Urban Escape Salon

Liz is great. She knows how to work with my hair (wavy curly and straight — all on one head). The place is so relaxing. It truly is an escape! (Cash or check only)

New to the LA area and was hesitant to trust a new stylist with my hair. Read Unilocal reviews for different neighborhoods and decided to visit this salon to feel it out. Thankful I chose and found Liz! She listened to what I wanted and I was completely satisfied with the result. It was my first time to color my hair and Liz made the process easy and stress-​free! Great customer service!

Elisa is fantastic! I’ve been coming to her for waxes for a few years now and she is always very gentle. She also manages to make my eyebrows looks great when I wait far too long between visits. Her studio is calm and serene and she is always fun to talk to. Her prices are also very reasonable. She’s a Venice original so all the more reason to support her!

Not much to add, other than to say we all still go to her and are happy.

I would drive from far to get to this salon. Liz is am amazing colorist and stylist. She saved my hair. No one else is ever touching my hair. The location is secluded and serene. You would never think you were on Abbot Kinney in the heart of busy Venice Beach. Elisa is so talented for skin and waxing as well. Can’t compliment this place enough.

My wife needed her difficult hair cut and colored. I have sent her to many local salons. she found this to be the right fit for her hair. She looks great and the prices were very reasonable. I am sending her back for a Brazilian Blow out. So far So good.

I had my first brazilian wax at Urban Escape yesterday with Elisa and I couldn’t be happier with the results. I have super sensitive skin and yet no crazy bumps and not much redness at all. She was really gentle, really thorough, and so lovely to chat to while she attended to my (admittedly overgrown) nether-​regions. Let me tell you, it wasn’t an easy job but she didn’t flinch and was so calming and nice about everything. DEFINITELY recommend UE to anyone wanting a smooth, virtually pain-​free, relaxing experience!
She is also one of the only original people let on abbot kinney so i think we should all support her to the max!

Liz is hands down the best stylist I have EVER been to! I booked an appointment based on the awesome Unilocal reviews about her work and I couldn’t be happier I did. Seriously, I love my hair!
I found a picture of Ombré hair and loved it… sent Liz the picture and discussed it a bit on the phone and she convinced me to do something a little less dramatic– I’m so happy she talked me out of it!
As a mother, I wanted something very low maintenance but stylish and fresh… I got it! Liz gave me highlights but not in the usual cheesy way, they’re scattered, not bleach blonde and my hair looks like I have been hanging out at the beach enjoying some nice glowy rays! My hair looks fantastic!
She gave me a cut and highlights and a little grey touchup and I feel like a new woman! She really knows what she’s doing and is super friendly to top it off. Time flew by and she’s interesting, fun and so so so so so sweet!
Support your local business people, support a fabulous well-​deserving stylist! Liz is worth her weight in gold when it comes to styling and coloring hair– I really can’t say enough nice things about her or her work!
I will be back again, and again, and again…
As far as pricing goes, I was a little worried she was going to cost a fortune, but I found her pricing to be fair and reasonable for the quality of the service she provides. I’m so used to going to a stylist that charges $ 65 for a cut, another x amount for color and by the time you blink you’re out $ 200. Liz was fair and worth every penny. No upcharge surprises here. Plus, I feel a lot better paying Liz a little more for her services than some unhappy stylist at a big salon.
Liz– I really can’t thank you enough! You really are fantastic!

I have NO idea what that other reviewer Mrs. H is talking about — this is hands down the best place ever for a brazilian/​bikini wax. I am such an advocate of Elisa, and have sent many friends who all rave about her work. She makes it painless, spotless and I leave feeling strangely calm.

The setting isn’t your Beverly Hills-​esque salon (after all, this is Venice), but what I really care about is the fantastic and consistent wax I get every time.
Highly recommend!

sigh… I am looking for a great place for a brazilian wax. I really dont care if someone gets up on my“business”. In fact I really dont care if your all up in it as a matter of fact. I want you to be thorough and make me smooth. and yet I’m disappointed in this place. Nice lady Elisa did my brazilian wax. But there were many missed hairs and I wasn’t about to pluck everything that was missed. Its cheap for what everyone else charges $ 35 but she didnt get everything and I’m not going back. I want a perfect wax. so the search continues. to b honest I dont have a whole lot of hair and its not very difficult. But I’ll keep looking and let you ladies know. but if not lemme know if there is a place i should go…
**** UPDATE****
THe owner has offered me my money back and I appreciate it but its all in the past and the money was for services so I’m happy with her communication and trying to please me. I have given another star for the efforts and I wish her well…

I’ve been coming here for almost a year and every experience has been wonderful. Elisa takes great care in providing excellent skin care services. Not only does she have a warm, gentle personality, but she genuinely cares about any skincare needs, questions, or concerns I may have. I highly recommend Urban Escape to anyone who needs a facial, or waxing done.

