All the reviews say that Kelly is the best. If she is the best, then I guess Jessica is second best. Because she was trained by the best! I was treated for vein removal for broken capillaries on my legs and face by Jessica. The treatment was very quick. I won't say it was completely pain-free, but it was tolerable. Kind of like being snapped with a rubber band over and over. I also got IPL on my face. This is not my first time having laser vein removal or IPL, but it was the most effective. I actually walked out of there noticing a huge difference. These veins around my nose that have been bothering me for years are gone! Best of all the price was very reasonable and includes a follow up appointment in case I need any touchups. So glad I went!!! read more

Won't actually clarify what their cancellation policy is. I got covid after traveling abroad and I asked to reschedule 26 hours before my appointment. Charged me anyway. I specifically asked at one of my electrolysis appointments if they saved my credit card information and was told they don't do that. Can't charge a card if it's not on file. Poor customer service, unethical, and rude. read more

Kelly is a true professional. I go there to get a photofacial and the redness in my face has dissipated considerably. Her and her team are always pleasant and in high spirits. We always seem to have a nice conversation through the process of laser zapping my face. read more

Been coming here since 2009! Kelly is amazing, I love Marcy, Jade, Jessica, everyone Kelly hires is the best. You're wasting your money, time, and beauty if you're going anywhere else. read more

Kelly at Essentially bare is awesome. I have had a few different treatments and all were great and professionally done. The Carbon facial is one of my favorites, not to mention laser hair removal, but what I appreciated most was tattoo removal. I had a heavily inked tattoo which took many treatments to remove. I received quotes upward of $2-3,000 from other clinics, but Kelly offered me the "until gone" package for ~$1,000 and I couldn't be happier. The service is great, the office is clean and sterile, not to mention the ease of online booking. Kelly has literally become my "go-to" girl. read more

Very pleased with the IPL treatment for my melasma. Had a follow up check up and gave me one more round for the few spots that were still visible. Owner is friendly and efficient. read more

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SO good!! Love the service and the people, so flexible and so caring and super trans friendly :)

Skincare is self care‍ My mother back in the day would get Laser Hair Removal.. No regrets.. Kelly the owner ask you what you want you're skin to look like? No selling just providing the expertise of understanding how the skin ages.. let's face it we all are getting older... but I want to age with grace read more

Essentially Bare - Hair Removal Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I began the tattoo removal process several years ago for a rather stubborn tattoo (regrettable teenage decisions) when I lived in the area. I have since moved to NYC, where I would likely be paying triple to receive the same service, so when I come back to the Boston area to see family, the staff is always super accommodating and gets me in for an appointment -- even on short notice. Everyone is extremely friendly; they all make a rather unpleasant process as enjoyable as one could hope for! read more

Horrible, manipulative practices!! So Ive been there a few times for botox and filler. They are always changing staff you can never get the same person you had before. I recently called in for more botox after having my son. I asked the woman to chk my chart to see how many units I had on my last visit bc I wanted to get the same amount as the results were perfect. She said it was 10 so , I told her that was what I would like to have bc the first time I got the botox (15 units) I had a heavy sag over my eyes for abt a month! She then mentioned that they have a policy of 20unit minimum bc of the nurse's time. She said that she would chk with Kelly (the owner) and get back to me. I just got off the phone with the woman (Doreen) and she said that bc im only getting ten , its fine but that i would have to sign a form saying that i agree to go against the recommendation (?) and that if i am not satisfied and have to go back that there would be a $50 fee. Ok! Pretty manipulative. Then she says, "i also spoke with the office manager and there was an issue with your card before and we need you to pay upfront"! Now here was the issue with my card , and i now recall this,, that in between visits my card issuer later sent out a new card as the prior had expired. That was the last straw, I told her I was all good with doing business and she says "okay". -not the type of attitude that spells "customer satisfaction". How ridiculous is this!! The only logic explanation is that they dont care to have my business. There are plenty of other places I can go to and I will do just that! I would not recommend this place! read more

I've been to essentially bare a few times now for laser tattoo removal and I couldn't be more pleased with their service! Their excellent service starts as early as when I call for my appointment request, the staff is always helpful and accommodating in case I need to change it, etc. They are friendly and helpful answering any questions I might have before I come in. When I come in, there's a few minutes wait, but it is totally worth it as my doctor is helpful and very detail oriented. You can tell she really cares about a good outcome. I'd been getting my tattoo laser removal for over a year at another location and I've noticed more difference with the few times going to essentially bare than I ever did at the other place! I couldn't recommend this place more! Thank you essentially bare for always providing excellent service! read more

