Alresa works some serious magic. I would never let anyone touch my eyebrows until I found her. Just the thought of someone potentially demolishing my eyebrows gives me nightmares lol I'm very particular about the shape and size of my brows and have always been so hesitant to let anyone touch them. But Alresa is so good with threading that my eyebrows literally inspired art (no joke, someone started using them as a reference for their work). The process is so quick and affordable, and she graciously puts up with my constant sneezes and eye watering. Despite my runny nose and eyes while getting threaded, she makes it as painless as possible. I've even had a Brazilian by her and it was the least painful I've ever had and she had wonderful care tips. She has separate, private rooms for various services, but no matter where you end up, the atmosphere is so calming. She has heaters if you get cold, aloe for eyebrow redness, and paper underwear for waxing. I honestly can't imagine going anywhere else. I haven't tried any of her other services, but I don't doubt they're just as great as the ones I've experienced. Pro-tip: plan to schedule appointments AT LEAST 2 weeks in advance, maybe even more if you have something special coming up and the online scheduler allows it. read more

You're in good hands with Alresa at Cloud Nine and Brow Lounge. She and her staff respect the art form that is your body and how you wish to present it. read more

(Oh dear, I just happened upon this review that I never completed). Alresa is, hands-on, the best in her profession. I had been her client for over 8 years. Never once was I disappointed! Even when I moved out of Oakland, I made it a point to keep coming out there because others are simply just not as good. She truly takes her time with you, actively listens to what you are requesting, and is so careful about her craft. Beyond her skills and professionalism, she is the sweetest person and a great conversationalist. I miss going to her! (I live in SoCal now). I would absolutely recommend her business. read more

Yes, yes, yes...all the positive reviews are true. I just went there today 4 an I-brow waxing based on yelpers reviews of Cloud 9. Alresa is professional and thorough. Most beauty shops claim to be "able" to do eyebrows but after going to such shops 4 so long and looking like I did it myself (meaning blah) I decided 2 yelp 4 help. Alresa analyzes what's good with your face based on what brows u have left on your face ( I tended 2 B overzealous with the tweezers). She's cordial & polite, and keeps a comfortable conversation that doesn't feel forced. I was in and out...not having 2 wait like in "other" places where they overbook & run behind schedule @ your expense. I'm picky & don't give out compliments freely cause not everyone or business deserves it, but I recommend Cloud Nine with Alresa 4 some killa' brow shapin'. read more

Cloud Nine - Hair Removal Near Me - Oakland, California

I've only been here once, but I think Alresa is amazing! Ive been in limbo with eyebrow theaders for a little while now, finally finding one that I love in Los Angeles, but of course, i live in the bay area. Im glad i looked on yelp and found cloud nine, my eyebrows havent looked this good in a ittle while. She is very quiet, and the shop is really dainty. read more

I don't always write reviews but I feel obliged to do one for Alresa. I've been going to Alresa for many years now. I remember the first time she did my eyebrows, I got so many compliments...never looked back. I always tell people to go there for their eyebrows. She knows what she's doing and is very professional. She is also very caring and friendly. Her price is very reasonable too. You won't be disappointed if you get your eyebrows threaded there. She also has another shop on College Avenue. She's always busy so I recommend you place your appointment two-three weeks in advance. She's been very patient and gracious in accommodating me last minute over the years. Thanks Alresa! Can't wait to get my eyebrows done once it's safe to do so. read more

Alresa is the best and the only person to touch my brows. She is a master at craft. I 100% recommend her.

"While I'm down there it might be nice to see a hint of pubis. I'm not talking about a huge 70's Playboy bush or anything. Just something that reminds me that I'm performing cunnilingus on an adult." - Hank Moody I have made an important decision. I'm going for the partial brazilian from now on. I mean, if Hank wants a little bit of pubis, who am I to quarrel? He's just a television character, but he has a point. With nothing down there, I always felt like Chris Hanson was going to jump out of my closet and have "Perverted Justice" haul away my suitor right before that critical moment. Now, I can't risk having any man yanked away mid-munch (as unlikely as that scenario may be). Just to be safe, I will leave a little bush to show that I am a big girl. Make sure you call at least 2 weeks before your desired appointment. Alresa books up fast! Probably because she's so fabulous. read more

