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WOW Beauty Center
Rating Details »
Categories: Hair Removal, Skin Care [Edit]
Neighborhood: Culver City10836 Washington Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232
(310) 559-1900
- Hours:
Mon-Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Sun. 11:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- By Appointment Only:
- No
91 reviews for WOW Beauty Center
This business is a Yelp Sponsor
4/4/2009
11/4/2009
8/20/2009
7/28/2009
Updated - 11/21/2009
9/3/2009
Updated - 11/15/2009
11/6/2009
8/26/2009
8/6/2009
6/23/2009
6/14/2009
5/27/2009
6/24/2009
4/19/2009
6/12/2009
8/31/2009
7/10/2009
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8/20/2009
8/21/2009
2/3/2009
2/27/2009
6/9/2009
8/31/2009
4/19/2009
4/14/2009
9/3/2009
2/21/2009
8/6/2009
12/24/2008
Updated - 12/29/2008
4/2/2009
11/16/2008
11/21/2008
12/27/2008
1/7/2009
9/4/2008
8/29/2008
1/23/2009
One of the Business' Favorite Reviews What's This?
I got back from WOW a few hours ago and I can't stop looking at myself. Why? Because my brows look freaking fabulous, that's why.
I walked over to WOW this afternoon (major bonus, I can walk there) and got my eyebrows threaded. My brows were looking pretty jacked so even though I read such glowing reviews, I assumed my brows were hopeless.
I was immediately sat down with no wait and was asked if I wanted my brows cleaned up or shaped. I said "shaped, if possible." Oh it was possible because 10 minutes later I was rocking some shapely and gorgeous brows.
Oh and here is the best part (better than this place being walkable), it was only $9. Yes, $9 to get my brows in check. I will be back, no questions.
This might not be the prettiest beauty salon in LA, but it sure as hell is a great place to get the job done for the best price. Fortunately, I've been blessed with relatively obedient brows for an Asian, so I've never had to get my eyebrows done. I have a big event on Saturday, though, so I wanted to make sure my brows looked as good as they possibly good.
I didn't know what to expect -- difficulty getting the threader to understand what I wanted, maybe, and lots of pain. When I got to the salon, I was even more apprehensive. It was small and empty, and there was a sign on the window that said property for sale.
My worries couldn't have been more unfounded. I walked in and they saw me immediately. I don't know who did my brows, but she was nice (not much of a talker, but that's fine with me) and she did them in less than 8 minutes. It didn't hurt at all -- it just felt like someone was using an eyebrow razor. When she finished, she dusted me off, charged me $9, and told me to come back in 2 weeks. That was it. The entire trip took 15 minutes (I guess whoever came after me will be happy to see the 1 hour left in the meter). I will definitely be back!
Um, WOW! They did a great job on my eyebrows. I used to go to Ziba because it was close but this is closer to me. It is $2 cheaper than Ziba, too.
I decided to do lip, eyebrow, & chin and it came out to $19. It was quick and neat and I haven't been this happy with my eyebrows in a loooong time! And the best part is that I told the threader (threadist? threadess?) that I wanted the shape the same but not too thin. She took my unhelpful instructions and did an awesome job. It's my new fave!!!!
I had neglected my poor brows for far too long
And I don't do that
My budget wouldn't allow the unadmitted amount I was spending to get them threaded at Gloss nails
And my plucking wasn't doing the job
And of course yelp helps me find the right place to replace my old threader on my current budget
Wow is a place you go to get threading done
Don't go here for a facial
Don't go here for anything but brow threading
9 bucks and you will leave with immaculately clean well shaped brows in a matter of minutes
They accept credit cards and parking is a breeze (just so all you folks know there is unrestricted non metered parking on the side streets off of Washington)
The ladies can be a bit unwelcoming when you first walk in. But still great service and threading.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/9/2008
my first threading hurt a little more than I expected, but it wasn't so bad (this may be because I… Read more »
I've been here three times..
The first time I went, I showed up right at 10 AM when they were supposed to open. I was surprised to find that no one was there yet! They had the hours on the door and they were supposed to open at 10 that day. It wasn't a holiday, so I decided to wait in my car. Finally, at 10:30, I noticed that the "Open" sign was lit up and the blinds were open. Good thing I had nothing important to do that day. Anyways, I didn't get her name, but she did a GREAT job on my eyebrows -- defined my natural arch and cleaned up any unwanted hairs, etc.
