Changes Salon and Day Spa
EDITORS’ PICKS
BEST NEWCOMER
STUDIO 1875, WALNUT CREEK
Serena Murdock has been offering sugaring services for years—using a honey-like wax made of lemon, sugar, and water—but only recently has she become copartner of Walnut Creek’s Studio 1875. Her business, Sugared, still has hair-removal services (and a HydraFacial/Brazilian combo service), but you’ll also find injectables, wedding makeup, microblading, and eyelash extensions in this one-stop beauty shop. sugared.co.
The Spa at the Park
BEST TRIED-AND-TRUE SPOT
THE SPA AT THE PARK, LAFAYETTE
The spa at the Lafayette Park Hotel has been a community mainstay since 2002, offering luxurious treatments in a soothing environment. Try a Mt. Diablo Hot Oil Massage, which features a full-body application of warm oil. If you’ve been exercising too hard, the Lafayette Sports Recovery Massage is a perfect choice for reducing muscle fatigue and increasing range of motion. lafayetteparkhotel.com/spa.
The Curl Studio
BEST HIDDEN GEM
THE CURL STUDIO, WALNUT CREEK
There’s a hair salon that caters specifically to curly-haired cuties—and it’s right in Walnut Creek. The Curl Studio wants you to embrace and celebrate your curls and texture. Go for a cut and color, or, if you need extra support in managing your mane, book a curl lesson. You’ll get the 411 on curl maintenance, home care, products, and treatments on top of a wash and natural styling. thecurlstudiowc.net.
READERS’ PICKS
Alternative Therapies Provider
Arctic Restore, Alamo, arcticrestore.com.
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Runner-up | The Art of Beauty Medispa, multiple locations, plasticsurgery1.com.
Barbershop
Empire Barbershop, Concord and Hercules, empire-barbershop.com.
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Runner-up | Clip Joynte, Walnut Creek, clipjoynte.com.
Blowout Bar
Hartz and West Salon, Extension and Blowout Bar, Danville, hartzandwest.com.
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Runner-up | Golden State Strands, Danville, goldenstatestrands.com.
Cannabis Dispensary
Velvet, Martinez, velvetcannabis.com.
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Runner-up | CoCo Farms, Antioch and Concord, enjoythefarm.com/coco.
Cosmetic Dentistry
Josh McCormick, DDS, Concord, myeastbaydentist.com.
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Runner-up | Cosmetic and Family Dentistry of Concord, Concord, cosmeticdentistryconcord.com.
Day Spa
Changes Salon and Day Spa, Walnut Creek, changessalon.com.
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Runner-up | Woodhouse Spa, Walnut Creek, woodhousespas.com.
“I have been enjoying Changes for over 25 years. It’s my happy place and a place to escape the day-to-day stressors.”
—Linda Lagoy, Lafayette
Kamile Lim, DDS, and Nashwa Aziz Elrashidy, DDS, co-own Danville’s Diablo Dental Group, which won for best dental practice.
Dental Practice
The Diablo Dental Group, Danville, thediablodentalgroup.com.
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Runner-up | Coliseum Dental, Walnut Creek, coliseumdentalwc.com.
Dermatologist
Golden State Dermatology, multiple locations, goldenstatedermatology.com.
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Runner-up | Kelly Hood, M.D., Lafayette, kellyhoodmd.com.
Skin by Lexie
Facial
Skin by Lexie, Walnut Creek, skinbylexie.glossgenius.com.
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Runner-up | SkinScience Medical Aesthetics, multiple locations, skinsciencemedicalspa.com.
Caroline’s Salon
Hair Salon
Caroline’s Salon, Lafayette, carolinessalon.net.
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Runner-up | Lush Salon, Danville, lushsalondanville.com.
“Caroline’s Salon has wonderful stylists and a calming and relaxing atmosphere. A warm and lovely experience from the moment you enter. Always look forward to being there.”
—Darlene Kaplan, Folsom
Hair Extensions
Lush Salon, Danville, lushsalondanville.com.
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Runner-up | Hartz and West Salon, Extension and Blowout Bar, Danville, hartzandwest.com.
Home Health Services
Hillendale Home Care, Walnut Creek, hillendale.net.
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Runner-up | BrightStar Care, multiple locations, brightstarcare.com.
Lash and Brow Salon
The Lash Empire, Alamo and San Ramon, thelashempirespa.com.
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Runners-up | Alex Cher Beauty, Lafayette, alexcherbeauty.com; Un-Stripped, Martinez, un-strippedlbb.com.
Massage
Changes Salon and Day Spa, Walnut Creek, changessalon.com.
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Runner-up | Simply Massage by Alexandra, Walnut Creek, simplymassagebyalexandra.glossgenius.com.
Chester K. Cheng, M.D.; Pauline J. Santos, M.D.; and Brett E. Stompro, M.D. offer medical spa and plastic surgery services at the Art of Beauty.
Med Spa (Botox, Fillers, and Injectables)
The Art of Beauty Medispa, multiple locations, plasticsurgery1.com.
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Runner-up | SkinScience Medical Aesthetics, multiple locations, skinsciencemedicalspa.com.
Nail Salon
Changes Salon and Day Spa, Walnut Creek, changessalon.com.
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Runner-up | Pandora Nail Spa, Lafayette, pandoranailspa.com.
SkinScience Medical Aesthetics earned top honors as the best place to buy beauty products.
Place to Buy Beauty Products
SkinScience Medical Aesthetics, multiple locations, skinsciencemedicalspa.com.
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Runner-up | Hartz and West Salon, Extension and Blowout Bar, Danville, hartzandwest.com.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon
Dr. Brett E. Stompro, Dr. Chester K. Cheng & Dr. Pauline J. Santos Plastic Surgery & Medispa, multiple locations, plasticsurgery1.com.
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Runner-up | SkinScience Medical Aesthetics, multiple locations, skinsciencemedicalspa.com.
Secretly Sunless Tanning Studio
Tanning Salon
Secretly Sunless Tanning Studio, Castro Valley, secretlysunlesstans.com.
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Runner-up | Koley’s Glo on the Go, Lafayette, koleysgloonthego.com.
Tattoo/Piercing Studio
Gold Society Piercing, Walnut Creek, goldsocietypiercing.com.
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Runner-up | Zebra Tattoo and Piercing, Berkeley and Walnut Creek, mrzebra.com.
Waxing
Skin by Lexie, Walnut Creek, skinbylexie.glossgenius.com.
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Runner-up | Changes Salon and Day Spa, Walnut Creek, changessalon.com.