Oh Yelp, you old dog, you did it again! I checked out Alresa at Cloud Nine after reading all of her spectacular reviews and and one day later, I'm fully stripped of unwanted hair, fully shapen, and totally satisfied. What's more, the experience was completely painless. Alresa kept me chatting away during the procedure and when it was all over, I couldn't believe we were done. She's taken one of the most traditionally painful experiences and turned it into a total blissfest. AMAZING. read more

I am updating my review for the sole reason that I have gotten quite a few PMs from people who have read my Cloud Nine review wondering where I now go to get my waxes. Are they truly curious, or is it someone working there fishing to find out about the competition? There's no way to really tell, but as I don't get PMs about any other place, it seems quite odd. read more

Cynthia at Spa Bar in SF is the best brazilian waxer in the Bay. However, Alresa is good too and much closer to me than Cynthia. Cloud Nine gets: 1 Point for being Closer than Spa Bar 1 Point for better prices than Spa Bar 1 Point for Alresa's kind spirit 1 Point for Small, Cute Shop Now, I wish Alresa would just buy the other, more gentle type of wax that Cynthia has. The other type of wax truly helps in the pain dept. Man, I miss having a sugar daddy pay for my no-no bits to be waxed...... read more

Alresa is The Sh*t. And she should know it. Yes, she IS Oakland's Next Top Model. Yes, she threads an awesome brow, asks what shape you want (so speak up) and is meticulous (thank god). Yes, she is adorable, friendly, cute and accommodating with appointments. Yes, her prices are very reasonable. Plus, she told me I maintained my eyebrows well between appointments. *Sigh* This is the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me. read more

I'm a believer. I was skeptical, but I'm not anymore. I've been a die hard loyalist to my "waxer" for many years now, and had graduated to getting regular Brazilians with her despite the extreme embarrassment I suffered getting them. But after a particularly productive 5-month lapse in maintenance, I was feeling too shy to present my increasingly jungle-like lady parts to her. I realized the only way I was going to get another Brazilian was if I went to a stranger who I never had to see again if the experience was awful. But, of course, you won't take that job to just anybody. So, taking several fanatic recommendations over the years into consideration, I made an appointment with Alresa. My first appointment with her, for a Brazilian, underarms wax, eyebrow arch, and upper lip wax, took 2 hours. Mostly that was the Brazilian and her needing a machete to work her way though the thick undergrowth. It was painful. I wanted to quit. But she kept on, chatting with me, making me laugh, and encouraging me as she continued stripping out perfect lines with precision, and when she was done I felt like I'd finished a marathon. Not to mention that the embarrassment I felt having my butt exposed with my other waxer just wasn't an issue with Alresa. I stayed relaxed. Everything else was uneventful, except the lip wax when she told me she was going to thread after she waxed for the little fine hairs that wax leaves behind. Threading doesn't feel good, but its really REALLY cool. I was blown away. Between appointments, I only got 1 ingrown hair, which is amazing for me, and my regrowth was surprisingly scant. My second appointment with Alresa was 4 weeks later and it was only an hour. My Brazilian was almost painless, with no redness or soreness afterward. She also didn't wax my eyebrows or lip because she felt like there wasn't sufficient regrowth to justify it, so she did a little trimming and tweezing and threading to clean it up. How refreshing. I'm a fan. Go see her. You won't regret it. read more

I always pictured my first time having a professional waxing done would be very similar to that depicted in "The 40-year-old Virgin", where Steve Carrell shouts obscenities and random names of American Idols in order to take his mind off the searing pan of hot wax stripping off his body hair. I do realize that I have a fairly high level of tolerance for pain, but I've heard too many horror stories associated with the Brazilian wax, that I was second guessing myself for making that appointment at Cloud Nine. I immediately felt at ease during the phone call to make that first appointment. Alresa didn't hesitate to assure me that no, I wouldn't need to take Tylenol prior to my appointment. And she was right- I didn't. Either my tolerance for pain is a lot higher than I thought, or Alresa has the magic touch or because of the conversation we were having, but I barely felt any pain. It was such a positive experience that I've been there again- to have it done all over again! read more