I went here for Botox. The first time I went, I waited about two or three weeks and didn't see any results. I went back and they agreed to re-inject with a different product (in case I was immune to Botox). That didn't produce any results either, and I didn't bother going back. I went in to a plastic surgeon for Botox in San Francisco and saw immediate results. Poor technique at Essentially Bare and a waste of several hundred dollars as far as I'm concerned. read more

I had a terrible experience at the essentially bare cosmetic& laser clinic. I was shocked at how unprofessional and rude attitude the owner has, ridiculous service, no experience, price gouging, 0 results. Not to mention below average "cosmetic clinic" poor sanitary and hygiene conditions. I've had tattoo removal procedures twice. After the second treatment I was really disappointed with the outcome and brought to her attention that I didn't see much result not to mention that my skin was burned because of her poor knowledge. I had my 3rd appointment after a month and she sent me confirmation the day before all the details except she failed to inform me that the price was increased 3 times. Until I drove down there through the traffic and got into a chair then she decided to let me know that the price was 3 times more for the same exact procedure she did a month ago. Ridiculous customer service, the owner gets frustrated if you say you don't see a result and you are tagged as a "difficult customer". I would NOT recommend this place to anyone, stay away and don't waste your money. I'm going to report this owner to the Boston Board of associates for poor knowledge, lack of professionalism and ethics. It was a really unpleasant experience for the Cambridge and surrounding community. read more

I've been coming to Essentially Bare for 12 years now. I've had IPL, chemical peels, Laser hair removal, SPECTRA peels, topical treatments. I drive 30 miles each way to get there and will continue to do so for as long as they're in business. Why? Because this place is EXCELLENT. Kelly is competent, HONEST, and she will tell you the truth about the treatments you need. You know how sometimes you convince yourself that you need that expensive laser? If you won't benefit from it, she will tell you. How many places would do that? Not many, I'll tell you. Not only that, but there is NO shaming there. She will not shame you for picking at your acne, for skipping the sunscreen. She recommends it, yes, but there's no shaming. The laser hair removal is potent. She won't sell you packages of 10 because she knows she can do it in 3. If more sessions are required, it's not because she wants to poach your money. It's because you need it. So in a world of cosmetics where all everyone wants is your money, Essentially Bare offers you the rarity of honesty. Go here and nowhere else! read more

This was my first time getting Botox, and the treatment didn't work at all. No response. I should have gone in for a follow up but I had a specific budget in mind, and I didn't want to purchase a lot more than 15 units. When I came back in finally to discuss what had happened they said I should be treated with the 20 units initially recommended (I am confused why 5 more units would cause a significant jump in effectiveness) and offered a $50 discount on my next treatment. More about my specific situation: I'm in my early 30s and I had just the 11 lines treated between my brows for maintenance purposes. I was nervous I would look frozen, so I went with just 15 units so I could see what it would do. UPDATE: I called a different place this week and they mentioned that you can get an automatic $50 rebate from the Allergan company as a Brilliant Distinctions member. Also Brilliant Distinctions lists all of the doctors, nurses etc by name who are using Allergan products... Anyway, I am going to try another med spa and will update this review if the Botox works. UPDATE: Well, 22 units is my magic number. Or less, who knows? Maybe 20 would have done the trick as well. I went to Boston Medical Aesthetics. The nurse there was confident 15 units would not be enough because of how strong my muscles are in that area. She used 22 units, and less than 5 days in, the results are AMAZING. She had a different technique than the nurse at Essentially Bare. I felt the injections more strongly and she had me tense and relax my muscles (frown) before placing each injection. I should have gone back to Essentially Bare to get more botox when I saw it wasn't really doing anything, but I think I misunderstood the process. Now that I know 22 units works, I would consider going back to Essentially Bare to try again. I would rather stay this side of the Charles and not to have to go through Boston traffic and parking... I can recommend Boston Medical Aesthetics though. I did have a good experience there. read more

Incredible welcoming (and gender afirming) staff. i have been made to feel so comfortable coming here and my results for facial laser hair removal have been outstanding. Kat and Pattie are my heroes. read more