The second time I went, I was helped by another woman. I guess I have uneven eyebrows, so in an effort to make them perfectly symmetrical, she made them both sort of thin. I hate thin eyebrows... but the shape was good.
It seems my eyebrows are getting progressively worse with every time I go here. The third time, another woman did my eyebrows and.... I don't know what happened. One eyebrows was thin, but OKAY. The other was... jagged, like she accidentally put the arch in the middle, then arched it in its natural place.
I would go here again, in hopes of getting helped by that first woman. I wish I knew their names, but I'm too timid to ask.
I do like that parking is easy -- the meters in front are almost always open. No appointment is necessary and there is usually no wait.
I agree with another Yelper who said that it just got progressively worse the more I go here. Last time I was semi-traumatized by the ripping of the skin on my face and the pain! I don't know, maybe I'm just used to my favorite threading place in San Diego where they are gentle! But I went here again and was not happy...again. 2nd time I said just a clean up, no shaping. I had grown them out and actually filled in one spot that had been sparse for awhile. Well, my brows are way thinner than ever and the sparse area is sparse yet again. Sorry, never going here again, will try somewhere new.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/3/2009
I give them 3.5 stars.
I went in and I was the only one there on a Saturday morning. It took awhile… Read more »
Go here for fast and clean threading, as well as to support worker organizing. WOW Beauty Center was started by women who used to work at Ziba. They left their workplace after organizing against exploitation, e.g. Ziba paid workers as little as $4/hr.
Thanks to the fabulous Yelping Ladies out there who shared their wisdom about WOW! I first heard about threading as an alternative to hair removal from my Punjabi college roommate. I love how precise it is and how the skin feels afterward. I went to get my brows done yesterday by a lady named Bishnu and was very pleased! The place was a bit on the hot-side (they really need to have the AC running during the summertime), but it only took a few minutes and then I was on my way.
Threading is a cost-friendly way to remove hair and lot less icky than waxing. I'll be going back to WOW the next time my eyebrows get unruly.
I went there today for the first time to get my eyebrows threaded.
I chose it because the reviews were good and it was pretty close by to my place.
I payed $14 total (9 for eyebrows, 5 for lip).
Staff was friendly and service was quick.
My eyebrows look fine, I would just say that they're average. I'll go back there if I'm to lazy to walk from UCLA to Vinita's (i LOVE vinita's).
WOW gets an extra star for their Sunday hours - a true convenience for working people who did not realize until Saturday evening how much one's eyebrows were romancing Brooke Shields of the 80s with a touch of Frida Kahlo.Crisis averted on Sunday at WOW! The $9 price is great as well.
(For the record my eyebrows aren't THAT bushy - in fact they are really thin/fine.... Which means GAME OVAAH when I start to lose my arch from regrowth. And I suppose when anyone stands 2 inches from a mirror, they will see all kinds of things wrong with their eyebrows... or face in general. Anyways, threading is great for me because the stylists can recapture my arch very easily, without covering up the area and yanking off skin -ie.. waxing....ugh).
WOW is very bare bones, and not as decorated as Vinta's (love them!), but you will be in and out of here very quickly - MUCH faster than on a weekend in Westwood. I have been a walk-in every time, and they always took me instantly. The staff are really nice and listen to my eyebrow requests, and then fully perform. I have always been happy with their work!
I've been getting threading done for over 7 years... all over CA and the east coast too. WOW is definitely does a good salon to visit, so it's on my list of threading spots that give great service.
Like a lot of others I made a trip to WOW Beauty Center based on these Yelp reviews and I have to say Wow! I would have given them 5 stars but since I have nothing to compare them too I gave them 4 (you'll read why below).
I've always had well behaved eyebrows (no weird brows here) so I've never, repeat never had an waxing or threading done, just my own tweezer work. i decided to get my brows done for the first time to get a new look and did my research before making the move.
I let my eyebrows go un-groomed for 3 weeks to make sure I got more bang for my buck... It drove me crazy not to pluck but my trip to WOW made my first time worth the wait.
