Yesterday I attended a Garden/Tea Party at the home of perfumer Laurie Stern, invited by Nina. I…read morehad met Laurie a few months ago at a sculpture exhibit at Nina's where the work of a friend was being exhibited. Laurie had brought a sample of a new perfume which she was trying to name and was inviting suggestions. It smelled lovely. Her perfumes are cruelty and phthalate free. She creates bath salts and other means of pampering oneself. I won't attempt to describe her offerings. You can check out her website for details. http://www.purrfumery.com/ The weather was cooperative yesterday and we were able to admire Laurie's wares, lovely jewelery by her colleague, Amy, and wander around Laurie's garden, which was designed by her landscape architect husband and is full of whimsy. In addition to making ourselves tea, we nibbled on homemade chocolate truffles, tiny cookies and beautifully frosted cupcakes ranging from full size to teeny tiny. I bought 3 large jars of bath salts in different scents and a little bottle of the newly named perfume, Firever Young. Laurie threw in a silken bag containing a Jasmine-Orange Blossom Crème perfume sample and a tiny Organic Victorian hydrosol. After ascertaining I had a cat, she threw in a small muslin bag of catnip for Harry. Laurie probably won't ply you w/ tea and sweet stuff to eat, but if you or someone you know enjoys scents and pampering, you can contact her about buying some of her creations. And if you get on her mailing list you could be invited to her next Garden Party.

After running across a couple of compelling blog reviews of Velvet and Sweet Pea, I visited the…read morewebsite and ordered a few samples. I was curious, but not holding my breath - while I like the idea of natural perfumes, I never found one that particularly appealed to me and had assumed that synthetics had improved upon nature. All this changed when the samples arrived. Fleur Caramel, Bed of Roses, Narcissus Poetica, Honey, and more... Gorgeous, complex, magical, and living scents. Fleur Caramel reminds me of a more beautiful and rare distant cousin of Guerlain's L'Heure Bleue. Narcissus Poetica is unusual - chasing each haunting note as it develops into something else. Do not expect Velvet and Sweetepa to have the sillage of synthetics or to last as long. These are not linear scents; they are rich and mysterious, and remain that remain close to the skin until they disappear. I had the opportunity to meet the amazingly nice Laurie Stern in person at the LAFragranceSalon in Santa Monica. It was easy to spot her Victorian inspired table - covered with purple velvet, silk, lace, and little fans with kitties on them. Each scent was wrapped in a handmade pouch our package - at once exquisite and whimsical - totally expressing Laurie's great love and enthusiasm for what she believes and makes. I am a definite convert!

They did finally get back to us - the customer service has been great since then…read more They do stand behind their products and they have very nice items for sale - high quality.

I've been dreaming of taking an adventure to Big Sur for years now. Friends always paint an image…read moreof it's majestic beauty and the serenity that you feel when immersed in such expansive nature, and I've just been holding out for the perfect moment to drive out there and surrender myself to the beauty of the Sur. I'm planning on making that dream a reality soon, but in the meantime - I've been conjuring up my own Big Sur wonderland in my room - with Juniper Ridge's Big Sur room spray and their all natural juniper and cedar incense. Juniper Ridge first got started at the Berkeley Farmers Market in 1998 and now you can find them all across the country. They create all of their unique and beautiful wildcrafted products from native western plants and tree trimmings, which can be found in the mountains all the way from California to Oregon to Nevada and Arizona. The plants that they do harvest actually benefit from the pruning and even experience new growth - and they offer a lifetime full guarantee on all of their products. If you don't dig them - just let them know and they'll reimburse you. But it's hard not to bask and revel in the sweet nurturing smell of the California mountains. From soap made from California Bay Laurel and Western Juniper \to incense from from Pinon Pine, Douglas Fir, and Port Orford Cedar to jams from Wild Huckleberries - Juniper Ridge creates phenomenal products from the essence of wild plants. They preserve nature's magic by doing so with care and passion, not to mention that 10% of their profits are donated to defending western wilderness. Trust.

True Colors is a quiet, relaxing oasis of a salon, where Owner and Stylist Darla Rios will work…read moremagic on your hair. The shop is bathed in cool and soothing colors; it's an intimate space that make you want to lounge away the day. And the service is wonderful. Darla is great at relaxers and perms, ensuring you're comfortable during the process and more than satisfied with the results. Plus, she's warm, funny and a generous soul. I should know. She's been doing my hair for more than 20 years.

I have been Going to True Colors for over a decade and Talk about a relaxing experience. The shop…read morein itself is beautifully decorated and elegant But it's Darla who Not only Does amazing Hair but creates a beautiful atmosphere as well. I love how warm and welcoming she is, You feel like family here... Darla is sweet in nature & shows Genuine interest In her clients. The Salon is always Clean, & Never smells of Strong Chemicals, which is one of the first things I noticed my first time through Those Doors and I haven't Been to another Salon Since. Just recently She Gave me a haircut & Color That I'm Absolutely THRILLED about! This place is like going to an upscale salon without having to pay Upscale prices. Highly Recommend :)

I've been meaning to stop by for a while now, and finally got to yesterday. I arrived at the store…read moreyesterday afternoon, but there was a "Will Be Back" sign posted on the door, so I went to the bakery across the street to kill time. After 15 minutes, the owner came back, and I headed in. I went in to pick up some new nail implements (pushers, cuticle nippers, brushes, etc.), but ended up buying so much more, because, well, this guy is well stocked. He had a huge selection of polishes, so there is something for everyone regarding price range. The OPI collections he carried were current and up-to-date, as was the Essie polishes. I walked around the store to check out his products, and he was very friendly and helpful, but not overbearing. I also noted that he carries CND Shellac, as well as other gel products. All in all, I had a great experience here, and feel that Sunshine Beauty Supply is very well-stocked and up-to-date on nail trends. I normally drive to San Jose to pick up nail supplies, but I'm definitely going to make Sunshine Beauty Supply my new place.

