Skin Fantastik

First and most importantly, I love that I was able to get an appointment last minute (I always end up leaving these things until the day before a vacation, and find myself scrambling to get in somewhere). Ilona called me back right away and she was responsive via text. I also love that for payment she accepted, cash, check, PayPal or Venmo. This was definitely the first time I’ve PayPal’d a Brazilian Wax.
The studio is very clean, very cute, painted in pleasing colors and easy enough to find. The wax was quick and efficient, not painless — but Ilona was attentive enough to know when I needed a minute.
Why the 3? Well, despite what others have said here, I did not find Ilona friendly or welcoming. She did not seem to want to speak to me (which is fine), she simply got the job done and ushered me off. I will spare Unilocal the details, but there were some strange moments during the wax where I was put into positions or spun around (the chair spins, a lot!) without warning. Having been to many other salons for Brazilians, I thought I had seen it all — but I guess there are still adventures to be had.
The docked stars are more about «bedside manner» than anything else. I would definitely book here again, especially when I am in a rush!

I have been going to Ilona for over a year now and she’s fantastik (see what I did there?)
You can book by text, and most often you get an appointment within a few days. She’s always quick to reply. Cash only I believe.
I would highly recommend her!

Needed a quick wax and Skin Fantastik was the nearest option around the Financial District. I left a message by phone and within the hour, received a text from Ilona that she can take me at the time I requested.
The space is clean, not too bright, and not too intimidating. I needed a brazilian and Ilona was able to get down and clean me up quick. She’s quick, attentive to the tiny hairs, and makes sure you walk out clean. She didn’t talk me up like most do, but she made me feel comfortable.
A little pricey, but for Ilona’s clean, quick work, it’s not bad. Reminder: CASH ONLY.

I love Ilona! She does my brazilians and brows and is such a pro… and super nice. She always remembers when I took my last vacation, how my dogs are doing and all that stuff. She is so easy going with appointments. I don’t know what I’d do without her :)

I keep coming back to Ilona for an eyebrow wax so I’m definitely a satisfied customer.
She usually takes me on the same day and lets me book appointments via text message. This is so convenient! Why don’t more places do this? Anyway…
Even though I only see her every 2 months, she always remembers my quirks and accommodates me. I used to break out after a brow wax (from any salon), so when I told her, she changed up her methods and I haven’t had a break-​out since!
She’s also super speedy, and her manner is warm & inviting without being too chatty.

Found her on Unilocal.She was super responsive and flexible in getting me in on the same day. The other person I contacted. hello wax addict… never returned my calls. Salon is clean and service was very quick and professional. Thats exactly how I like it during the work day. Will be returning regularly.

After walking by many times on my way get my nails done at Good Looks Salon, and reading her awesome reviews it was time to try Ilona.
I am so glad I did! Her space is small but relaxing, clean and efficient.
I learned a few things too — like how long to wait after shaving before waxing. Good to know.
I think I’ll become a regular here…
Cash or check only.

i’ve been going to Skin Fantastik and Ilona for a couple of years now and im not quite sure why i haven’t ever written a Unilocal review.
…is it because i’m shy and don’t want the world to know where i get my lady parts waxed? uhmm no… in this type of situation, there is NO room for bashfulness. is it because i want to keep her as a secret, all to myself? NO because her nimble, efficient hands work so fast that i’m sure she could wax half of the FiDi in one fell swoop. is it because she’s just OK? …NO, because she is GREAT!
i know why.
its because i’ve been such a happy customer, with no complaints for so long that i just got comfortable. it has become the norm for me. BUT last month, before venturing off on a bathing suit-​centric vacation i needed to get cleaned up, and unfortunately Ilona was out of town and timing didnt work out. so i went to Stript on Union St. i had heard great things. they give you wine and numbing spray, which you don’t get at Skin Fantastik, but those things are just fluff and completely unnecessary (well, minus the wine. kind of). but my experience there and wax from them kinda sucked (deserves its own review) and it made me realize how FABULOUS, professional, well-​priced, clean and flexible Ilona is.
these 5stars have been a long time coming!
now do yourself (and everyone else) a favor and go get some hair ripped out of your body ;)

Every sane woman cringes at the thought of waxing. this could be for any part of the body. especially the nether region. i promptly started my ardous search for the right person right here on Unilocal.Being that i work less than 2 blocks away, i thought it might be too good to be true. I contemlated splurging on a more upscale salon but there was this pull for me to try this spot instead.
so i finally called to book. no worries if there is no answer. she is a one woman shop, and is very quick about calling back.
the day finally arrived. the dreaded Brazilian wax job. i begrudgingly set out. no one wants to pay to get hurt, right? and overall, the office was very clean. she was very quick about the whole process. and since i’d popped 2 advils, i walked away surprisingly unscathed. i even spent the rest of the afternoon shopping.
i have been back consistently every 2 months or less. =)

I wavered between 3 and 4 stars for this place. I got a Brazilian and eyebrow wax done here.
So. After reading the reviews I came to check this place out. I’m from NYC just working out here for 3 months so finding replacement salons has been challenging. Even though NYC is infamously expensive, I’ve found everything out here to be much more so.
For example, the Brazilian cost $ 60. I’ve paid up to $ 70 before (not in NYC) but at least it wasn’t as painful as this one. She didn’t prepare me for it and kind of took me by surprise, and it was the most painful wax I have ever had done. And I’m a Brazilian regular! However, Ilona is efficient, meticulous, and professional. So while my poor lady parts are still hurting the next day, she did go as fast as she could while getting literally every single hair out.
The eyebrows were also a little painful. But she did a lovely job cleaning them up and trimming and shaping them.
Ilona is very lovely and let me run off to the ATM when I tried to pay with card. Make sure you have cash or check! She won’t take cards. I don’t know if I’ll come back again, I’m on a mission to find something a little cheaper. Or just wait til I go back home for my $ 39 Brazilian and $ 7 eyebrows.

