Au Natural

Found this via Google and I’ve been going ever since. Esther is a great aesthetician.. My face has never looked better. Her products are all organic and very reasonably priced. She never pushes me to buy product, like at some spas, and she’s always able to get me an appt when I need. My monthly facials are a treat. And so reasonably priced!!!

I am writing about CeCe, a new hairstylist who just joined the team at Au Natural. CeCe has been cutting my hair (and my son’s) for a number of years now and I’m SO happy that she has found a new home in Montclair at Au Natural. CeCe is a wonderful stylist who not only does a great job, but actually listens to what her customers want and then executes flawlessly! On top of that, her personality is top notch and I always leave looking AND feeling better!

I have to start off with the good: Olga is fantastic! Very professional, very sweet, remembers her clients and always does an excellent job. I’ve only had her do my hair and waxing, though I’m sure she is wonderful at all her services.
I suffer from cystic acne and was having a very severe breakout. Not much works for me when I have them, so I decided to try something new and get a facial. I was able to make an appointment for the same day; staff was very friendly and accommodating on the phone. I arrived early, and was greeted warmly and led back right away. The salon is nice and clean. I got the impression that they have not been at that location long, as the ceiling above the treatment bed was unpainted and looked shabby, though that does not really matter. A lot of the facial supplies and equipment were kept in Tupperware containers, though again, this doesn’t really matter, it just did not look very professional. The facial itself was decent, but the extractions were very painful. I had a cyst on my chin that I repeatedly told the facialist was sensitive and hurt to be touched, but she insisted on attempting to extract it multiple times. The main problem I had was with other staff coming in and out of the treatment room, usually without closing the door behind them, as I lay naked under a towel on the bed. Other clients could no doubt see me lying there, and that did not a relaxing experience make. The other staff member would come in, whisper and laugh with the facialist, and then leave, loudly slamming the door behind her. When the music was finally turned on about 15 minutes into the facial, I started to relax and was almost drifting off when I felt a different touch on my face; it was the other staff member extracting my chin! I am fairly easy-​going but I would’ve liked to be told someone else was there. She told me that «it needed to come out» and continued to apply pressure on it with her fingers even though I told her I needed to take a break and said «stop» on several occasions. The extraction process on my cyst actually made it bigger for the next few days, and it was so painful I had to put boil cream on it.
The facial was $ 75, lasted an hour and a half, and included a quickie neck and shoulder massage. Most of my face, except for the chin and cyst, looked really good within a few days of the facial. I was especially impressed with the lack of blackheads on my nose, which has always been a problem area for me. Although the facialist originally told me it was $ 50 when I got ready to pay, the woman at the front desk (same lady who barged in and out, and extracted my cyst) corrected her in front of me, saying, «Oh no, it is $ 75.» I thought that was weird but whatever. There was some product pushing but it was not too aggressive, and I expect that at most salons anyways. Overall the facial was decent and the woman who did the facial was very nice and seemed to know a lot about skincare, but the lack of professionalism, the unexplained change in price, and the constant coming and going into my treatment room made me think twice about going back. Too bad, because the work itself is decent and the facialist was very sweet and knowledgeable, but the little details like being professional and listening and communicating with the client need to be spruced up to make the business really shine. If those things were changed, I would definitely go back. In conclusion: decent place, mostly nice and good staff, and a relatively good (albeit pricey) facial.

I’ve been going to Esther for a year now. My skin has been very happy and well taken care of since I’ve been going to her. She is great and very friendly! Esther is very experience and knowledgable about skin. I’ve never felt like she pushes products on me just to make $$. Esther always encouraged me to try out samples of the product before buying it. I really appreciate that about her.

esther is truly the greatest. i’ve been going to her for monthly facials for a couple years now, and the difference in how my skin looks and feels is phenomenal. she does a great job.

