Ok, it's a school, so I expected shaky, unsure hands (and I got it), but what in the world is MBA…read moreteaching these students?!?! I paid for a manicure with gel nails and a pedicure. I washed my hands and dried them and she pushed my dry cuticles up with a metal tool (no cuticle cream, cuticle nippers or heating pads like I am accustomed to) then used a Dremel-type rotating tool to sand away what cuticle came up. No lotion massage either (although my friend who was also getting a manicure with gel nails did get a hand massage). The teacher or supervisor only casually glanced over twice and checked nothing. In fact, she left for the day when my pedicure started. I did get a brief massage on my feet, but no cutting back of the cuticle or relief for the ingrown toenail. MBA - your students deserve better from you than this - and the price for a poor job (still limping because two toenails cut to the quick) was about the same as the full-service spa chair mani-pedi I get in Atlanta.

All of the students and staff are very hard working. A great bunch of people who are friendly and…read moremake you feel comfortable. The environment is fun and upbeat. You can tell they are passionate about their craft and eager to learn and practice their skills. They offer many different services at very reasonable prices. Check this place out!

The worst service, irresponsible management, and poor customer service here at Lu Ross! We came to…read morethis academy to find out about the courses and the cost, and the consultant, Ady, showed us the school and invited us to come back the next day to pay the fee, get a full financial support consultation, and sign the documents. However, on the very last day, an hour before the appointment, she canceled the meeting! This is a pig-like attitude! People are working, changing their plans, and taking time off from work for this appointment, and she just cancels it! This lady is completely incompetent and untrained! What is she doing there if she doesn't understand the documents or the academy??!! In the end, she canceled the meetings 2 times!!!! She promised to call back when she had clarified all the details with the administration, but she never called back! She wasn't answering the phone! For two weeks, she simply ignored potential students! Honestly, after this, the academy only evokes disgust with its attitude towards people who actually generate revenue for them! We'll be looking for other academies, but I don't recommend this place if you value your nerves and money!

If you have only been to the old academy in Goleta, you will suspect you have died and gone to…read morebeauty salon heaven the minute you open the large glass door to the gorgeous, large building on Anacapa. I couldn't believe my eyes. This is state-of-the-art facility with high ceilings and industrial exposed tubing on the ceiling. It's modern and shiny with 20 or so stations for hair in the center of the room and a long row of nail stations along the right side. Stairs take you up to the classrooms and treatment room for facials. The old facility was built around the time of the PHF (the SB County loony bin). It was institutional, evoking Suzanne Vega's "Institution Green." The work was always excellent, though. Good product and well-trained students nearly ready to graduate. The prices are unbelievable. I had a "premium" facial with Lauren. It took 65 or so minutes and the sheets on the reclining bed were incredibly soft. The steam felt fantastic. There are no curtains separating the beds and everyone speaks in a whisper, so it's quite peaceful. I have clear skin but it's been about 18 months since my last facial. I have no pimples or skin problems but facials are important for evening out skin tone. For people who need extensive extractions, facials will result in clearer skin. Those who don't hydrate properly with product will also benefit. But I am pretty hydrated (Tatcha cleanser, exfoliator, moisturizer, Erasa Skincare anti-aging serum, and Faces by Liliana toner and eye cream) .So for me, it was ultra hydration plus a radical improvement in skin tone. I am going to go this week, if possible, for a blowout or updo. The hair services are staggeringly inexpensive. A French braid for $11 (long hair) and updo for $26. I wish Gov Hair Product (or French Laundry) had opened this sooner. I will be back regularly until I move back to New York. What a joy! 10 stars! (And Lauren is fantastic!)

Great value and environment. All students and checked by…read moreeducator..am happy to find an affordable option like this. Limit is time and no weekend s. .x x x x x All the same ..

This was seriously the best experience. Rachel and Su my instructors were amazing !!…read more Rachel and Su were so knowledgeable, helpful , supportive , so positive , reassuring and very hands on with my training which meant a lot . The class is all day which sounds a bit intimidating at first but it flys by ! I felt so comfortable with these ladies that it made this class so fun and made all my nerves just float away . They provide lunch for you which is so great cause if your like me you are constantly hungry so that's a nice add on ! I got to work on 3 models and by my last one I was feeling super confident and ready to start my new microblading career thanks to these wonderful ladies and this class ! You get sent home with a work book with alll the info you learned so you can always go back and review it . Also everything you need to work on future clients . Pigments , tools ... Thank you again Rachel and Su you guys made that class such a great experience !

After sending my 1st pic. I was receiving many messages about scheduling an appointment. Come to…read morefind, once I decided I was declined. I was very disappointed

Okay - I took a gamble going here and it did NOT disappoint. I think it might be my new go to spot…read moresince my usual stylist retired. When you walk in, everyone is so excited & just happy to be there. Ok, ok - yes it's a school but it's so legit! I had my hair cut by Shubashini (Lakshmi?). First of all - what a total sweetheart chasing her dreams. She provided the kind of experience that would gain her loyalists for her services. So excited for her! I would pay for just the hair wash cuz that head massage that came with it was phenomenal. Low-key still dreaming of it. She spend adequate time understanding the look I was going for (a LOB) and she gave suggestions based on hair type. I have fine hair so she gave me a long layer to add body. She took her time and cared about getting you a quality cut. After, the cut is checked by a teacher there and you're styled off with a blowout and out you go! Affordable. Ample parking. Excited stylists. Quality experience and somewhere I'd recommend to my friends. Definitely bringing my mom in. For salon services: only available on Thursday & Friday.