I've been a faithful client of Alresa's for over a year, and she NEVER dissapoints. After deciding to break up with About Face and Body after a tumultuous 2+year relationship, I was on what seemed like a never-ending quest to find a quality esthetician in the E. Bay. Enter Alresa. In addition to being drop-dead GORGEOUS (seriously--she is like Oakland's winner of America's Top Model, hands down), Alresa has mad skills. Girlfriend restored my eyebrows to runway status, and--in the words of Bob Barker--the price is R$GHT! If you are looking for an waxing/threading high priestess? Alresa is the one! read more

Alresa does a great job with threading eyebrows. All of my co-workers immediately knew something was different about me and my lunch time escape to beautify myself was exposed. Cloud 9 would be a solid 5 stars if she switched from the wax strips to the blue wax for those uh, er, "sensitive" areas. read more

Based on reading Natasha's and other yelp reviews, I thought I would stay in the east bay for some eye brow attention rather than fighting traffic to go to Blink in San Francisco as I usually do. Groomed brows make a really big difference, You can't just go to anyone ... they have to know what they are doing. Since I like threading rather than waxing, it can be difficult to find someone that is good. It is a special technique that a lot of people cannot master easily. Well ... Alresa is great at brows! What all of the other Yelpers have said is true. She has found her calling and she makes her talent available to us at a relatively small fee. Thank you Alresa for being organized enough to let us set appointments online. That is very useful and I liked the email reminder a day or two ahead as well. You make it easy to do business with you and you are great at what you do. And now I can save a few bucks and a lot of time by staying in the east bay. read more

The most reasonable price for a Brazilian that I've found in Rockridge done by a great esthetician. I had to book it two weeks in advance because Alresa is so popular. I experienced minimal pain because she reminded me to relax and focus on my breathing. She also suggested I exfoliate *down there,* which I'd never even heard of doing before. Brow threading is another story here, though. I really like the shape of my right eyebrow. For whatever reason, when I try to do the upkeep on my own brows this one always looks good. When she asked me what I wanted and I replied "make my left brow match my right one," you think she'd understand that I didn't want that one to be messed with, but she ended up threading it so that my arch is now closer to my eye than it should be. Hrmph. read more

Since I left NYC about 4 years ago, I haven't not been able to get my eyebrows looking fabulous consistently. They always looked fine but not amazing. I am so happy I found Alresa. I first went to hear about a month ago. Alresa is professional and had my eyebrows looking perfect. I look in the mirror now and I now understand the value of having an arch that suits your face. I went to her for a 2nd time today and it was great. There was scheduling mix up which caused her to be double-booked. Instead of scheduling for another day, she was able to accommodate me. I will be back! Happy to find another Oakland gem. read more

I never LOVED living in Orange County, but I had found a great bikini waxer whom I adored and hated to leave. After moving up to the Bay Area, I bounced around from one bikini waxer to another. Nobody stacked up to my OC woman. Until now. Alresa has a wonderful 'bedside manner' for someone like me who starts sweating profusely at just the thought of someone ripping hair from my bikini area. I told her up front of my anxieties and I don't know how she did it, but I almost had a relaxing bikini wax. She is a truly talented person to be able to put me at ease. read more

Excellent!! That is really all.... Alressa was an absolute GOD SEND!! In NY, where I am from, excellent eyebrow threaders are a dime a dozen. However that is NOT the case in the East Bay.I must have tried 4-5 places and was never satisfied until I met Alressa. She is excellent. I have been going to her for nearly a year now and I have been happy with the results each time. $20 is a bit pricey compared to what I used to pay, but you know what..who cares! She is good and worth it!!! read more

I'm going to be the voice of reason...... Alresa is very nice, but.....it wasn't a life changing experience. Maybe it's because I had to make an appointment damn near a month in advance, and there's no possible way that she could live up to the hype that yelp created and the visions of perfect brows that percolated in my head during that month. Also, by the time I got there my brows were almost connected. She shaped them the way she wanted. When I told her that I usually prefer a thinner brow, she was unwilling to go substantially thinner. Also, for the money, there are other places to get threaded that are more convenient. read more