Take a look at my fabulous color and cut from Olga Miramontes She has her shop called Au Naturale in Montclair Oakland CA. I used to bleach my own hair and starting to lose it, but with Olga’s care, she created a miracle. Along with the amazing intensive conditioner my hair hair hasn’t felt this good in decades!
Audrey

Au Natural is my favorite salon/​spa. Everyone is friendly and very helpful.
The facials there are great. I see Sam who is wonderful. He has a calming touch, and the products he uses leave my skin feeling nourished and vibrant. He also gives perfect spray tans.
Sam makes me feel very comfortable. He has a nice personality and the space where he works is relaxing and intimate.

Like some of Olga’s other reviewers, I am a very long time, happy client. I have short gray hair that needs to be carefully shaped. She does a great job. She has also successfully colored my hair on occasion. It is always a pleasant experience to spend time in the chair. Olga recently opened Au Natural with Esther, who is now doing regular facials for me. It seems to be making a difference for my dry skin. I have been pleased with the products I have purchased, which seem reasonably priced. I highly recommend them both.

Olga has cut my hair for years and now cuts my children’s hair as well. I am a man with wavy/​curly hair, and her cuts always look great. She is very communicative about what I want and takes feedback well. My kids’ cuts look WAY better than from those child haircut places, and her prices are very reasonable. I highly recommend her.
BTW — there is free parking in the parking garage at the end of La Salle.

I’ve have gone to Olga for more years than I can remember! She is great at cutting my very straight, blonde layered hair-​which can be a challenge!

While my experience wasn’t exactly like Sophia’s, I still am joining her in the minority of non-​5 star reviews.
The woman who cleans my parents’ home raved about Esther after about 6 facials. Since I was breaking out and our housekeeper had such a high recommendation, I decided to give Esther a try. The facial itself was okay except for the extractions. The extractions lead me to my next point. Before I paid, she told me I needed an hour and a half appointment so she could do more extractions. My face was so red and I told her from the beginning that I have very sensitive skin. Despite my saying no, she still tried to schedule an appointment. Oh yeah, and she wanted to charge $ 125 for this treatment! I thought the price was ridiculous, as did my mom, who was shocked at how red my skin was. After talking with mom, I made an appointment with my then-​dermatologist. Guess what I did after making the derm appt? Canceled the extractions appointment!
Esther is nice, but sales pitch approach to my getting extractions turned me off.
I was and never will be convinced that I need extractions. The derm prescribed medications, and one year later after a new derm and many different medications and creams (Accutane as a last stop), my skin is clearer and less sensitive. The moral of the story is that I am only letting a dermatologist touch my face or recommend products.

The facial itself was fine but she did the extractions with too much force — there were marks on my skin for nearly a MONTH afterwards. The hard sell for the products began about ten minutes into the facial which was irritating.