I came in on a Saturday around 4pm greeted with plenty of metered (& 30 minute) parking. I was the only customer when I walked in and made sure I told them it was my first time (after reading other reviews). Uma smiled and led me to a chair, wiped down my brows and after showing me how to place my hands got quickly to work. After finishing the first brow she checked in to make sure I was doing okay with the experience. In a flash she was finished and handed me a mirror to show off her handy work. After getting my seal of approval she wiped them down with astringent and I was ready to be on my way. $12 later ($9 brows & $3 tip) I was off with their business card with Uma's name and days/hours for my next trip there along with a great a pair of great looking eyebrows.
As far as decor I'm down with the back to basics look. I'm happy not having to foot the costs for unnecessary overhead coming back on my bill.
Payal done did up my brows. And I likes it. I usually get my brows done when I visit home; SF. Brows are a very serious deal. They are the sign language of the face. If your brows are fucked up or aren't done right you might as well be a mime with no hands. Hmmmm. Anyway, service was super fast under 10 minutes for brows, lip and chin. She was really nice and did quality job and it was all for under $20.
I'm comin back fer sure! They accept Visa and Mastercard and do facials and waxing.
I'm not one to give away 5 stars easily. And I kind of like a little pain....
I have been getting my eyebrows waxed for years. The immediacy of "RIIIIIIIIIIIIIP" and a few "pluck pluck pluck" was fine with me. Yeah, my eyebrows were red for hours. Yeah, residual residue of the wax was on my face for a while. Yeah, it felt like someone tried to skin me alive, but I'm a waxer and I was "used" to it.
My sister took me to Wow early June to get my eyebrows done, she had been there a few times and said how great they were. I was chicken, I figured this would hurt as much as waxing, but for a longer period of time. WRONG. The only thing no one warned me about was when they asked me to hold my forehead and eyelashes so they could get underneath that my eyes would water tremendously. I knew that first trip I would never again go back to waxing... Well, my eyebrows anyway.
I went again Monday on my lunch hour. In and out in 5 minutes, $9 for a perfect job, and no one at work had any idea I had done anything because my eyebrows weren't glowing red. GO!
After Ziba ruined my eyebrows, I decided to give the poor things 3 weeks to grow out and promised myself I'd try somewhere new.
I'm so glad I did. The woman who did my brows yesterday was amazing. She evened them out, reshaped and cleaned them up. They look thicker than they have in over a year! AND they charge $2 less than Ziba does!!
I am ecstatic to be a customer at WOW Beauty Center! So happy to have found it.
I was in and out in about 5 minutes. Parking was EASY.
(Roman: You owe me $5 now!)
I came here during my lunch break to get my arms waxed. I called ahead just to make sure I had an appt.
I was surprised how far out this place is on Washington Blvd. I thought it would be closer to Sony Studios, but its waaaaay past that.
You have to park on the street - but if you're lucky you can get the 30 mins parking spot right outside their store.
Its a simple salon with station chairs and some Indian clothing in the back. The waxing room is a basic room but a little narrow- but it serves its purpose. I had my appt with Uma, she was a really nice lady and was very quick. I hate it when the person who waxes doesn't put enough lotion on the waxed area to get rid of all the wax - but Uma didn't do that and I was sticky-free and on my way back to work in 30 mins.
You always think a title written in superlatives is destined to disappoint. Nothing could be further from the truth at WOW's Beauty Center.
First, here are some relevant facts- if unwaxed, unplucked, or unthreaded I quickly degenerate into a first cousin of the now extinct Neanderthal. I've been plucking since I was 12 and my eyebrows have weathered every fashion faux pas possible. After years of beauty parlor waxing that left me looking like a chola from East L.A. (not a problem if that's the look you're going for) I decided my unsteady hands had a better chance of success. Take a look at my sad results (pic page)...
But, beauty is a journey over the bumps in the road, and the falls through the car-sized potholes. No really... it is a journey to WOW for me. I'm closer to Pasadena but I still haven't found a real eyebrow artist there. So, I accept the 1 hr + drive across the San Gabriel Valley to Wow's in Culver City in order to find eyebrow beauty perfection. It annoys me that I never have a wait time, that my session takes no more than 15 minutes, and that it's only $9. Why? Because after going through insane traffic and horrible roads for more than an hour, THIS should be painful and expensive- it should feel like a doctor's visit. Make me think my money is working as I sit wondering what could be taking so long. But no, they don't even have the decency to charge me what my beauty journey deserves. Instead, I make an unspectacular exit (with my fantastic brows), pathetically primp in front of my car's rearview mirror and think "Yes, this was totally worth it!"