I would trust no one else but Ilona with my eyebrows. Let’s face it they are in the middle of your face. You need them to look good and match. Some places just can’t do that. She makes them perfect every time. Her place is clean and she’s super sweet. I know she does a lot of bikini waxes too. Those customers seems to really love her also. I used to go to a really expensive place on Maiden Lane but her prices are much better and my brows have a nicer shape. She is aso right next to Montgomery bart station so it’s easy to get to.

I found Ilona through Kelli M. and other Unilocalers when I needed a quick brow wax/​tint at lunch time and didn’t feel like leaving my work hood mid-​day.
Llona did a number of things right:
1. She was braver than most people are when I tell them I want the brows darker. I am really digging the light blonde hair with dark brows thing these days and most places I go tend to be too conservative. she went dark. super dark. Granted she went a little too dark for my skin tone and my coworker teased me for looking «angry» but I was being a pusher so I blame myself, not her. The dye was very long-​lasting (great!) but it did lighten some.
2. She gave me a lash tint and for the first time in my blue-​eyed life i didn’t want to gouge my eyeballs out from the pain. This was virtually pain free.
3. My brow wax looked great
4. I didn’t realize they are cash/​check only and when I didn’t have enough on hand, she said I could come back another day next week to pay so I could get back to work quickly. So thoughtful!
Ilona will do a great job with you. I am still loyal to Bella pelle as well and despite what other reviewers have said I found the prices pretty much the same. Still, I am thankful there is another option for me and only two blocks away from work!

I’ve only gone here for Brazilian and brow waxing. Ilona is the esthetician of choice if you like your treatments to be fast and no-​nonsense. She uses the old school soft strip wax, so definitely pop an Advil or two prior to your visit if you have a low pain threshold. Thankfully, she works extremely quickly. I barely have time to feel much discomfort during the process. The aftermath isn’t too bad either. I’m always left with some wax residue… especially for Brazilian or bikini waxing, definitely take advantage of the removal lotion, wipes, and talcum powder that are offered in the treatment room, otherwise you risk leaving feeling chafed and sticky.
Compared to other salons that offer waxing in the Union Square area, Ilona’s prices are pretty reasonable, and she gets you in and out quickly so it’s convenient to go here especially if you work around the Financial District. She doesn’t do online booking, but she’s super prompt with returning phone calls and text messages.

Two words: See IIona!
She was so professional and made you feel at ease.

Ilona is amazing. I was really scared of getting brazilians before, because I always had bad experiences, but took a leap with Ilona, and LOVED her. If anybody can make waxing near-​painless, it’s Ilona. She is very quick, strong, and gets every single hair.
I have been going for the past 6 months routinely, and will continue to do so as long as I live in San Francisco.

Bush-​wacking is not necessarily the most pleasant of to-do’s. But if it’s on the agenda, Ilona is the woman for the job.
She is the ultimate professional and does a quick/​neat/​painless job and her facilities are clean/​sanitary. She’s meticulous about following up on messages and it’s fairly easy to book an appt within the week — season dependent.
Location: walk into the building and up the stairs to the second floor in the building makes you feel like you’re stepping back in time. Cash and check only!

I have been a fan of Bella Pelle for years, but have not been a fan of the prices as they seem awfully high especially in these trying times. Well an opportunity had came up where my fav girl at Bella Pelle was busy and I was forced to look elsewhere, which brings me to Skin Fantastik.
I was a bit hesitant because there is only one type of wax used which is the kind that needs cloth and I usually use the peel off wax to eliminate most of the pain for this tortuous ritual. It didn’t matter the lady at Skin Fantastik knew what she was doing.
She was quick and extremely precise and the wax was really good, there was minimal pain. I am a converter, goodbye Bella Pelle, hello Skin Fantastik. And hello to the penny’s I will be saving from switching.

I am hairy.
Ilona knows how to deal w/​hair. In fact, from the look of her hairless face (plus eyebrows and eye lashes), she prob despises mustaches, peach fuzz and all that jazz.
Because of her innate ability to find and tear off all the «bad» hairs — and her pleasant but not chatty bedside manner — I am a big fan. This combined with my unpromiscuous ways — will keep me with Ilona for a long while. After all, I ain’t showing just anyone my lovely lady areas.

I was in a search for a good waxing place but somewhere reasonable, too. I found Ilona on Unilocal and it turns out she is a block away from my work.
Her space is very clean and she does a very detailed job. Her waxing is just as good as ones I’ve had at Belle a Pelle but costs about half of what they charge.
Five stars for Ilona!

The table was quite an experience! Swirling around and barely having to move was definitely interesting! Ilona gets right to it and is very precise in what she does. She is focused on doing the best job she can. I was confused with pricing hence the star off. I thought it was 30 $ (like I had been paying in NYC at a great spa) but it ended up being 50 $ for a brazilian. Also she doesn’t take anything but check or cash which left my pockets pretty empty. I think it would be good to take credit cards when waxing can get pretty pricey! Otherwise she was very good and provided quick, nice service. I just wish the pricing was a little lower so I may have to reconsider going back or go more infrequently!