I almost didn't go to this place because it didn't have a website. I'm a website girl - I like to see the pricing, I like to see pictures, and I'm just a computer nerd. Of course, that's a little bit of a catch-22 because if I hate your website, then I'm out. Overall, I'm so very glad that I did head to this adorable little place. I'll preface all this with saying that it was the first bikini wax ever - so I can't really say whether it was okay or not... of course, having nothing to compare it to, I'd say that it sucked. :) The leg wax was only the second of it's kind - and that too sucked. The first was only better because it involved copious amounts of wine. Why do we have to go through so much pain to be gorgeous? Well, we must do what we must do... and I will continue to go here while I continue to attempt outer beauty. The building is adorable, comfortable, and inviting and Heidi and Jill are as friendly as can be. I've got a facial all set up, and another waxing scheduled... so glad that I am not going to be shaving anymore. I hate that even more than waxing, and the girls at Bare make waxing about as good as it can be. Just keep thinking, I'm going to look gooooood. read more

I've been going to bare for a while now, starting with eyebrows and moving on to my chest/stomach general hair removal waxing. Let's just get this out there: I'm a trans woman and they have been fantastic about it, including transitioning from old name to new (and associated pronouns) without skipping a beat. For that reason alone I'll give them five stars. Since that little demographic update I've gone back a few times and with different people, each one just as considerate as the last. I don't get a really complicated regimen done, but I've loved my brows every time and they have all helped at moving from bushy things to some pretty cool arches. Ripping hair off my chest is pretty standard I guess, it comes out. Additionally, after a pretty disastrous venture at the Sephora tutorial counter (no fault of Sephora staff...) I went to Bare for their makeup lessons. I wish I was better with names because the girl who helped me catch up on about 20 years of makeup practice was really sweet and kind even when dysphoria was kicking its ugly head up. I asked for a really basic, technique (not product) focused lesson and was quite happy with everything we went over. read more

Heidi is one of the best estheticians in Portland. I hesitate to even write a review because I don't want her schedule to get even more full. Whatever issue you may have, she'll research solutions for you. She is really thorough and is great with follow up. She needs to be cloned. read more

So my initial experience with Bare was: higher prices, awesome personality, crappy result (maybe you remember my explicit review?). Anyway, after this first visit, and my subsequent review, the owner, Heidi, messaged me that she would love a chance to make it right. OK, my initial reaction to Heidi's offer was... cool! At least they have great customer service (something I an always grateful for since it seems to be generally lacking anymore), but would I feel weird going back to a place I had reviewed so badly? I wanted to avoid the situation, but I decided not to and did make it back last Friday. At my visit Friday, Heidi did my half leg and Brazilian wax... not only did she do an amazing job... as in the BEST job I've had to date, but she was super cool about everything. We had a chat about my previous experience where she said she appreciates feedback, even the brutally honest kind, and always wants to grow and learn from every situation. We had a great conversation while the work was going on and there was never an uncomfortable moment. Heidi is an awesome lady and I am sold... I'll be a repeat customer for the foreseeable future! read more

I can't imagine a better place in town to go to if you're wanting to get rid of body/facial hair or blackheads or blemishes. Heidi, owner and aesthetician, takes care of her clients like nobody's business. After my visits, I always wonder why my dermatologist (or any of my other doctors) can't be half as pleasant or easy to talk to as Heidi is. She's so knowledgable as well, sometimes you'll forget she doesn't have a MD after her name. This is a great Portland small business. read more