During our initial consultation, I told Esther that I didn’t want to use any harsh chemicals on my skin. Specifically: I told her that I wasn’t interested in a complicated skincare regimen, that I wanted to wean my sensitive, acne-​prone skin off of the 2.5% benzoyl peroxide cream I’ve been using for years, and that topical leave-​on salicylic acid burns my skin.
The facial itself was wonderful. But afterwards Esther launched into a sales pitch where she suggested a 6 – 7 part regimen, including one cream that contained 10% benzoyl peroxide (!!!) and another cream that contained topical salicylic acid. I reminded her that these ingredients don’t work for me, but she urged me to give the program a chance and repeated several times «if anything doesn’t work just call me».
I was extremely skeptical, explaining that my acne is moderate at the very worst, but I agreed to give it a chance. I got the regimen home and used it once. The seals on two of the packages were open, which I thought was odd, but I figured it didn’t matter. As I had predicted, the chemicals were way too harsh for my skin. After the facial my skin felt great, but after using the at-​home regimen my skin was red and tender. I called Esther first thing the next day and told her I’d be coming back to return the products later that day. She said sure, just come on in.
I came back, dropped off the products, and went across the hall so I wouldn’t be late for my pedicure appointment. When I got back there was another woman waiting in the cluttered office area. I felt a little awkward discussing my personal skincare issues with another person present, but she didn’t offer any other option. I sat down with Esther and explained that the products didn’t work for me, for the exact reasons I’d predicted during our initial consultation (and restated during her sales pitch). She argued with me and tried to pressure/​guilt me into keeping the products; at one point she even said she «had to» refuse the return for various reasons, even citing the broken seals (which were broken when I received them) and that she’d take a financial hit because she «couldn’t re-​sell them». I explained that the seals were broken when I got them, that I was more than hesitant to take the products in the first place, that I had stated my concerns at every turn, and that I had only agreed to take them at all because she had assured me I could bring them back if it didn’t work.
At that point, the other woman (who was still sitting in the office) chimed in and started badgering me about the products. I looked back at Esther like, «you’re really going to let this random person rat-​pack me during what should have been a private conversation?» at which point Esther continued to engage with and encourage the other woman, agreeing with her and trying to embarrass and pressure me into changing my mind. I was equal parts humiliated and shocked. The other woman was rude and disrespectful, but she spoke with authority, so finally I asked her if she worked for Esther. She said no, but that she «has a lot of experience with this stuff». At that point, I respectfully asked her to excuse herself from the conversation, and turned back to Esther.
I explained that her financial worries are not my concern, and that if the products were non-​returnable she shouldn’t have told me repeatedly to bring them back if they didn’t work. I once again asked for my money back, explaining that I’m happy to continue getting facials, but that she knew from the start that I was never interested in a new skincare line. She finally agreed and issued my refund.
Two weeks later, I arrived a few minutes early for my facial appointment. There was another client waiting in the office area. Esther told me that her policy is to call and confirm appointments the day before, and that she had tried to reach me but couldn’t, so she gave my appointment away (causing me to waste a trip all the way to Montclair). I explained that I had gotten a new number a few days before and hadn’t thought to call and confirm an agreed-​upon appointment, but that I’d never told her I wasn’t coming and therefore she should still honor our agreement. All her sweet little old lady-​ness had slipped away: she flat-​out refused to honor the appointment, and sarcastically offered to re-​schedule for another day. I told her I wasn’t interested, and left. How much do you want to bet that she wouldn’t have given my appointment away if I hadn’t asked for that refund?
The moral of the story: Good aestheticians LISTEN to what you have to say about your skin and treat you accordingly. Money-​grubbing charlatans ignore your wishes and try to sell you overpriced crap that may in fact harm you. And then when you call them on it, they turn on you. Steer clear of this wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Best facial in the eastbay. It’s a hidden gem. GO there! Esther is amazing and she really makes your skin feel better than ever before.

Thank goodness for Esther! I have been living with problem skin for 15 years. I’ve tried so many things. But Esther is the first person who has really changed my complexion. She is experienced with many different types of skin and makes thoughtful, educated recommendations. I follow her instructions absolutely and I am so happy to have clear skin now.
Oh, and she has a great loyalty program where you can by 4 or 6 sessions at a big discount– this is the way to go after you’ve tried her out, it saves a great deal of money.

I came to Au Natural via a Living Social deal. I’ve been burned by living social deals before (see my review for Esea Skin Care) so was a little apprehensive about my facial/​body wrap/​etc. deal. Wow, was I pleasantly surprised.
The salon is a little haven away from the bustle of Montclair. It is lovingly decorated and smells terrific. Little fountains tinkle away, soft music plays — it’s all very soothing and relaxing. The shelves are stocked with lots of different makeups, cleansers, tonics — everything you might need to take care of your skin.
Esther is a delight. She gave me a great facial and was very thorough. She gave me some tips on skin care which were really right on target for my combination skin.
I’ve been back a couple of times since, and believe I have finally found an aesthetician to replace my beloved Jinh of Loann Salon.