I got the best Brazilian wax I’ve ever had here. Elisa is very skilled and professional. Her techniques made my wax relatively painless. She took her time and took extra care of my ingrowns. I felt very comfortable with her and will definitely be returning!

The key to this business is Elisa – she’s really great at what she does. I’ve been around the block looking for a great waxer – even tried Get Waxed in Venice (inconsistent, rushed, and twice the price) – but nothing comes close to comparing to Elisa’s style.
Since stumbling across reviews for Elisa on Unilocal and giving it a try myself, I no longer dread my monthly wax. Her space is chill, Elisa’s energy is calm and grounded, and her relaxed (yet professional) approach to the work is *so* necessary for the intimate nature of hair removal. I never get the sense that she’s rushing me out the door and always feel like my time is my time and my business is valued.
Appointments can easily be booked by email. The price is unbeatable ($ 35 for a brazilian!), and the location is awesome (right on Abbot Kinney).

I have to say it’s hard for me to speak highly of an esthetician since I’m one my self, so my expectations are high… well Elisa rocks! She’s careful yet effective, caring, kind and extremely informed in her craft. You skin is her priority. I will be a loyal client and so glad she came across my path.

Liz McAdam is really the best stylist in the city. I have been going to Liz for over 15 years. I have tried other fancy salons on Montana and in BH but I always return to Liz. She is truly talented when it comes to hair, both cut and color. She always does an amazing job and I always get tons of compliments about my hair. Urban Escape is a lovely cottage on Abbott Kinney and the environment is totally relaxing. Liz is totally down to Earth and has a great sense of humor. No attitude here.
Elisa does waxing and skin care in the front cottage. She uses the best products like soy wax and she is very gentle and kind. I highly recommend all her services!

Cute little salon tucked away in a great courtyard. I got my hair colored by Megan Wagemen and can honestly say it’s the best color I’ve had in years. She knows what she’s doing!

had another facial with Elisa. My skin is at its best. Thanks. Please Unilocal do not remove this posting. I am «planting» this post. I am a real customer who really believes in supporting neighborhood businesses, especially when they are great at what they do. Thanks so much.

Elisa is extremely meticulous and will hunt down any stray hair that escapes the wax strip with her eagle eye and quiet determination. She takes the time to wax thoroughly. If you want a perfect wax and a soothing atmosphere with candles and music, go to Urban Escape.

Urban Escape Hair is a great salon. Good bye pretentious trendy receptionist. Good bye loud salon with millions of dryers going. Hello beauty shack! It is a small salon, with three stylists maximum, who are all friendly, laugh, and have a good time while they are making you beautiful. It is like Steel Magnolias, minus the accents, 80’s hair, and all that pink! They even serve water and sometimes various other refreshments. I think of Rosemary, one of the stylists, as my hidden treasure. She has been doing my hair for 10 years. She is amazing! People have always compared my hair to Jennifer Aniston and we all know how famous her hair is! Rosemary does the most professional highlight job, its always tight and natural looking. She has never given a client two tone hair (light on the top, dark on the bottom), frosted 80’s highlights, or chunky highlights. Make sure to make an appointment because there are never usually vacancies for walk-​ins. She is one of those hair stylists that do what looks good for your face, which is good because sometimes people don’t know what that is. I hope that inviting you all to Treasure Island does not mean that I am not going to be able to get an appointment. Explore but leave room for me!

I’m actually surprised nobody has written a review about Elisa at Urban Escape yet. She is a really good waxer and uses soy, which some people say hurts less, and my brazilian bikini didn’t hurt very much at all! She did an excellent job and I love how mellow her shop is… She’s been doing brazilians since before they were trendy, for strippers and dancers, UPDATE: I JUST HAD TO DELETE SOME INFORMATION BECAUSE SINCE THIS REVIEW RANDOM GUYS HAVE ASKED TO BE MY FRIEND. SHE’S GREAT, THAT’S ALL I HAVE TO SAY!
When I move to a neighborhood I like to nestle in and find my people, and Elisa is now one of them. Her prices are great and she said she doesn’t believe in places that charge $ 70+ for a bikini wax because it makes it so intimidating for the client. She is very calm and sweet and it really does feel like an urban escape.
I want to try her facials. I bet they’re good.