I visited this place once and would not go here again. I chose it because it's relatively close to my house and due to the positive reviews on here. My waxer was Hailey. The occasion was for my very first wax. Ever. Now (and here's where the gentlefolk will probably avert their eyes), it can be very hard for a newbie to explain things on the phone... but when you have a question about your mons pubis, it's a little unnerving to have to repeat that phrase several times on the phone over and over again. Especially at work. I loudly made the appointment, and when I stopped in I was greeted with paperwork acknowledging their canceled appointment policies. I found that slightly odd since I hadn't been there before, so if I had canceled my appointment, there wouldn't be any acknowledged policy on file. I hadn't been informed of this policy while making my appointment either. I also filled out a form asking about my allergies, and I specified peanuts, walnuts, and other nuts. I get in the back room and inform the waxer that I've never ever ever had a Brazilian done before. I'm given a box of baby wipes and told she'll be back in a minute. Then on to the main course, without much explanation of what is happening or what to expect. Also, I booked a full leg and Brazilian and they started with the Brazilian... which in retrospect seemed a bit backwards. I'm getting my first Brazilian and leg wax... staring at the sparsely decorated ceiling (take a cue from Planned Parenthood yo)... and feeling a bit lost within the whole experience in terms of a narrative about where she was doing to work next, at which points I'd want to exhale sharply, etc. It was like the opposite of bedside manner. At the end of it, the waxer explained that she was rubbing Macadamia nut oil on my legs for aftercare. I commented that I hoped it was benign because I had listed nut allergies on my form at the beginning of the appointment. At that point she got flustered and handed me the bottle of oil and told me to finish up myself. There was still a lot of leg area left to treat and, of course, my confused & deforested Brazilian areas. So... basically, my first Brazilian/leg wax experience was one in which I didn't feel that I was given particular guidance or instruction during the process, and afterward was told to finish rubbing myself with oil, which I may or may not have been allergic to. (Spoiler alert - I was okay.) The final straw was later that afternoon when I talked to my S.O. about the experience. He asked, "Did they use gloves on you? What was the aftercare like? Did you get any instructions about how long you should wait until sex or shaving?" I was pretty bummed to realize that the answers were no, no, and no. Oh yeah. And no booze. To which I say "Boos!" $100 for the Brazilian and for the full leg, btw, which equaled $120 inc. tip. read more

Definitely need to update my review again... Although Bare and I started out pretty rocky, they have certainly made up for it with Nicole who is one of their waxing pros. I have seen Nicole twice now and I have to say that they really are a top notch waxing spot and the price really can't be beat. Not only has the wax job been great twice now, but Nicole was able to recommend me a product for after care that actually works like they tell me it will. Most waxing shops push the same few products that you can find everywhere and they all seem to be alcohol based (doesn't feel real great on juuuuust waxed skin no matter where that skin is), but Bare carries a few lines that are more gentle then most in the market. I've definitely found my new regular spot. Sure, they don't have a receptionist, but it seems like now that they have their phones fixed, I've had nothing but perfect service at Bare. read more

Finding a trustworthy place to wax your valuables is a very hard thing to do, especially when you want them to be efficient, fast, and thorough as well. Bare is all of these things. Even when the woman compared waxing pussy to working on a car, I had to laugh. This is definitely the place to head to after Novembush. read more

Heidi is a science nerd, and loves the science of skin. She knows what works and why, and is would love to break it down for you, if you ask. For waxing, she uses a soy hair remover (its not even technically a wax), which is much, much less painful than regular waxing. And, trust me, if youre going to wax your sensitive parts, youre gonna want this soy stuff. It barely even hurts, and there is much less irritation in the days to follow. She uses a macadamia nut oil afterward (which, yes, you apply yourself) because its composition is the the closest to our own natural oil glands, which also helps limit the irritation afterwards. Now, for facials. Ive been to other aestheticians before whose primary emphasis was to make you relax. They would give you the best massages on your neck, shoulders, arms, and hands while the goop on your face settled in and the tinkly music filled the background. Heidi only does a little bit of massage, and while I do miss the other massages Ive had during facials, the transformation in my face (what Im really looking for in paying for a facial) totally makes up for it. Ive had acne problems for well over a decade, and Heidis facials have gotten rid of the whiteheads, the blackheads, the deep pustule blemishes, and the smaller blemishes. And pretty much in that order, because she came up with a plan to target different issues with different facials. All in just a few months of regular visits. And now weve gotten down to the acne scars! With gentle peels done over 3 or so visits, those scars (which used to cover the bottom of both cheeks and the jaw line on each side of my face) have (so far) almost all disappeared, except for a few very small dots. Even better: with the peels removing a few of the rough, permanently clogged top layers of skin, any little blemish that pops up is now gone in just a couple days (and very responsive to the acne cream she carries), instead of taking weeks or months to go away, making the scarring even less of a problem. Miracle! I can now feel very confident in just a little bit of makeup (Im sure the heavier makeup used to exacerbate the problem) and feel like a more natural beauty. Thanks Heidi! Im really going to miss you when I move back to Alaska. read more

