza's in Palo Alto.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/28/2010
I really loved this place and it pains me to write this review. I'm typing this as I wait for my… Read more »
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Review from Leslie W.
Redwood City, CA
9/11/2011
I tried this place last week based on the Yelp reviews, and the convenience of it being close to work. It was a weekday lunchtime drop-in so I was the only one there. I didn't get the name of the woman who did my threading. She was really nice and really tried to get my brows to my liking. At one point she even asked another more experienced woman for review/advice to get my unruly brows to be more even. I appreciated that but my guess is you can't get that level of attention if other clients are waiting!
I couldn't give this place 3 stars because it really wasn't clean. She put this powder over my eyebrows before she started and there was no hand-washing going on at all. Very casual about the sanitation/cleanliness factor. -
Review from R R.
Mountain View, CA
2/4/2012
I get my eyebrows threaded with Sumi and she does the best eyebrows! I am always so happy when I leave. The bikini waxing can improve but the price for the bikini wax is great.
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Review from Pinkshoes R.
Redwood City, CA
2/1/2012
I wish i could give a zero star! This place just sucks. I went in for waxing and the ladies who did it had no idea how to do waxing. They were gawking and pulling wax strips in all directions. They gooped the hot wax and then were rubbing like cleaning a countertop to get the wax off. I cannot believe the stars they got on Yelp.
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Review from Gardenia Y.
Monterey, CA
1/6/2012
If you want to get your face done correctly, don't say you are not from the area. Otherwise, lumps of hair will be left on your face. Sumi asked me if I live in the area (Los Altos) and I answered "No. I'm here to visit a friend" Big mistake!!!!!. I should have said I moved recently or something like that.
She guessed that I might be a one-time costumer and she completely messed up my face. Hair was left all over my face, eyebrows were not shaped as I wanted them.
The place is not expensive at all and suits my budget but I would rather go somewhere else where I'm not treated as a one-time customer. I mean either way, I'm paying money so why should I get less service?
Next time, I will know what to say when I'm asked this question in a salon. i will say: "YES, I live around!!!!" -
Review from Ashley C.
San Francisco, CA
9/7/2011
I was running errands in the area last week, and needed to get my brows done BADLY. I read the Sumi reviews on yelp and decided to give it a try.
Some of the comments from the other reviewers definitely rang true. There is no hand washing action going on. The eyebrow threaders' customer service is definitely lacking. There is some funny business with the appointments vs. not having appointments - some of the patrons copped a mini 'tude because I didn't have an appointment. I sensed that they have been frustrated by drop-ins from the past so I didn't take it personally.
I was frustrated by the eyebrow stylist's lack of english skills - I wasn't completely sure that she understood that I really only wanted her to clean up my eyebrows (because I always get nervous that they're going to take off too much). I think that she did an OK job but not the best I've ever seen. It was cheap, but I doubt that I would return...even if I was shopping nearby again.
I have been to much nicer places, with much nicer people, with much better skills for the same price...so I'll keep looking for my go-to place. -
Review from Maryam H.
San Mateo, CA
11/6/2011
Rosie was the best at threading!! I've been coming to this shop for a little over a two years. Since Rosie left, I have tried the other ladies on the shop but none compare to Rosie. I thought since Sumi, is the owner she would be the best....boy was I wrong. She is very rough and today after getting my eyebrows and upper lip threaded I woke up with bumps on my face in those areas. I know my skin is not sensitive to the threading since I had been going to Rosie for over two years. I will not be back at this shop!
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Review from jazzy l.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 8/30/2011
I need to keep a tab of how often I come here. Yelp is one way to log my visits.
$10/visit now.Listed in: Asian Facial Places
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/24/2010
EYEBROW THREADING REVIEW
I was referred here by my friend Janel Y.
After reading some of the reviews,… Read more »
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Review from Sparkles Y.
Sunnyvale, CA
12/2/2011
I have been religiously getting my eyebrows done at Sumi's the past few years and I am sad to say I am not going back anymore. Sumi was too rushed to finish up the top of the eyebrow and handed it over to one of the other girls. Needless to say I walked out upset and with mismatched eyebrows. I am still going with 3 stars since my bad experiences have been more recent and I am therefore giving the salon the benefit of the doubt, Maybe they will cleanup their act?
Rosita did a great job in the past and I really like her threading. Anyone know where rosita is at now? -
Review from Katherine L.