3 stars for "A-OK" according to yelp's definition. I waited 3 weeks, read the reviews, and was so excited for my appointment. I'd been looking for the perfect eyebrow shape for SO LONG, so I was really hoping that Alresa would help me find my favorite shape. I even fully grew out my brows. When I got there, I showed her two pics of two different eyebrows, saying I wanted something in between, but I also wanted her to do whatever shape she felt worked best with my face. I give her 5 stars for her skills and meticulousness - I mean she spent 20 minutes on my browns, and I felt like she was really being careful. However, I was a bit disappointed that when I asked her questions about what shape she felt best fit my face, she kept giving me answers like "both work" or "this shape I did is a good in between the two pictures you showed me" but honestly I just wanted her real opinion and I wanted her to take direction with my brows! Towards the end, I was outwardly unhappy about my brows, and I mentioned that I might like the shape better like picture 1, but she did not offer to fix them or change them, and only asked me if I would like my brows filled in with powder. I think she better fits with customers who have a firm idea on what shape they want their brows to look like. For $20+tip, I'm not sure if this place is worth it. read more

I never would have found Cloud Nine if it weren't for Yelp. Believe the hype! Alresa makes waxing almost fun. She's both incredibly sweet and exceptionally good at her job... she just makes it hurt less. Also, I booked a full leg & bikini wax and she said I didn't need a full and ended up doing exactly what I wanted originally for $10 less than I expected. NOTE: She accepts credit cards, but cannot accept credit card tips, so remember to bring cash to give her the tip she deserves. read more

Alresa was reccommended to me by a friend and after the glowing reviews in yelp I set out for my first professional wax. The shop is fine, it's perfectly clean and her set-up looked professional. The experience itself was fine. She was thorough and didn't scar me for life or anything. I knocked off stars for bed-side manner. I told her it was my first time but I didn't really feel she was warm or interested in making this the memorable experience other reviewers talk about. I left feeling very awkward and uncomfortable. Also, this is just a little thing, but the light above the waxing table is super harsh. It's two exposed light bulbs in a chandelier. And there's nowhere else to look. I don't know if I'll be back. Maybe she was just having a bad day. read more

You must see Alresa. Kind, gentle and friendly, she's also a true artist. I came in looking straggly and left feeling well cared for with my brows looking sharp. She even got rid of my grays. Run, don't walk in to her beautiful space. read more

Been here a number of times to have my eyebrows threaded. (Not as often as I should, mind you-- but then again, I make a terrible girly-girl.) Every time I see her, my brows come out looking fantastic! (This is no small feat, considering my brows are a bit uneven naturally, and thin in one spot due to a childhood scar.) Plus, she has a tube of hydrocortisone in her drawer, and is liberal about slathering it on my poor sensitive skin afterwards-- to keep the rash at bay. (I have horribly sensitive skin, and have stopped having my brows waxed because of it-- the rash from waxing would often last until the hair grew back in. I have had NO problems since getting them threaded by Alresa.) All in all, the appointments are relatively painless, and she is sweet and cute, to boot. Did I also mention that her prices are unbelievably reasonable? read more

Okay, again, not sure why I haven't reviewed this place already. Alressa is phenomenal. I actually love the appointment system and usually have no problem getting an appointment within the week. I love that she doesn't just automatically go in and take all my eyebrows off, and create a thin, pin sized line to separate my forehead and eyes. I happen to be one who likes hair there, but just wants it to be neat and well shaped. She doesn't judge and does a great job every time. The space is a place you want to be. I have never, ever had to wait super long because she is running over. Her prices are incredibly reasonable. I highly recommend everyone to go visit Alressa at Cloud Nine or the Brow Lounge. read more