This was my first time trying wax. I am horrible at shaving, go through spurts of letting it all go, shave again, trim, and no matter what I do I just don't like the outcome. I read all about places online, got tips and advice from girlfriends who have been doing it for years, read horror stories on Reddit...omg.....anyway I felt prepared for some pain and am not modest when it comes to showing my body to professionals so I decided to go for it as my "self care Sunday treat". I sent an email earlier in the week for an appointment request and received a response the next day with a time on the day I requested. Easy so far, I thought. Got there 5 minutes early and filled out some simple paperwork. It is a cozy and welcoming space in a cute old building. I was nervous about the potential pain but felt comfortable by the welcoming friendly staff and atmosphere. Went to the back room and got undressed, I was given thorough instructions and it was like, hey no big deal, let's do this thang. She started with my armpits and on went the wax, off came the strip and I was like "that's it?" She did a few more on that side, a few on the other side, tweezed a couple of strays and pit hair be gone! Interesting. Felt a little like a soft pinch at worst. Next up....the Belmont. This is the service you ask for if you want more than a bikini but less than a Brazilian. At this point I really don't know what I'm in for but am laying everything out there and totally trusting the process. Some wax on the bikini lines, no biggie! Some wax a little closer in, no biggie! Fun swing music softly in the background, easy comforting chatter with my beauty doctor. She asked me to roll over and I thought ok, here it comes...besides the fact I've never had hot wax spread all up in those places, it was not that bad. Really not bad at all I can't believe it really, it didn't hurt at all. Mildly irritating is how I'd describe it. To each their own about body hair and I know everyone is more/less sensitive in areas and has thicker/thinner hair. I guess I'm blessed for once for having thin hair. This is one of those reviews that won't be getting a photo of the end results, so you will just have to know I am one very pleased customer and will definitely be going back here to check out other services as well. read more

Today was my fourth appointment with Bare. I've been getting the "Southeast" wax all four times. That means, yay, I'm only one punch away from getting a free sixth wax!!! I've had one appointment with Heidi and I recall the experience being overall pleasant, surprisingly quick and efficient, yet no hair left out of place. I've had three appointments with Elizabeth, who's become my preference. She, too, is very quick, efficient and thorough. I also really like chatting with her. You can't go wrong with either esthetician at Bare. Whenever I come out of my appointments, I always book the next one before I leave, which I've only started doing since coming to Bare. I really appreciate how reliable they have been as a business and I am more than happy to recommend them to a friend. read more

I literally just left here from my first ever brazilian wax. Everything was wonderful...and while it certainly isn't the most comfortable thing in the world, she made it absolutely bearable. We chatted the whole time, making the time go fast and distracting me from what was going on down there. And it wasn't so bad. The room is warm and inviting and the macadamia nut oil that they give you afterward smells and feels so nice! I'll definitely be back! I had a conversation with her about how nice it is when people post positive comments on here, so I felt the need to practice what I preach :) read more

I love my regular wax Wonder Woman, but she moved places and it is a little bit out of my laziness to,get there so tried a new place. Walked out thinking I need to review them because my experience was that good, I wanted to give them claps. From scheduling by email(currently no online booking program but they respond to appointment requests very quick) to follow up calls and the very welcoming greeting coming in, they know how to make a persons feel welcomed. I had a Brazilian, eyebrow and lip wax and will definitely become a regular. They also provide many other services such as facials, make-up application and a mini store of products. Chelsea was my bff for those 45 minutes (seriously if someone is all up in your bits, they are your bff for 45 mins) and not only did she do her job great, she was such a positive, cool vibe person. logistics- clean, friendly place; priced accordingly to competition; knowledgeable and friendly staff; no pay for park!! Seriously, check them out read more

There is no reason to ever go to another salon for any waxing services as long as bare is in biz. They actually use a very natural product that does an even better job than regular wax. They also have a product for post-waxing that is the ONLY thing that has ever worked for me and Hailey are total sweethearts who REALLY know what they are doing. I love that bare is in a convenient location (the shop is very clean and cute as well!) read more