San Jose, CA
5/23/2011
The lady told me to get into the seat because she thought i wanted to get my eyebrows done and when i said i wanted to get a brazilian, she said hurry up and go in... why are we wasting time. Uh...??? I walked in the room and she had me lay on the table with a cloth over it that wasnt probably changed... unsanitary?! She proceeded to start the waxing while using a single wooden stick... more unsanitary?!! She was very quick but didnt press down on my skin to ease pain. She seemed to be in such a hurry as she yelled over the wall talking to the other lady. She finished and gave me oil to get the wax off. I had to ask for a tissue to wipe off my hands and stuff... she left me as i cleaned up. While i was in the room they let another girl in on the other side of the cloth wall so she can change... awkward?? I hurry up and left. Good thing they had a cloth for her to cover up.
I used a Groupon but she easily mentioned that tip wasn't included... -
Review from Rachell B.
Parker, CO
Updated - 9/25/2011
Unfortunately, I've now learned the sad truth to Sumi's. Their salon is unsanitary to say the least, which is likely why they can charge so little. I typically only go there for eyebrow threading, but in a rush, I went for a Brazilian wax. Big mistake.
Sumi took me back to a room with no door, just a flimsy curtain and told me to lie down on a thin piece of paper over their treatment bed. She proceeded to pull out a single stick, one cloth strip, and a small bowl of wax with hairs stuck to the side. I was too disgusted to continue so I left. Yuck.
I would not recommend this place. Do yourself a favor and invest a little more to ensure your own health.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/4/2011
Sumi and her staff are stellar. I've been getting my eyebrows threaded there for years and I've… Read more »
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Review from christina b.
Menlo Park, CA
9/18/2011
I went here to get my eye brows threaded when it was only $5. Still a deal at $10 because they do an amazing job. My go to place.
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Review from Julianna P.
Mountain View, CA
5/19/2011
Sumi's great! Mostly because I only live a a few minutes away and she is always there for my eyebrow threading needs and does a great job. I'm really picky about my eyebrows too and have been getting threaded 9 years.
The price can't be beat. -
Review from Miss P.
Sunnyvale, CA
7/29/2011
Sumi is a really small salon. Ever since I discovered them a year ago, I've been a fan of eyebrow threading ever since.
However, every time I go to Sumi's there was only one person who was threading/waxing. And, there was a long line of ladies waiting. Sumi's Salon has gotten really popular, but they need more threaders. And, possibly, more space too.
Update: I had to stop coming here because it has gotten really crowded and it's pointless making an appointment. It's great that Sumi is getting a ton of business, but they're not accommodating for the demand. Plus, the last few times that I went, the work was very poor. Ok, so they're crowded, but they shouldn't rush. Eyebrow threading is now $10, which is still a bargain. -
Review from Nisha P.
Santa Clara, CA
9/22/2011
I've been going to Sumi's for a while. I love Sumi and she only one who does my eyebrows. She's probably the best one there. There was this other chick Rosita (or something), who was there during the summer cause Sumi went on vacation. Basically, Rosita messed up my eyebrows and I was kinda glad Sumi is back.
It's cheap and affordable. And it lasts longer when Sumi does it. -
Review from Chelsea P.
Mountain View, CA
3/24/2011
I just got my eyebrows done at Sumi's and love her work! I found Sumi via Yelp and agree with all the positive ratings. Like another rating said, it's a no frills place, but they do quality threading. Sumi was very professional and kind and got me in and out of there in no time.
Prices are some of the best I've seen for brow shaping-- at just $8 a visit. A great bang for your buck!
I'll definitely be going back to Sumi for my next brow shaping and recommend it hands down to anyone else looking for a quality brow shaping or touch-up! -
Review from Goodbers G.
Mountain View, CA
2/28/2011
This is a no frills place, but Sumi is skilled, fast, and affordable. I'm a newbie to threading, but after reading all her reviews, I decided to take the plunge. I agree: the new brows look cleaner and better. And not painful at all.
Sumi also gave me a haircut. Nice job. Just trimmed up my layers. And both services for under $25!
Thankfully, she's also open on Mondays, when most other places are closed. -
Review from C L.
Laguna, CA
1/31/2011
I love my new brows!
