Best of Citysearch: Beauty in SF

by Chelsea Lin - Citysearch Editor - 82 Reviews - 92 Lists

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Updated: October 23, 2009

It takes a village to primp and preen the masses, and San Francisco's beauty industry rises up to the challenge. Who styles hair with the deftest finesse? Who massages the stress from your shoulders? Who tattoos with the greatest artistry and waxes with the least amount of pain? From Oct. 22 to Nov. 10, it's your job to nominate your favorite businesses for SF's Best of Citysearch in all things beauty. To get you started, check out our list of preferred professionals.

Editors' Favorites

  1. 1 5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended Skin City
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    323 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94117 (map)

    BEST BRAZILIAN--Anyone advertising a painless Brazilian bikini wax is blatantly lying, but this Lower Haight temple to healthy (they do facials and peels as well) and hairless skin has made the process a whole lot less scary. Bonus: You can make appointments online, and prices are extremely reasonable compared to similar places around town.

  2. 2 4.5 Star Rating: Recommended Sports Club/La
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    747 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94103 (map)

    BEST GYM--This ultra-luxe gym is the tops--if you can afford it. Like the Four Seasons hotel it's housed in, the gym comes with a hard-to-swallow price tag, but also any class, piece of equipment and swanky amenity one could hope for (i.e. in

  3. 3 5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended Wak Shack Salon
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    782 Haight St, San Francisco, CA 94117 (map)

    BEST HAIR COLOR--For flawless hair color--any color, in fact--head to this Lower Haight salon and speak to one of their delightfully unpretentious stylists. The shop is clean and chic with an underlying edge: punk on the stereo, tattoos covering nearly every employee and customers walking out with everything from modestly highlighted bobs to bright blue Mohawks.

  4. 4 5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended Suchada
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    690 King St, San Francisco, CA 94107 (map)

    BEST THAI MASSAGE--If you've never had a Thai massage, you're in for a treat--and a bit of a surprise. The full-body method (as in the massage therapist's full body as well as yours) is a sort of involuntary yoga, where you'll be bent, stretched, elbowed and stepped on in the name of relaxation. Suchada is as legit as you can find this side of the Mekong.

  5. 5 4 Star Rating: Recommended MR. The Barbershop
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    560 Sacramento St, San Francisco, CA 94111 (map)

    BEST MEN'S SHAVING AND GROOMING--An exclusive barber shop that also serves alcohol and shines your shoes? Consider this Financial District joint the busy bachelor's dream stop. Guys, if you've been shearing your face with a disposable Bic, you must try the straight-razor shave--delightfully old school, a little dangerous and will leave you super soft (which we know you secretly prefer to stubble).

  6. 6 4.5 Star Rating: Recommended Kabuki Springs & Spa
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    1750 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94115 (map)

    BEST SPA--Public bathing may sound like something reserved for ancient Romans and modern day nudists, but this Japantown spa's public pools--one near-scalding hot and the other refreshingly cool--are clean, relaxing and just the place to spend an afternoon. Twenty-five bucks gets you all-day access to the naked communal baths, sauna, steam rooms and showers; add on a scrub, massage or facial for the ultimate treat. If naked isn't your thing, Tuesdays are co-ed--swimsuits required.

  7. 7 Black Heart Tattoo
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    177 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94103 (map)

    BEST TATTOO--Not known for being the friendliest tattoo shop in town (the virgin-skinned among us can expect some serious attitude), this Mission icon is one of the city's most respected tattoo shops, and for good reason. Black Heart's run by top-notch tattoo artists, and the location next to Zeitgeist certainly doesn't hurt.

  8. 8 4 Star Rating: Recommended Bikram's Yoga College Of India
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    455 Judah St, San Francisco, CA 94122 (map)

    BEST YOGA--This seriously sweaty workout is not for everyone, but those who are into it are almost preachy in their devotion. It makes the list not because we love being there (no one really does) but because we love how it makes you feel after: sweaty, yes, but totally pumped.