So after reading the reviews, I knew I had to hit this place up being a nail polish freak my damn…read moreself... When I walked in on a weekday afternoon it was...how can I put this...overwhelming? Overwhelming in 2 ways: 1) WOW, that's a lot of polish! and 2) WOW, what a mess! The entire back wall is Sation nail polish that looks like it's been sitting there for decades! So old and dusty! The stuff is in a bit of disarray and good luck navigating the cramped aisles with boxes stacked everywhere if there is more than one other customer in the store. Why the heck can't they clean up a bit? But whatever, I made my way around the store and they had exactly what I was looking for. I bought OPI's Mermaid's Tears from the new Pirates of the Caribbean collection (they had them all, including the Silver Shatter) as well as Teenage Dream from the Kary Perry collection and some swatch wheels. The OPI's were priced at $7.50 which is a fair price. The swatch wheels were a bit overpriced I think at $1.50 each. I didn't ask how much the Essie or the Color Club polishes were since I wasn't interested in them, but I'm sure they were cheaper than other places as well. They really don't have a wide selection of these brands anyway. What also sucked is that they have a pretty much no Orly or China Glaze polishes. All they have are a few sad (and old) bottles sitting in a dusty-ass shelf. Next time I go in there, I wanna take a closer look at their OPI wall (they have a bunch of bottles from the permanent line and I think I spotted a couple of DS series bottles). Give this place a try if you're in the area. If you're really into nail polish, it really is worth a visit. *EDIT: Color Club is $3.50, but they only have the Poptastic Collection.

Thank You, Ami Ami…read moregripped my hair and braided it so beautifully! She was so sweet, nice, and polite. I walked in around 6 PM, showed her exactly how I wanted my hair, and she said, "Yes!" -- and BABY, she understood the assignment! I haven't stopped smiling since! Ami, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for being so patient with me and for making me feel so pretty. You did an amazing job, and I absolutely LOVE my hair! I love you, Ami! Thank you for making me feel beautiful!

All them reviews from years ago don't listen bullshit I'm surprised the police hasn't raidedread more

Yve was so personable, friendly, efficient, and flexible! If you are in the El Cerrito area, she…read morewill have you looking AND feeling fabulous. I got a roller set, blow out, flat iron, and trimmed ends in under 2 hours! 10/10 would recommend!

I had an appointment for Japanese straightening as a first-time client. I simply asked to see the…read moreproduct that would be used on my hair, and the response was extremely hostile and they canceled my appointment because of my request. I was very disappointed by how upset they were over a reasonable question. Just a warning to anyone choosing a service here: make sure you ask questions and know exactly what product will be used before booking.

My fave place to go for my lashes and my hair!! Maya has been doing my lashes since early 2022. I…read morehad only gotten my lashes done a few times before that but didn't have the best experience so I stopped with the lashes. Maya has done an exceptional job with my lashes, including educating me on the aftercare and providing products to elongate the life of the lashes as well as keeping my natural lashes healthy. I would recommend Maya to anyone and everyone. She's so patient, has really helped me understand the lash cycle and has always answered all my questions. I've been seeing Sarah for my hair since 2022 and wowwww. It makes a huge difference when you go to someone who understands hair the way Sarah does. She is so talented and I'm literally always left in awe of my hair. We did toning before while I was growing out some bad coloring from previous stylist and now just my regular haircuts. I'm so particular when it comes to my beauty services and she always does me right. I appreciate her knowledge and suggestions on the cutting, including face framing and understanding what looks best. I only buy my hair products from there now as well, I love Davines. I feel super thankful to have met Sarah and Maya, they are a staple for me in my self care and even better that they are a locally owned Mother-Daughter business. 10/10 recommend.

It was my very first time at a beauty salon and right away I felt at home! Sarita did a fantastic…read morejob with coloring my hair by making sure I was comfortable, and engaging in great conversations. Overall my experience with Sarita would have my wish that 10 stars were available instead of 5 because of how excellent the experience was! Lindsey was also very nice to me as she was also giving great conversation and gave me water a couple times as well! Definitely recommend if you're looking for a great experience with beauty salons overall!

Asha is exceptional at what she does! Every visit, the waxing service is consistently excellent…read more She is highly professional, extremely skilled at her craft, and takes the time to understand your skin type. She even carefully plucks ingrown hairs after waxing--an extra level of care that reflects the effort she puts into her work, always with kindness and gentleness. I highly recommend her for beauty services in the Albany/Berkeley area.

I made an appointment thru ClassPass, I spent my lunch break and a little more time from work to go…read morethere. Nobody was there to give me a service. I found the owner's number to text her. She didn't even apologize and told me when she was available for me on another day. No, thank you. If you don't want to waste your time, don't go there or call her to make sure she will be there for you.