Let me preface this by saying I've had some seriously horrific waxing experiences in my time. Before switching to Bare my last waxer told me I was "loaded for bear"! I've had women give up half way. I've had wax get stuck and had to be cut out. I could literally write a book. That being said... I've been a customer at Bare for just under 3 years. Heidi is absolutely phenomenal! The customer service has never been anything short of stellar and I've always been able to get in last minute. I used to wait about 4 months between appointments (I'm a once a month-er now) and it always amazed me when she'd remember to follow up on little details of our last conversation. Now maybe this is because I'm a "memorable" client, but I can't even remember peoples names half of the time let alone to ask how someone I haven't seen in 4 months' vacation to Hawaii went. As far as overall experience goes she is quick, discreet and nearly painless; I've never had a better Brazilian. She is also the ONLY person I trust with my eyebrows, which have broken out every other time I've been silly enough to see someone else. You can tell she takes a lot of pride in her work and the aesthetics of the building as well... the new space is gorgeous. Women of Portland, look no further! read more

Perfecto! I was in dire need of an eyebrow wax. I called at noon and was in by 3:45 on a Saturday. The staff is incredibly kind and friendly, not to mention helpful. Perfect waxing job! I'll be back many times. read more

Ok, so this was my second attempt to get a Brazilian wax. The first attempt was horrible at another place. Chelsea was absolutely Great! She made a very awkward experience turn out to be pleasant and very professional. Only problem is that I live in California and can't be a regular! read more

A Groupon made me cheat on Betsy, and the karmic gods took notice. NEVER, ever again!! There's just no comparison. A Barekini isn't cheap, but their prices are comparable to other salons - and the quality is far above anything else I've experienced both here and in Los Angeles. Baby baby smooth, no stickiness (that macadamia nut oil rocks!), and I'm always fine (no pain or redness) the same day. I will never cheat again, I swear. read more

Chelsea is AMAZING!! My appointment was @ 10am, I arrived about 5 minutes early. I got the Southeast bikini wax which they schedule a 1/2 hour for...I was done by 10:15 and it wasn't painful @ all. Chelsea is very professional, and Heidi the owner was great! I will definitely be going back and I'm recommending to all of my friends!! 2nd Waxing, this time with Betsy! I went for the Belmont this time and again it was so quick and Betsy did a fantastic job! I think I was in and out in 15-20 mins again! I will never go anywhere else Bare is my go to for all things waxing!! read more

It makes an unpleasant experience pleasant. Last weekend I came into Bare for a "Barekini". I hadn't gone in almost two years and it was a jungle. My waxing specialist, Chelsea, was great and made me feel comfortable. I've had waxes before but this one was definitely the best. They use a type of wax (maybe soy-based?) that barely stings. And I was in and out in fifteen. The entrance is on Belmont. It's not the busy part of the street so it feels somewhat isolated from the public. They have a couple of rooms and it's closed off from the lobby. You get your privacy to settle into the room. The decor is pleasant and the building is well maintained. read more

Bare makes a rather unpleasant activity BARE-able. Nicole is the person I have made my appointments with and she is very pleasant. The visits are quick but not painless. The wax used at Bare seems much less harsh and abrasive than some of the other places I have subjected myself to in the past. The macadamia nut oil they give you so you do not feel like you have honey all over you is very natural smelling and a nice touch. read more

I am going on my 10th year with Heidi being my esthetician. I cannot say enough about her. I am not one that enjoys beauty treatments. It is not fun for me. It is like any other appointment - going to the dentist or the doctor. I don't enjoy pedicures, facials, massages, etc., but I digress... I have my brows done every three weeks and my lip done every six. I can choose to have a standing appointment with Heidi, which I've done for the last two years or so. Before that, I would change the day regularly, based on my husband's work schedule. I like that I can do either. It's usually easy to get into the salon, but you might want to try to call at least a week in advance. There are times when Heidi is busy, but that is because she great at what she does and is in high demand. I am also extremely happy with the price of my brow wax. I started going to her in 2000 and - before she owned the salon - it was $18. I am still with her in 2009 - she's the big shot salon owner ;), and it's still $18. I tease her that she should go up on her prices. I know that some New York and LA salons can charge $50-100. They can't be any better than she is...she's so detail oriented and my brows are perfect, every single time. I have had other eyebrow waxes and I am never sure what I'm going to get. Heidi's shaping is perfect. After she waxes, she meticulously goes over EVERYTHING that the wax couldn't get with her tweezers. It's really an art, and she's a Picasso!! And, lastly, as a person: I adore Heidi. We have become friends over the years. Although I don't spend time with her outside the salon, I know it would be a lot of fun and she's just easygoing and great to talk with. You will love her. You can't go wrong with Bare and Heidi!!! read more

