Stealing Beauty: Affordable Spas and Salons
By Gina Goff, City Editor
Between hair cuts, waxing and facials that run upwards of $100 each, a girl's beauty regimen can leave her without any money left to show it off on the town. Fortunately, there are ways to get your beauty and relaxation fix without tapping into your 401K. Find the best spots in the Bay Area for below-market-rate massages, hair styling, skin care and nail services.
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National Holistic Institute
5900 Hollis St Ste Q, Emeryville, CA
A 50-minute massage session costs just $35 ($30 for persons over age 55) at this holistic institute's teaching clinic. -
SUCHADA Thai Massage
690 King St, San Francisco, CA
An hour-long traditional Thai massage (a fully clothed yet intensive rubdown performed on a floor mat), or a foot reflexology session costs $60 at this Outer Richmond body work studio. -
Koret Health and Recreation Center
Turk St and Parker St, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
The USF health center offers $65-per-hour massages for non-members, but USF students get 60 minutes of bliss for just $40 when they show their student IDs. -
World School of Massage and Holistic Healing Arts
401 32nd Ave, San Francisco, CA
For just $40 per hour, you can get a professional-level holistic massage in the school's Student Massage Clinic; modalities range from Swedish and shiatsu to reflexology and lymphatic drainage.
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Urban Beauty Skin Care
1308 20th Ave, San Francisco, CA
A thorough cleansing facial (with optional extractions) goes for a mere 35 bucks, while Brazilian waxing can be as cheap as $20, at this unassuming but popular Sunset district salon. -
SILK Nail Salon
1425 Franklin St, San Francisco, CA
The $30 Brazilian bikini wax is notorious at this affordable yet still cushy nail salon and spa. -
Skin City
323 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA
A number of affordable hair removal options, including a $45 Brazilian, are offered alongside skincare treatments like the $50 "mini-facial" and $45 alpha hydroxy peel. -
zensAsian
1311 23rd Ave, San Francisco, CA
Get a 30-minute "Express Facial" for $45 with cleansing, exfoliation, a customized mask and moisturizing facial massage. -
Kimberly Skin Care
2000 Van Ness Ave Ste 506, San Francisco, CA
A 30-minute "Bare Essentials" facial without extractions is offered for $50 at this Pac Heights studio; Brazilian waxes start at just $40.
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SILK Nail Salon
1425 Franklin St, San Francisco, CA
The ultra-luxurious, 45-minute spa manicure is just $15, while the spa pedicure--complete with a marble foot bath--costs $28. -
Dolci Beauty Lounge
211 Steiner St, San Francisco, CA
Indulge in a foot-bath spa pedicure for only $20, or just get your digits cleaned up with a basic manicure for $10. -
Tip Top Nails
1547 Church St, San Francisco, CA
With $16 spa pedicures and mani/pedi combos for under $20, you can afford to grab lunch in Noe Valley, too, after a morning at this no-frills but high-value salon.
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Zenzi's Beauty College
551 Hayes St, San Francisco, CA
A student cut at this beauty school is just $10--and an additional five bucks will usually get you a shampoo and blow-dry, as well; semi-permanent coloring starts at $25 and permanent color starts at $40. -
Oxenrose
448 Grove St, San Francisco, CA
Cuts hover around $40 (but vary based on length, thickness, style difficulty and stylist experience) at this chic Hayes Valley salon. -
Alexander G.
3115 Clement St, San Francisco, CA
Become a model for supervised assistants and get a free haircut or highlights for $20; appointments must be booked weeks in advance. -
Cowboys & Angels
207 Powell St Ste 400, San Francisco, CA
Be a hair model for a C&A styling class and get a cut or coloring at a discount, usually 50-75 percent off normal rates. Hair model calls are Thursdays from 6pm to 7pm. -
San Francisco Institute of Esthetics and Cosmetology
1067 Folsom St, San Francisco, CA
A cut and style costs just $10 (or $15 for "creative services") at this SoMa teaching facility; basic color starts at $45 and many other discounted styling services are offered, too.