I can not say enough great things about Au Natural! I’d been toying with the idea for a while about getting a brazillian but just couldn’t work up the guts with all of the horror stories I’ve read! Well, after reading all of the rave reviews on Unilocal for Au Natural and how they do their best to make their client comfortable and at ease (not one even slightly negative review!) … I decided to take the plunge…
… and am SO glad I did!!! I was greeted very warmly by Esther and Angela (even though I was running a bit late for my appt– eek!) They led me to a nice relaxing room and had me get settled in. I didn’t completely know what to expect (read: SUPER anxious) but Angela quickly put me at ease. She was polite, professional and above all … CARING. She would ask me frequently during the session how I was doing and how I felt (I had let her know i’m a baby when it comes to pain and was kind of scared before it all started… don’t judge me haha).
Then, before I knew it– it was all over! About 20 to 30 mins from start to finish– not bad! And the results? Amazing :) I can tell that Angela takes pride in her work and genuinely wants you to be happy with the end result. After reading reviews from other fellow Unilocalers on getting a brazillian from other salons, I’m positive I made the right choice as the whole experience was a lot more pleasant than it seems most other first times were (well– as pleasant as waxing can get ;)
If you are thinking of getting a brazillian, go ahead and take the plunge! Call and ask for Angela… you won’t regret it :)
She has made a believer out of me and will be seeing me again in about 6 weeks!
ps– a little side note: the wax that Angela used was AMAZING… I think the high end products that they use here definitely help minimize any discomfort ;)

Esther is amazing. I have had one of the worst weeks in my life to date so I decided to go treat myself to a facial. From the minute I walked in I felt welcomed and comfortable. I didn’t feel like she rushed through the facial and gave my skin the attention it needed. I felt super relaxed and happy while she worked on my skin. She was fun to talk to yet not one of those people that talk your ear off through the whole thing. She knew when to give you quiet time to relax and enjoy what she was doing but was also really engaging. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience with her so much that I bought package so I can keep going back. She was really just great. I am 20x happier than when I walked in, my skin feels refreshed and I smell great :). Her products are super high quality as well so that was a bonus!

I changed my review to four stars because I’m disappointed that a couple times this past year Esther didn’t have the products she’d told me I needed and when I asked her to give me a call when they came in, I never heard from her.
It’s a tough economy and I’m making less in my small business, so I’ve had to cut back on luxuries like facials and skin products. I brought a bag full of fancy skin care products when I went to see a dermatologist and asked her if she thought I needed to spend all the money I’d been spending on them. The doctor said she didn’t think so and recommended a couple of drugstore brands that she thought would be fine for my skin. I’m now using those products and not getting facials, so I’m thinking that my good skin is mostly just lucky genes. If I had more disposable income, I probably would get a facial every few months, but now that I’m «un-​hooked,» I can’t say I notice any difference in my skin’s condition.

What is the secret to having great skin? I’ve heard many theories and I’m sure the majority are true: cleanse, moisturize, apply sunblock everyday, eat right, exercise, and get routine facials.
I was introduced to Au Natural thanks to a Groupon deal. Normally a deep pore cleansing facial runs anywhere between $ 70 — $ 120, but I only paid $ 50 (not including tip). $ 50 still isn’t chump change though. There’s a lot of things i can buy with $ 50: a week’s worth of Bart tickets to work, 3 month supply of flea meds for my dog, dinner for 2 at Outback’s steakhouse, etc! So after much contemplation, I decided to treat myself to something special.
This day spa is kind of hidden. (It’s the stair case next to Peets coffee). During my first appointment, i met with Esther and she walked me through what I should expect, since i’ve never gotten a facial before. The whole experience was like a dream (minus the extractions part, which was slightly unpleasant, but short-​lasting). The whole hour was so relaxing and i felt so pampered! The bed i laid in was warmed by an electric blanket and soft/​relaxing music was playing in the background. My second appointment was with Monica and it was just as nice, maybe even nicer because I didn’t have much breakouts so the whole extractions portion was very short.
All in all, this is a great little way to just relax for an hour and pamper yourself once a month from the hecticness of everyday life. My skin feels super smooth and looks great. Esther and Monica don’t skimp on the hour long treatment at all, so put extra money in the meter when you pay for parking! (you might need up to 1.5 hours if you stay and browse their skincare products!)