Everytime I move, I have to deal with finding a good place to get waxed. I found it on my first try this time. I was able to get an appointment the same day. The place is nice and clean. Haley was super nice and did a great job. The prices are reasonable. That is all I ask for. read more

Bare is it. Look no further for your skin/hair needs. I have had waxing and facials at Bare and recommend Heidi to everyone. She's funny, which really helps when your getting your box waxed in the frog position. She is magic with eye brows, and is the only one I trust my brows with. For facials - I had my first facial with Heidi a couple years ago, and have been amazed with the results. Heidi helped me find the right products for my skin type, which not only cleared up my skin, but also made it softer. Bare has great products, fantastic service, and is always helpful when you have questions. read more

I have just found my new brow waxing place. I moved down here from Seattle five months ago and have been searching for a place for my hair-removal procedures since arriving. The places I've gone around town have either been awkward - I hate the smell of lavender and cannot stand it when I leave a building smelling like I've just rolled in a field of it - or my eyebrows have ended up pencil-thin; I have relatively thick eyebrows and like them shaped, not completely removed! But I just had my first appointment with Heidi and I am happy to announce to Yelpers everywhere that this is my place! Heidi is super nice, easy to talk to and does an amazing job. The wax she uses is less painful than other wax types I've had applied to my face and who doesn't like less pain? Couldn't recommend Bare any higher!! read more

I decided to get a wax before my recent trip to Mexico. I hadn't had a wax in over 10 years because I remember how painful it was. I decided to give it another shot because I didn't want to worry about shaving every day and have those icky red bumps on my bikini line. I saw O'Hara and she was so pleasant and professional. It was not half as bad as I remembered 10 years ago. Before I went in to the waxing room, she sat me down to discuss what kind of wax I wanted then we went into the room and she went to work. She was super friendly and didn't make the experience awkward at all. Great place and great waxer! read more

Yep. 5 Big Red Stars! I read all of your reviews and decided that I would make an appointment and take it all off... My hair that is. I was so pleased with the atmosphere and my esthetician was quick and made for a merely painless procedure. I might have annoyed her with my constant blabbing but that is the only way I could keep my mind off of the hot wax + paper ripping my hair from my follicles. I have scheduled out my next appointment and will be returning indefinitely. Hooray. read more

Pleasant, clean, and relaxing environment. I've been in several times since it's close to where I live, but especially enjoyed my visit with Kia yesterday for an underarm and lip wax. She took the time to listen to my concerns about ingrowns, was thorough, professional and has a light touch. Thanks! read more

Heidi is great!! I actually enjoy coming in for a wax! She's so cheerful and kind, and knows her stuff! She pays very close attention to the details, and cleans everything up nicely. She makes waxing as painless as possible. She uses great products, and even makes her own. I've only been for waxing, and can't wait to get a facial!! read more

I found this little place via yelp and am very pleased with my entire experience. I scheduled a facial, eyebrow wax and Belmont bikini wax. Betsey, my technician, was very knowledgable and articulate in her bedside manner. She made me feel completely comfortable throughout the entire process. After a year without a facial we had a lot of work to do, but Betsey made quick work of everything and was very conscious of minimizing my discomfort. I will be booking their facial package and returning regularly. This place is the bee's knees. read more

Stopped by on my lunch and was totally hooked up. Dudes have no fear. Bare was very clean, quick & did precisely what I asked for. I will def be back and recommend Bare to my friends. Well done indeed. read more

While I was visiting Portland I decided to get a facial and found Bare through Yelp. I was lucky enough to get a facial from Betsey who was, in a word, wonderful! She gives the best facial massage ever! When it came time to pay for the facial, I had to ask Betsey to repeat the price. It was a third of what I was used to paying for the same exact facial! Bare is a little gem of a spa! read more