From one former unibrow sister to another, I implore you to make that journey to WOW. You cannot go wrong with Indira or her sister Uma- they are true artists. If you are like me, and are too far away to even make a monthly visit, go at least once to fix or shape brows that will make YOU look fantastic, then try and maintain them.
Tip: Maintaining your brows on your own will require extra work. Pluck all the new growth daily. This will allow you to maintain the original shape, or else you will soon be overgrown and not be able to tell the new growth from the original brow shape. Then brush your eyebrow hair in the direction of growth. Trim hair that goes beyond the brow shape.
If you really can't get yourself to make the trip: 1) Look for a stylist who has great, natural looking brows. Even if a stylist has pretty brows, if her eyebrows are naturally thin, she will probably not know how to shape YOURS and will instead try to make yours an imitation of hers.
2) Look for a Middle Eastern or Indian stylist. These gals have naturally large brows. They personally know what it takes to create a beautiful brow shape. (Not all, but most). Indira and Uma are from Nepal- close enough. :)
Enjoy!
Geraldine
WOW Beauty Center.
My first impression of the place: WOW, what a B*tch!
I've gone to maybe more than 20 threading salons in my life in 4 different countries but ive NEVER been treated as how I've been treated at Wow. The last lady who did my eyebrows a month ago was all the way in milwaukee.. and she made it extremely thin. Thus, i decided to grow it out, and explained to the sympathetic looking lady in WOW that I want it just a little less thin than the original.
When she was done, she said that I needed to come back in 2 weeks for a cleaning... one eyebrow was really messy and one was perfectly clean. She said the reason she did that was because she wanted to match the arch on both eyebrows and because I had hair missing in some places; she didnt remove some of them.
I glanced at my eyebrows again, and it was just so uneven ... and i think (based on my experience with 20+ other eyebrow salons) the best thread artists can compromise between a beautiful shape/training the shape and a clean eyebrow. right? some people have done it before on my impossible eyebrows.
however, while i told her to just clean up the side of the arch , she was like, "but you cannot remove that, it will be uneven" --- thinking i asked her to remove the arch. i explained nicely once more and she went back to working on it, cleaning it up and removing the arch completely. After which she was like, "i told you so, blah blah blah"
it didn't look as messy anymore, but: 1) i did warn her my eyebrows were uneven 2) i DID want to keep the arch, but clean up the surrounding areas. She just totally misunderstood and kept saying that I made her do it. I said , "i understand what you did at first [leave hair to grow it out more], but i asked if you could clean the area next to the arch, not remove it"
To which she quickly rebutted "Whatever."
I wasnt even being unpleasant (and i can be), -- on the contrary, I was being very polite to her as I explained my side. While she may have initially wanted the best for my eyebrows, she just didnt care much about customer service. Language barrier or not, she was just plain rude.
I still gave her tip, btw, only to let her know I had no ill feelings (only a really bad review coming up) about our little "miscommunication".
I trust yelpers and their reviews and always come to the highest rated stores etc & give those places high scores myself. This time, I maybe picked the wrong day to have been done by WOW-employee-on-a-bad-day. Too bad. They just lost another customer.
ps. $9 for me is a tad expensive. ive had better service in carson for $6. In Manila, Philippines, they're less than $2 and the work is FANTASTIC & people are 10x friendlier. So there.
Was good the first time I went but totally mess up my brows today :(. I went cause I'm going to be in my cousin's wedding! I hope enough makeup can fix this :(
0
11
This is a decent place. Not much to talk about in terms of decor, but it is clean and affordable.
I am a big fan of eyebrow threading, but differently from many reviewers, it is not important to me that the job is done quickly. Instead, what I want is attention to detail, which means my brows will look even when the job is finished.
I have tried different people at this place, and the one I recommend is Bishnu. I now prefer to wait for her when I walk in and she is with a client.
I went here today based on the yelp reviews. I guess I didn't read carefully enough and went in to get an eyebrow wax. I was informed that they don't do that, and that they only do threading. I asked about why it was better than waxing. She said it was less painful, didn't leave red marks, and lasted longer. I figured since I was there, I might as well try it. Uma was really great. She asked how I was doing since it was my first time, and even went back and got some hairs she had missed. The place is clean and bare bones--I'm also down for not paying overhead for some scones and drinks. I'm not there for that. $9 + tip and in and out quickly. I'm definitely coming back.