It's always nice to find a "one woman show" that can run her business and run it well - and in Oakland!! I've seen her twice in the past 3 months for lip threading, under arm waxing, and the dreaded fully monty! Not sure what made me so brave, but after reading so many great reviews I knew I couldn't go wrong with Alresa. Walking into her salon, I felt completely comfortable and at ease. If you're interested in any kind of bikini waxing all I can say is two words: DISPOSABLE PANTIES. After being presented with them, I cannot understand why more salons do not offer these, especially the expensive ones!! It was surprising to me how these disposable chones put me even at more ease. It's great to know how in tune Alresa is with her customer's feelings - to know having your vajajay on display like that only lends to more tension! She is warm and friendly, works in small patches (this is key!!), and does everything to make you feel comfortable. I will never go to another person for waxing as long as she is where she is. Her place is CLEAN, her prices are VERY reasonable, she takes cash & credit, and she does THREADING!! I highly recommend her, especially to the most weary of persons. She will definitely take care of you. BTW, for those of you wondering - the full monty wasn't bad. Alresa was my *first* and actually made me look forward to the second time. If you go on a 4-5 week schedule, your new growth will be much less and therefore less painful. I have had very minor issues regrowth and it does NOT compare to shaving (which I've always hated). The back is much less painful than the front - yes there are a few very sensitive areas, but there is not anyone I would trust more than Alresa!! As for the Underarm wax, it is GREAT. I will never shave again unless I'm desperate. read more

I neglected to make an appointment with Cloud Nine so in desperation I tried a popular chain waxing place. BIG MISTAKE! Here's why Cloud Nine is so much better: - privacy while you disrobe and get dressed - disposable panties to give the illusion of modesty - no overhead florescent lights to stare at while lying on a table - pre-wax treatment (I don't know if it's a liquid or a powder, but it seems to prep the hair to stick to the wax? It isn't a numbing agent) - wax isn't too hot and hurts less than I expect when removed - good attention to details (plucks stubborn hairs) - I feel good supporting a small business owned by a local woman of color AND her prices are less than the chain salon read more

All I have to say here is "Alresa rocks"...I need to visit again SOON. Ok, ok...I do have more to say...oops! Alresa is super friendly, kind and makes the potentially awkward service of waxing one's coochie surprisingly comfortable. :) Also, she is the first person who ever threaded my brows and they looked phenomenal both times I've had her attack my little caterpillars! :) Too bad it is seldom that I can get out for this type of self-care... read more

I got my first bikini wax today. First ever. And thanks to Yelp (and everyone's Cloud Nine reviews), my experience was totally comfortable and relatively painless. There's something about Alresa that makes you feel relaxed enough to forget that you're really lying down on a table wearing disposable panties that cover the bare minimum, with an "area" that needs some taming. It's hard not to feel humiliated and vulnerable in that position, and Alresa helps you get over it quickly. Her technique is fast and efficient. I was really surprised that it hurt less than I thought it would. You know what hurts though? Threading. That shit is a bitch to sit through. But my brows? Girl, my brows are FABULOUS. Way better than waxing. I just hope that over time, the pain is less intense. I mean, I'm not gonna lie; it hurt so bad, that I asked her to just wax my lip instead of the threading, which she recommended. Anyway. Long story short; everything you read here about Alresa is true. She's great. read more

I started coming here about 2 months ago, and I am so happy. I got tired of going to the nail shops getting my eyebrows done and dealing with all the chaos. Tired of my eyebrows looking a hot mess, and looking like I need to draw them back on. With Alresa you are special. It's just you and her, no waiting in line and no rush jobs. It's by appointment only, so you will get the attention that you deserve. When I first started coming, my eyebrows looked as if a blind person waxed them. Alresa brought them back. it took about 2-3 sessions before they were trained and perfect. I am a very happy customer. read more

I just got my eyebrows waxed. I'm a low maintenance kind of girl and have been tweezing my whole life. Now that I locked down my first real adult job I thought I might get beauty treatments. I was referred to a place in San Francisco (Natural Wonder or something like that) by one of my friends. I was also referred to a place in Danville (Salon 415). Living in Emeryville means I would have to drive at least 30 min to each of these places and pay toll to the SF one. I decided to look on yelp and guess what I saw! Cloud Nine!! Alressa is amazing. She owns her own shop. She's beautiful too. She is skinny, has amazing natural eyelashes and of course her eye brows are perfect. I think she's taken, sorry guys. Anyways, this was my first time waxing and I am just amazed at her job!!! My eyebrows are freaking amazing. You just show up and she kinda analyzes your face. And then decides what's best for you. I trust her completely. The whole process was around 30 min. She waxed, tweezed a little bit here and there and then threaded. I really love my eyebrows. I'm going back! There's free parking too. read more