I found Sumi thanks to Yelpers (and thanks for the picture of the back entrance, very helpful!). When I first heard of threading, I literally pictured a needle and thread and never bothered to look more into it. But then I read the reviews on Sumi and did a little more research on threading, I gave Sumi a try and I'm glad I did. I have been to many different people to have my eyebrows waxed, but it has never looked this good. With Sumi doing such a great job at such a great rate ($8!), my search ends here!
Turn right into the driveway right before the Cubby Cuts building, then turn left into the parking lot. Enter in the back. The pictures that are posted here are helpful. -
Review from Stephanie G.
Mountain View, CA
10/18/2011
So here is the truth about Sumi... when she first started threading she was really good. But I guess she got more business & she decided she didn't care about the quality of her work or her customers. I miss coming here because honestly Rozita is one of the best! She quit but you can find her at azizas salon & spa in palo alto! By the way Sumi is so unsanitary she doesn't wash her hands & she uses the same stick when she does brazilian wax.. thats really nasty..
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Review from Ines C.
Palo Alto, CA
12/10/2010
Thank you lady yelpers! A no-nonsense kind of place that knows how to use a spool of thread. At one point, I looked at the gal and she had at least five different threads hanging from her mouth. I was IMPRESSED. You're in and out in ten minutes.
I did pass it a couple of times, not the easiest to spot. And I didn't go to the beloved Sumi that everyone glows about and I still love my brows! A combo = $13. Can't beat that unless you're in Little India in LA.
(One of the reviews here goes on and on about how this place warrants a health inspection visit. If it was a doctor's office or if it was a waxing place, maybe but it's not. The woman uses a cotton ball (clean brows), fresh thread, and an eagle eye.)
Thanks again yelpers! -
Review from Jocelyn T.
Hercules, CA
12/9/2010 1 Check-in Here
I drive the distance for good salon/beauty service. For example, I drive from Daly City to Campbell to get my hair did and usually get my eyebrows waxed in Hercules at Bliss.
Since I work in the Los Altos area and was in need of getting my eyebrows done really bad. I was referred to Sumi by Kristin W. and Anh P. My appointment with Sumi was around 1:15pm and glad I made an appointment because once Sumi started threading my eyebrows, there were 7-8 women waiting for their turn by the time I was done.
Sumi did a wonderful job on my eyebrows and the price is half of what I usually pay at my regular place. This was actually my second experience getting my brows threaded, the first time I had threading done at Stonestone Galleria in SF and did a good job too. I will definitely be coming back here. -
Review from Gargi M.
Palo Alto, CA
8/27/2011
Lack basic courtesies like welcoming you when you arrive, taking your name down...but it's local and it's cheap. I got the threading done.
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Review from Lluvia G.
Mountain View, CA
2/5/2011
Sumi is right around my neighborhood and I feel sooo lucky that they are a short driving (I could walk!) distance away because if I lived far I would have to come see them :)
Their place is small & cute. The ladies there are always helpful and kind. I always schedule my appointments and there is no wait time.
My eyebrows are always PERFECT thanks to Sumi Beauty Salon.
I recommend anybody to them. They are the BEST! -
Review from Grace C.
9/12/2010
I dropped in around 3pm on a Saturday for eyebrow threading. There were no customers inside, so I was helped right away.
The lady who did my eyebrows seemed surly and not in a good mood, and she didn't ask me anything about how I wanted my eyebrows. No smiles, no "how are you doing", nothing. So I hesitantly said "I just want them to match" (because one of my eyebrows is naturally thicker than the other). I wanted to add a "but not too thin - I'd like them natural looking, please" but I didn't because she seemed so surly, like I was bothering her by being there.
BIG MISTAKE. I ended up with too-thin eyebrows. I feel like Pam Anderson.
Maybe it was partially my fault for not saying "I'd like natural looking eyebrows, not Pam Anderson-thin eyebrows"... but seriously, as an eyebrow threader, shouldn't she know better? At least, shouldn't she ask the customer how they'd like their brows to look, rather than being so unapproachable that the customer's afraid to speak up?
Here's the kicker: my polite, afraid little self still tipped her 25%.
I'm glad that eyebrows grow back. -
Review from Minauti D.
Burlingame, CA
7/11/2011
I have only gotten bikini waxes here. It's a fledgling business but they are growing every day. I love the service; they don't mind walk-in's and they are very affordable, which I appreciate it because it allows me to offer a bigger tip!