I know I swore allegiance to Billion Dollar Brows, but since the economic meltdown, I just had to find a cheap, no-frills place that did without the extra perks like a facial massage and brow powder. I mean, you don't *really* need those extras when you just want your brows to look sculpted, right? And $9 vs. $35? No contest.
I read the reviews on here and decided to go in on a Saturday. Even on a Saturday, available street parking in this area is plentiful, and you won't need to feed the meter a ton, since you're in and out in record time. Yes, even without an appointment, the max you'll be here is 20 minutes. Even that might be pushing it.
Like everyone else says, these women are amazing. I've only gotten my brows done here, so I can't vouch for their other services, but I will be going back here as long as they are in business. Indira is my favorite, but you will definitely have beautiful brows with anyone here. Dare I say it, my brows look even better now than when I was getting them done in Beverly Hills.
Thanks for leading me to this hidden gem, yelpers! I tried this place for the first time last Sunday. I believe Uma was the lady that helped me. She is a woman of very few words. She barely said anything to me except to tell me to put my hands on my forehead and eyelid. I didn't understand what she meant so she had to show me. And she mumbled "$9" at the cash register. I couldn't hear her so I had to ask for her to repeat herself.
There was virtually no pain and my eyebrows were very clean afterwards. She did miss a couple stray hairs though. She wasn't the warmest or friendliest there so I'd like to try someone else next time. I'm so pleased with the threading that I think I may go for a full facial threading next time!
Payal shapes my eyebrows as well as the $30 chic salon lady. I prefer having my eyebrows threaded because the threading ladies are able to keep them thicker.
I also had my legs waxed here. The lady was a bit slow, but thorough.
I've been there twice. The first time I would have given it a 5 star rating, my eyebrows never looked sooo good. BUT I went back after it grew out because I was so satisfied and then AND THEN...I walked out with crocked, shapeless, thin eyebrows!! Can a girl get some consistency here, stop playing with my emotions! I was so excited about this place, I was willing to drive all the way to Culver City!
I usually don't do much with my eyebrows besides some minor plucking but I decided that I needed some shaping done by a professional. I went to WOW as I was in the area visiting a client and had my eyebrows completely done by Uma. I didn't like it a first as I think she tends to remove MORE rather than LESS but after a few days they look fabulous! If you are looking for just a minor trim, then definitely speak up.
The store is definitely a no-frills environment, but very clean and the women working there are very professional. I believe you can make an appointment but I was able to walk in without.
VERY happy to have found this place (thanks to Yelp!).
It had been a few years since my last threading experience (it seemed like a needless indulgence when I was a full time student). I'd always gone to another local place, but decided to check it out on Yelp before going back. Seems prices at that place have increased and service has suffered....soooo off to WOW I went.
I walked in without an appointment and there was no wait at all! I asked for and received just a cleanup. My threader (sorry, didn't catch her name) offered me the mirror after she'd finished eyebrow #1 so I could approve of her work. It was quick and almost painless! I will definitely be back.
Added bonus: street parking was very easy to come by.
I absolutely love Indira and her work. She is clean, detailed, fast, and reasonable. I have been going to her for years now, even from before she opened WOW! with her partners. I also love to support this woman based business.
I love how she shapes my eyebrows!
I went here for the first time today. Eyebrow maintenance is no joke, and I was so nervous about first time threading that I brought my boyfriend with me and made him wait outside (for like, you know, moral support?). Anyway, my fears were ill founded. As Uma led me from the front desk to a chair, I said "It's my first time! I'm really nervous!" and she laughed and said, "Not me!" (Flashbacks to other experiences, anyone?) Overall, she was nice and very professional (not much awkward small talk, which I definitely appreciate anytime another person gets that close to my face), and even went back to get a stray hair she had missed when she thought she had finished. Point: She tamed my unruly brows into submission, and they have never in my life looked better.
Overall, the experience was quick, cheap, and almost entirely painless (just tiny pinches-- kid stuff-- and the redness faded in about an hour). It was around 3:00 p.m. on a Saturday, and I was in and out in about 5 minutes, without an appointment. Probably shouldn't have even fed the meter, but God was watching.