I am so excited to finally have someone I trust to rip out my hair! A few years ago, I found a good esthetician in Oakland who gave me my first bikini wax and got me hooked. But then I moved to the Mission and couldn't be arsed to cross the bay for appointments--which was a HUGE mistake. After a couple horrible experiences at salons in SF, one of which was amazingly pricey AND ridiculously painful, I gave up on waxing altogether. Until today. Alresa is sweet, professional, and thorough, and it's nice to be able to chat with someone while they rip the hair from your netherparts without it being too awkward. I will definitely be back. read more

This will be a repeat of my review for Brow Lounge. I have been to both locations (Brow Lounge and Cloud Nine). Both seem fine to me, and both offer online appointments, although you have to go to both web sites to see your options. Basically, I pick the location based on what day I want to go. I only started getting my eyebrows done recently. I had a fairly good experience at a salon in Berkeley that friend recommended, but it was pricey, and after waxing I had red patches around my brows for three days. The next place I tried was reasonably priced and closer to home, but I ended up with both red patches and bumps. Ick! I decided to try threading and see if I would have fewer after effects. Third time was the charm: I read reviews for Alresa, and then saw a groupon for Cloud Nine / Brow Lounge and decided to give it a try. I've been completely delighted. I've had my brows threaded and tinted by Alresa several times now. She does an excellent job, and I have only very minor after-effects (a little pink around the brows for a few hours). And, the price is extremely reasonable. One last thought: I have heard some people say that they had a worse reaction to threading than to waxing; obviously for me it was the opposite. I think this is an area where there are definite individual differences. And, I think the skill of the practitioner also matters. All I know for sure is that Alresa's threading works for me. read more

As a long-time client of Alresa's, I am stoked to see her business expanding. She is a kind and hilarious person, who is always complimentary about the Sasquatch-esque state I can sometimes let the 'ole brows get in to, and well, if someone can make you laugh while they're giving you your near-painless regular brazillian? Yeah, that's pretty cool. She also remembers my special sensitive skin requests, and will tweeze most of my brows for free, instead of charging extra. That being said, it is important that you be prepared, as you are with your other in-demand service providers. Bring your calendar, and make another appointment at the end of the current one- it's not rocket science, people. Plus, it also helps us avoid looking like the primate that our bodies are apparently fighting so hard to revert to. read more

1ST THINGS 1ST: I've put off writing about how amazing CloudNine is for YEARS, fearing you'll start going and I'll have to start making my appointments 6 weeks in advance heehee I am a little careless when it comes to my brows, but naturally i'm a bit more sensitive about other areas. Without going into details CloudNine is the BEST place for a proper bikini wax. There have been some complaints of having to book so far out in advance. Well its a small price to pay for THE BEST. Friendly, clean, reasonably priced and great chit chat through the whole treatment = almost painless. HA! read more

Alresa is an artist! With a upcoming June elopement, I was eager to find a talented technician to make my brows their very best. Having read about Cloud Nine on Yelp, I was excited to try threading and work with someone who has a reputation for being a cut above the rest. Let me just say, Alresa did not disappoint. From being warm and welcoming, to carefully explaining what to expect, I felt really comfortable and prepared. Moreover, with a keen eye for enhancing a person's existing brow and shape, I was thrilled to see that she worked with my brow's natural contour thereby best accentuating my face. I could not be happier with the results - Thank you Cloud Nine! read more

I went here after sitting on a gift certificate for wayyyy too long from my man. I've become that girl who finds it hard to schedule a prolonged amount of time to do something nice for herself. This, my friend, must change! I had scheduled myself an hour long massage with Theresa on a Saturday afternoon. She greeted me with open arms and a smile after my little bike trek to the salon. She has so much passion for what she does, (being a nurse, an advocate for community health and therapeutic massage) that I really felt comfortable with her. She made it a point to let me know it was "ok to let go" of anything that was bothering me and really helped me breathe in a more relaxed way using yoga techniques. At the end of my massage I wanted to nap. So I did. She let me relax, no rush, my body was twisted and turned and she practically beat the kinks and overcrowded thoughts out of my system. Having someone around you who obviously loves what they do makes the experience that much more enjoyable. Whenever I get a massage I always think "Damn, they must be TIRED!" after I'm done-especially since I feel like I've just ran my body through a car wash after one. I'd definitely go back, as now I'm curious about their beauty services! read more