My experience at this school was very mixed. I want to start by recognizing the instructors because…read morethey truly made a positive impact on my education. Ms. Silva and Ms. Brooke were amazing teachers who clearly care about their students and love what they do. They created a supportive learning environment and taught us a lot during my time there. I would also like to acknowledge Mr. Alex, who always had great energy and was very helpful. Ms. Danni at the front desk was also always kind and welcoming to students. Unfortunately, my experience with the administration caused me a lot of stress throughout my time at the school. My interactions with the financial aid advisor, Danielle, were often negative and discouraging. There were times when I was struggling financially and trying to communicate honestly about my situation. Instead of feeling supported, I felt like there was little understanding or compassion. For example, when I first enrolled and mentioned that I needed to discuss the monthly payments with my mom because of how expensive it was, I was told by Danielle "this school might not be for you." That comment was very discouraging and set the tone for many of my experiences moving forward. At one point, I was not allowed to attend school for over a week and a couple of days due to a payment issue, even though I had already communicated with danielle the exact date that I would be making my payment. When I did pay, it was nearly about $1,500, but I had already lost valuable time and hours. This situation was very frustrating because students are charged $20 per hour for any time beyond their contracted completion date. Being prevented from attending school caused me to fall behind, and now I am expected to pay for overtime hours that resulted from a situation where I was not allowed to attend, even though I wanted to be there. There was also a time shortly after making that payment when the traffic light at Nordhoff and Tampa was out, causing heavy traffic in the area. This was something that had already been communicated to the school by multiple students. Because of this delay, I arrived late and was sent home, which was extremely frustrating after paying such a large amount to return to school. Additionally, I was once sent home by Ms. Melissa, the night instructor, for not having my book with me. What made the situation more frustrating was that she waited until the end of the lesson to send me home. During that same situation, she claimed that I was falling asleep in class, which was not true. I emailed Jill and asked if the cameras could be reviewed to verify this. I was told the situation would be looked into and that I would receive a response, but I never heard back. Overall, these experiences caused a lot of unnecessary stress and made me feel unsupported during my time at the school. I truly appreciate the instructors who work hard and care about their students, but unfortunately my experience with the administration overshadowed those positives. Because of this, I would not recommend this school.

If you're a fan of the ASMR where the girl in class is playing with your hair or doing your nails -…read morecoming here for your beauty needs is the best! I had SO MUCH FUN. It was like being back in school and your best friend is trying some stuff out on you for funsies. Everyone was chatty and sweet and having a blast. I really needed that energy. And bonus it was affordable! Definitely come here if you want some community vibes and you're willing to be creative with your looks. I'll definitely be back.

I've never taken time to write a not-so-great review on a business before, but unfortunately this…read moreexperience calls for it. I had very reasonable expectations going into Monarch for a haircut/bleach and tone. I've gone to beauty schools for services before, and understand the nature of it as well as the risks. But I've never left one completely dissatisfied. Here's the thing, though- The student did maybe 10% of my cut. The instructor did the remaining 90% And not only did she ignore what I asked for, she botched what she gave me. The photo I showed her is far from the cut I received. It is SO much shorter, the layers are very rough, blunt, and uneven, and the shortest layer is literally unstylable. I explained that I needed enough length to curl daily. I was far more after a little volume and hair health than a full on transformative haircut. If the student had done this, though I'd obviously still be upset about the outcome, I feel it'd have been excusable, and would have understood. I wouldn't be writing this review. But there is no reason whatsoever that a licensed cosmetology instructor should have been so very careless in this situation. I felt there was zero caution exercised, and it was just immediate chopping off major length, no work up to it. So it was too late pretty much instantly. And even the student was visibly jarred upon watching. I voiced that she cut it way too short, and she told me that she left far more length than my photo showed, which frankly felt insulting because it just simply isn't true and anyone with eyes could see that. Not to mention that later on in the appt when her student asked her how much longer she should leave my bleach in after checking me, she didn't even look and said "her hair will tell you." I understand the sentiment, but that's not teaching. That's a disservice to her students whom are paying top dollar to be there. I'm not going to name the student, as she did a very good job on my bleach/tone, and I don't want her name to be associated with a 1-star review. The instructors name was Mrs. Ramirez, who I've come to understand is head cosmotology instructor. It's very unfortunate, because now I'm in a tough spot trying to find a stylist whom can install extensions ASAP as I cannot go to work like this. So I'm going to be out several hundreds of dollars, and several hours of my day (which I have to take off work for) I'm not sure how the other instructors operate, so I can't say to stay away from this place entirely, but I would definitely discourage having Mrs. Ramirez oversee/participate in your services. Her approach is far too lackadasical.

I was throughly impressed with this school and we haven't even enrolled yet! My friends and I…read morebrought our kids to the beach today and we were sitting beside the school. Nick (one of the surf instructors) was in the water and was very friendly. He helped my kids and several others learn a few basics about surfing before assisting them in taking waves in. He was patient, kind and incredibly encouraging to each child with a variety of skill levels. I am very excited to enroll as soon as we can because it was such a great experience!

Scheduling/confirming the appointment was a nightmare, but Kip was a great instructor.read more