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Review from Melissa S.
Mountain View, CA
12/30/2010
I went to her once for a waxing. She was so busy answering the phone and trying to cram so many customers in after me that she missed several spots, leaving strips of hair everywhere.
I'm wary of some of these 1-review 5-star ratings. -
Review from Fatima J.
San Francisco, CA
9/24/2010
I found a new threading place in Mountain View and its Sumi's.
Ritu did my threading and she was great. She did everything I asked and she did it the way I liked it.
It surprises me that there was no wait when I walked in. Normally, when the person is good, there is a line out the door to see her. But, I'm not complaining because I love that I can just walk in and be seen.
I will definitely be coming back. -
Review from Richa K.
Mountain View, CA
6/26/2011
One of the rare places for eyebrows. Sumi never gets it wrong. When she is done, I don't have to look at a mirror, never need to correct her.
Sumi and her staff are very personable. Always fit me in. I love their threading and facial services. -
Review from Victoria G.
San Jose, CA
6/16/2010
I'm very cautious about my eyebrows because 1) they're naturally very light and 2) one hair over plucked and I have to draw them in.
I came in around 5pm after work and there was one person getting her eyebrows threaded. I waited for about 2 minutes and then Ritu did my eyebrows. I actually prefer threading to waxing because I love the high arch but waxes are just faster and less painful.
Ritu did an amazing job with my arch and leveled my eyebrows perfectly to match. I'm hooked! -
Review from Ash B.
Mountain View, CA
3/19/2011
After coming here a couple times, on my third or fourth visit, Rosita managed to burn the skin around my eyes while waxing my eyebrows. She had been quite good during my previous visits but on two consecutive occasions she managed to burn parts of my face. I went there another time after the first burn since she told me it was normal after waxing and the burns would disappear in a day or two. The last time I was here she managed to scar part of my forehead and area around my eyes. Apparently the wax was too hot. It took almost 10 days for the skin to return to normal and those ten days were not the most pleasant. I would not recommend anyone go here.
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Review from judy n.
7/27/2010 1 Check-in Here
Oh Sumi... How I've missed you! Being in South Florida for so long, and not being able to get quality threading done to my eyebrows, for a really good price... it just made me miss you even more!
you can call and make appointments. caution: they don't always pick up the phone.
The ladies here are so quick, you don't necessarily need to make an appointment. usually when I show up, i'm the only one there, or one person will be in the chair, not long of a wait. the most recent time I came and i was 2 people behind the lady in the chair already, and I still was in and out within 30 minutes.
Fast and Efficient and $13 for eyebrows and lip? awesome. can't beat that! -
Review from Winnie L.
Menlo Park, CA
8/19/2008
I am never coming back to this place again. At the end of an extremely rushed five minute session for which I had waited about an hour, I was BLEEDING from two spots above my left eye and on both corners of my lips. I was wondering why the threading was so painful, but the blood I saw when I opened my eyes explained everything.
I agree with the other reviewer who mentioned that Sumi seems to try to squeeze in more appointments than she can handle. It's one thing if everyone has to wait a bit longer, but completely unacceptable if she rushes so much that she ends up tearing up someone's face. -
Review from Angelica L.
San Jose, CA
12/17/2009
I have been neglecting my yelp for a while, but because I found this amazing Salon because of Yelp, I thought i'd give my 2 cents.
*Threading Review Only*
Homegirl's eyebrows has not been done in a WHILE! So I decided since I do not have time to go all the way to ESSJ to see Kamal (who usually does my eyebrows), i'd have to find someone who is within a 10 minute radius from my work. I was reading all the reviews from Sumi Salon, and I was like.. "these reviews have got to be fake". I wanted to check it out myself, so I went ahead and set up an appointment, and though she was busy she was able to squeeze me in.
*Parking is in the back-- the parking sign is a little easy to miss, but since i used Google street view to see the location, i was able to keep a look out for the parking lot.
*Threading*
When I entered her establishment I thought it was nice, very bright and clean. Not too fancy. While Sumi was threading, i couldn't feel a thing! My usual lady, Kamal, is really good but her threading was a little painful. With Sumi, it felt like she was just grazing my skin. Loved it!