I first started going to Wow about two months ago. I hated waxing my eyebrows. I always had a discoloration around my eyebrows for about a week which was a slight nuisance. So I decided to try threading.
I was ecstatic about the great job Payal did on my eyebrows. I told her that I was new to threading and she was really sweet about it.
The second time I went in Payal was kind blegh with her attitude, but she did a great job on my eyebrows so I can't really complain. During this visit I also got waxed by Uma. She is such a sweetheart! She doesn't double dip, she's virtually painless. I've had some painful waxes before...whew just thinking about them makes me cringe.
I just got my eyebrows done by Uma today. Looking good!
I recently suggested Wow to a friend of mine. She's going soon, I'll update on her experience.
WOW indeed, you really hit the nail on the head with this one yelpers!
I really liked my regular eyebrow waxing lady but since I moved jobs she is just too far away. I decided to try and find a new place near me and for this I of course turned to Yelp. I am always really nervous about getting my eyebrows done, Im terrified that one day a hand will slip and take my eyebrow with it, but I figured it 40+ people left the salon happy then I was ok. I went after work one night and there was no wait. Payal took me right away and I asked her to leave them a little thicker with softer edges and I love what she did! I don't like that hard edge myself and she did a great job doing exactly what I asked for. While I was there she also cleaned up my side burns. She was far more meticulous than the other threading place I use to go to. And the price can't be beat! I am a fan!!!!
WOW-ow
Waxed, I did. Brazilian style.
My eyebrows threaded, too.
As good as they get, until someone shows me differently.
$40 for both.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/10/2008
She said, "Four tee dollars".
I said, "Forty?"
She said "No, Fourteen! Hee hee hee."
I said, "Well,… Read more »
They did a fabulous job with my brows and that's really all you need to know.
Really.
The name isn't just incredibly cute. WOW really is wow! These ladies are absolutely amazing! Better than Vinita's in Westwood (where I was a long-time customer until I experienced WOW), way better than Ziba, its inconsistency and unethical working conditions.
Indira made my day! My eyebrows are like work of art right now. And she was so sweet and patient with me. I've gotten my eyebrows threaded tons of times now, but I still tear up like a baby whose mummy forgot to use the "no tears" shampoo. Some threaders are too much in a rush to give you a minute. Indira laughed a bit and was kind enough to wait while I collected my senses. She was also very gentle, which I think is incredibly important. Sometimes, threaders can be really rough and cut your skin with the thread, especially when they're working too fast, and you walk out with these tiny micro-cuts under your eyebrows where they've been worked a little too hard. My skin is very sensitive, she finished in 15 minutes and I left cut-free, which has me even more convinced that Indira is magical.
Also, the prices are great! $14 for eyebrows and upper-lip threading. And there is so much parking on that stretch of Washington Blvd., it's amazing. On a Sunday, you don't even have to feed the meters! High five!
Bottom line: Go to WOW and be WOWed! Don't trust your brows with anyone else! I don't!
This review has two parts: one for Threading, one for Facial. I hate to lower my overall stars for the salon but if you read my review you'll understand. If they offer both, and I do both, I gotta review both!
THREADING: FIVE STARS!!!!
I am a *big* fan of the threading. I've never done it before and Bishnu did a great job - I'm very happy with my brows. They are the best shape I've ever had and look awesome. I have only one concern. When I have my brows waxed they wipe them down first with oil, makeup remover, or cleanser. But at WOW, Bishnu just started in with the thread. When she finished she handed me a pad with something moist on it for me to wipe my brows.
I then went against my better judgement and had a facial. This is why the review has such low stars.
FACIAL: ONE STAR
I have had plenty of facials over the years and I'm old enough (and wise enough) to know a facial is not a car-wash; one does not simply wet, lather, rinse, scrub, extract, mask, and moisturize. There are nuances to skin that need to be attended to, and the skin is a living thing; if someone is reacting to the treatment, it is the skin care professional's job to respond and act appropriately. We are in your care and trust you are educated enough to care for our skin, not just wash it.
Although she was very sweet, Uma is not a skincare professional. I have sensitive skin and made sure to point that out to her. When I have a facial, I order a basic facial with just a moisture mask. This was what she described. I asked what products were used (Dermologica) and what the process was so I could be sure there would be nothing my skin would react to (no peels, no strange oils or other products). Then she led me to a small room and stood there while I changed into the tube-top terry robe. There was no card filled out (for questions, allergies, etc) and she did not ask me anything. I should have seen this as a sign. There was no music either.