I have searched high and low for a really great brow tweeze. Can't do the wax thing; forehead scabs are not sexy. O'hara at Bare was professional, friendly and quite skilled at tweezing the brow. Now I have two! Having just relocated from San Francisco, I didn't know where to turn, I've tried doing my own to no avail, look worse than when I began. I am delighted and confident I've found a good match in O'hara at Bare. read more

This is a fantastic place to take care of your wax needs. It's cute, clean, and the staff are extremely friendly. I got the Belmont and Nyla did an awesome job. It barely hurt, which says a lot compared to the waxes I'd gotten previously. The prices are also very affordable AND you get a frequent waxer card so every 6th wax is free! It really doesn't get any better than this :) read more

I just moved to Portland and this just became my favorite place! I had the best experience, Nyla was very gentle on my face and was very inviting. I love my eyebrows now, she did a great job! read more

i am a cheap and cynical individual. i come from a long line of scottish women who would put their teeth, hair, skin and even lives at risk in order to save a few dollars. yah- i had to go to 7th grade with green hair, more than once, after a botched dye job my mom just knew she could do better than the salon. and most recently my mom has become convinced that she could do her own face lift- and she is dead f*&%*ing serious. so when i decided i wanted a facial peel, my first instinct was to do it cheaper and better myself. surely the intarwebs could provide some low-cost toxic chemical with no FDA oversite that i, with no training, could apply to my face. surely i could do it better than the salons. when i saw that the lovely ladies at Bare did facial peels i was tempted. but what was this?? they wanted to do an initial facial to see what my skin was like? harumph- sounds like a badly veiled attempt to get more money out of me! But after seeing images of burned ladies on the web [probably had scottish moms too], i decided to try my luck with Bare. green hair grows out, burned faces? not so much. Nicole has made me a believer. after the first facial [after a good week of peeling] my skin was so different. there was this beautiful sort of clear/clarifying layer on my skin and my make up stayed on all day. i've tried every product known to woman kind to get that to happen! Not only was Nicole lovely, but also really knowledgeable and passionate about skin and skin care. and after the first visit i trusted that she knew what she was doing. there is a really good reason for the initial facial- my skin is apparently super sensitive and would have totally fallen apart if we hadn't taken it slowly. my skin texture is just so different [softer, clearer, more even] than before and we still haven't even done the peel yet! the cool thing is that as far as facials go- Bare has great prices!! [good prices for the waxing of lady parts too- which Nicole is also awesome at]. so get your hairy little parts and dull winter skinned faces into Bare! take it from a cheap cynic- it's worth every precious penny. read more

I've been meaning to write this for some time. I've lived all over this country and am picky about where I get services done--hair, nails, waxing, etc. So much so that I had literally taking to waiting until I would travel through San Francisco for work to get my waxing done. Crazy, right? Bare stopped that insanity! Nila is great. She's working off a picture I shared re: my eyebrows. Her bikini wax (the Belmont) is painless and fast. And, the place is clean, comfortable and always welcoming. Everyone there is kind and helpful. I highly recommend them. Love it there! Plus--you get a frequent service card. Brilliant. :) Thank you guys for being you! read more

Betsy is the best! I always feel comfortable and well taken care of during my visits with her. The waxes are far less painful than my previous experiences elsewhere and the attention to detail is outstanding. Bare has motivated me to establish and continue a routine that I normally would be too lazy to keep up. It's the little things that keep me looking forward to my visits. I highly recommend it! read more

I just moved up here from the bay area, and was sad and a little stressed to leave my waxer behind. So the search on Yelp began. I decided to check this place out after reading all the positive reviews, and I am so glad I did! I have gone back since and am delighted with my pretty, newly groomed eyebrows by Heidi. She is very nice and professional, and spent a lot of time on my unruly brows. I have never had anyone be so meticulous with them, it makes me feel like I am getting my moneys worth and that I am not being rushed in and out of there. The space is very pretty and relaxing, prices reasonable. read more

Bare was one of the first places I went to in Portland to get waxed. Over my first year and a half here I had appointments canceled on me 15 minutes before I was supposed to be there (I used to bus at this point and the trip door to door was about 45 mins in total). I had large patches of hair that were carelessly left. And I was unnerved at the prices. Since this was a few years back I have tried again in hopes that they would change my mind. My old waxer is no longer there but it's so hard to get an appointment and while Heidi does a good job I know of cheaper places that do a much better job overall. read more