Overall-- They've gain a frequent customer in me. 8 Dollars for eyebrows! Cmon! What really impressed me was not only was she cheap, but she was also quick (it took her about 10 minutes to do my eyebrows, and i'm telling you I have NOT gotten my eyebrows done in a long time.. i was lookin' like a straight caveman! lol)
Anyway, not only was she quick but usually since i'm light skinned, my skin turns red after I get my eyebrows done.. and this time there was no redness whatsoever, i didn't even need her to apply oil or lotion! I had gone to Sumi during my lunch break, so to not having any redness on my face when I got back to work was really nice to have! :)
I'm a little afraid that since Sumi is popular on yelp, that the customer service I received was out of pure luck, hopefully when I come back i'll have the same experience. -
Review from Veronica B.
Campbell, CA
7/16/2009
Welp girls, I finally got threaded and the experience wasn't as scary as I had imagined.. Walked-in on a Saturday and waited about 15-20 minutes. Sumi's assistant worked on my brows. I told her I liked them clean and archy but not too thin. She went for it and the pain was tolerable. Like getting multiple hairs tweezed at once but in a rhythmic fashion.
I know my fullest brow shape potential and perhaps I am too picky but the end result wasn't a five star shape for me. My brows weren't as archy as I like and she took too much off the top of the brow in my opinion. However, the results weren't horrible, just A-OK.
On the bright side, I usually break out after a wax so ladies with sensitive skin, this is the way to go! My skin was just fine days after my threading session. Another perk is the SUPER CHEAP prices. I mean 8 dollars for brows? What I steal!! I usually pay Christine at the Benefit Brow Bar 20 plus 3 dollar tip. The rest of the threading services are dirt cheap as well. I would definitely go back to get my upper lip done. Waxing and tweezing is just too painful! -
Review from Catherine Z.
San Mateo, CA
2/11/2009
I see Sumi on a weekly basis for all my threading needs. She's fast, cheap and very good at what she does! She knows just how obsessed I am with my eyebrows and always takes the extra time to make sure they are as perfectly aligned as humanly possible!
If you're lookiing for a high end boutique with scented candles and soothing music, this is not the place to go. Sumi's Beauty is an in/out kind of place which is perfect for my "on the go" lifestyle.
This place gets pretty busy so I try to make my appointments as early as possible to try to avoid the rush hour madness that hits at 5:00 p.m. -
Review from Esther T.
CA
1/2/2008
She's great- really friendly, flexible, very available.
I got my eyebrows threaded for the first time here.. let me tell you it hurts more than waxing! It was over fairly quickly though, and I was out of there with none of the red puffiness from waxing I normally get.
Definately would go here again! Especially since it's only $8... -
Review from Nancy L.
Berkeley, CA
1/10/2008
Just came back from seeing Sumi. I LOVE MY EYEBROWS. Hallelujah!!!
I made an appointment this morning. Sumi was very flexible about her availability. She is also sooooo kind and listens really well. I described exactly how I like my eyebrows and showed her a picture. She gave me advice on how to grow them and why one eyebrow seemed to be growing differently than the other. After a few minutes of threading, my eyebrows were wonderfully shaped and clean, clean, clean. She's quick and very thorough.
$8 + $2 tip = $10. And she accepts all major credit cards (including American Express).
Note: I've had my eyebrows threaded by others for the last 6 years so, I don't find it painful. I've never had my eyebrows waxed either, so I can't compare the two methods. -
Review from Lola V.
San Francisco, CA
7/13/2008
I heard about threading from my sister. I usually do it the old fashion way with a tweezer. The damn salons places always close at 6 or 7pm. Well I get off of work at those time, so I could never make it.
So, of course I go to yelp and try to find a place that does threading near my work place, and found Sumi. She is locate about 15 mins from work, and she has great reviews, yeah! When I'm not busy at work around mid day, I would leak out and let the receptionist know. I whisper to her I'm going to salon ;-) She giggles ( we are really close).
I figure I might as well get a few things done while I'm here. She does great upper lip threading! I love it.
My eyebrows? Ummm, its alright...it's a little bit too thin for me (which I was not fond of). For my underarms, Sumi gets the wax from the bottom of the shelf and puts it on the table next to me. It seems like she does not wax people often. When she put the wax on, it did not glide on, it felt a little rough. Felt like the wax was old. I like the fact that she threads my under arm after she wax to make sure everything is off.
She is very cheap! $4 upper lip. $8 under arms and $10 for eyebrows.