She didn't mention gommage as part of the process and I had such a severe reaction that I went home red and puffy. Gommage is basically a 15 minute massage with scrubby beads meant to exfoliate. But this was way too much scrubbing for sensitive skin! I mentioned it was stinging and she giggled nervously and kept going. I didn't push her to stop, and I don't think she understood (English second language). Again, my fault.
I left swollen and red and sore. I drank tons of water. That night, some 6 hours later, I was still sore and called my skin care professional. She said I should NEVER have gommage, people with sensitive skin should leave that out of a facial. She gave me a course of a honey mask for 20 minutes, blotted off with warm water and a microfiber towel, then an oatmeal mask for 20 minutes, again with the soft towel.
I have never had a reaction like this before. Generally when I mention I'm sensitive, people leave the appropriate steps out and I leave happy. I think Uma is just on auto-pilot. Sweet girl, she just needs more variety of experience and learning in an environment where she can learn from other skin care professionals which I don't think she is likely to get at this salon.
I paid $61 for these two treatments (that was including tips). Cheap, but not a good deal. I would return for brows, but not for a facial.
I had my first eyebrow threading done here last week and have to say it was great. A nice clean shop, easy parking on the street, VERY nice staff and I called that morning for a quick appointment!
I have been cursed with thin brows that will not arch since they are kind of straight. But with the threading she was able to shape them exactly like I wanted AND she explained that my brows are straight and thin. She showed me what she was going to do before starting and explained how much of a arch I could have with my shape (brows/face).
All in all a great experience. I took a motrin before I came but I didn't find it painful at all. Even better no swelling like when I get them waxed because of my skin sensitivity.
I am a convert and plan to go back to get my brows done again! You just can't beat the price or the professional staff at the shop!
I really want to like this place. It's cheap, the reviews are all amazing and the staff is super friendly......here comes the but..............buuuuuut, I received the worst Brazilian wax of my life there! It took about 10 minutes and when I got home WOW I looked and there were random patches of hair everywhere, I looked like a work of abstract art! I headed straight for the shower to finish the job............ok, this is not me being picky or high-maintainance, it was suuuuuuper obvious, it even made my fiancee laugh without me mentioning anything about the botched job.
I might go back, maybe I just got someone inexperienced or in a rush. The reviews all rave about their services and for my wax to have been soooo horribly off seems like an anomoly. Although most of the reviews on here refer to eyebrow not bikini jobs.
Their prices are extremely affordable, only $30 for a Brazilian wax, I've seen it up to $60 at some places! All I say is go at your own risk...
I am angry at myself for not getting the name of the woman who worked on me today.
She did a great job! Full facial threading. Yes I said full. I was feeling a bit shaggy and down and I needed to clear my mind.
At first I was a bit skeptical of all the high ratings but, yelpers know what they are talking about when it comes to this place.
I felt comfortable, which is weird because whenever I do anything girly I always feel the complete opposite. I am never going anywhere else as long as this place exist.
WOW got me. WOW got me bad. And every single little hair too!
I have been unemployed for about a month now and my normal beauty routine has taken a momentary pause. No more getting pedi's every two weeks, no more massages, no more eyebrows. *sigh* A very sad life for a very poor girl (literally).
Although I have been watching my money very carefully, I knew that I needed to be presentable. I didn't want my unkempt brows to be the center of attention and I knew something MUST be done.
Luckily, my friend told me about her girl, Indria, whom she has been going to for years. She opened shop in Culver City moving from the Westside Pavillion and charges $9 for threading your brows. Compared to my normal $35, this was an absolute steal!
I walked in Friday afternoon and came out with a new set of beautiful brows and a nice looking upper lip. :p Grand total of $14(w/o tip)!!!
Although I have no job, no money, I can say I have a great set of brows to walk my way into employment!!! :)
WOW is clean, low-key, and they do great work.
While it lacks the more decorated ambiance of Vinita's (I only know the La Cienega branch), they make up for it in friendliness and equal attention to detail. I've had my eyebrows done here twice, and been given a lovely shape both times.
The prices are very reasonable, and the parking is easy. Wow!