It all started pretty well three years ago -- I had a few hairs on my face I wanted to get rid of -- Kelly's salon was attractive and convenient -- but she burned my face with the laser treatment. Next time I went back, when I told her about the burns, she wasn't terribly concerned -- said she'd lower the laser a bit and I'd be fine. Wrong. Why did I keep going there? I liked her other aestheticians -- who were very responsive to my concerns. Last night, I called with some questions and unfortunately Kelly answered the phone. I asked some questions -- she was cold, pretty rude and clearly wanted to get rid of me. In fact, she couldn't get off the phone fast enough. So: bottom line-- I will be going elsewhere for treatments -- If you like burns and rude treatment, this is the place for you. read more

I was a total skeptic on laser hair removal but my friend recommended this place and the lady is amazing. She tells me funny stories to distract from the (totally manageable) pain and they give prescriptions for numbing cream which is a game changer. After one session, the results are incredible, seriously. read more

Decided to come here based on the Yelp reviews and they did not disappoint. Clean facilities, personable staff, professional atmosphere and top quality products. They really took their time to answer the questions I had, make me feel comfortable, and follow-up after the procedures. Looking forward to my next visit already! read more

I have a tattoo that I had done before I was aware of the difference between a good tattoo artist and a bad one. Needless to say, as bad tattoo artists can be found in spades, the one who did my tattoo (my first) was not so great. I have since learned the value of portfolio research and good communication with an artist before getting a tattoo, whether small or large! I had been considering pursuing tattoo removal for a while, but the cos is fairly prohibitive and the tattoo not embarrassing or awful enough to justify the cost. When I saw an EXTREMELY well-priced deal for Essentially Bare on LivingSocial, I checked out their website, made a phone call, and felt good about what I saw and heard, and decided to purchase the deal. I went to my first appointment today and was lucky enough to work with a very friendly, knowledgeable, and informative technician - her name has slipped my mind, but I think it's Julia. She was great. She was able to answer all of my questions, and even had a "sample" of what to expect after the first session, because she used the laser on a portion of one of her own tattoos - which is pretty awesome. I'll not mince words - it hurt like crazy. I have never thought that getting a tattoo was terribly painful, but this was on a whole different level. On the upside, the point of the laser is quite large, and it took less than a minute to cover the entire area (which is a bit over 3 square inches). She gave me an ice pack, told me to come out to the front desk whenever I was ready, and then I scheduled my next session and was on my way! I am really happy that I was fortunate enough to get the deal with such a great company - sometimes when you get those great deals you never really know what you're getting in to! Also, I was happy to learn that they have multiple lasers with different wave lengths, so it can more effectively break up different colors of ink. I would highly recommend going to Essentially Bare, and ask for Julia (I think!) :) read more

I had my first visit at Essentially Bare and I was soo pleased and impressed, living in the boston area it's hard finding a reasonably priced medical spa that does a quality job but this is the place to go!! Doreen was at the front and answered all my questions and was so sweet! Kelly removed my tattoo, i was so nervous but she made it super easy and was friendly and talked me through the whole process. I'm not going to lie- it's quite painful but they made a miserable process very easy and as pleasurable as possible! definitely recommend. read more

I'm booked for my 3rd treatment (laser hair removal) at Essentially Bare in a few weeks. I wanted to give them a shout out because I found Kelly (who might be the owner?) refreshingly ethical. I went in for a consultation for bikini and underarm laser hair removal and she was really up front about the fact that it MIGHT work for me but that it might not because I'm fair skinned with fine medium brown hair. She suggested doing a complimentary test patch and then having me evaluate the area 6 weeks later to see if I thought there was less hair. Thank you, Kelly! It did work for me and I have been back. I just really appreciate that she didn't try to pressure me or give me false assurances. I also like that she didn't immediately push some big package. Thanks! I will be referring my friends. read more

I love Essentially Bare. I've been to both locations but I prefer Back Bay for the convenience and also for the huge basket full of gossip magazines in the waiting room, because I admit, I need a Lindsay Lohan fix every so often. In addition to the tabloids, they also offer a great range of cosmetic services and pricing is a bargain, definitely at the low end. I see Kelly for my appointments and she's knowledgeable, attentive and professional. Definitely a worthwhile indulgence. Essentially Bare will make you feel as fabulous as Kim Kardashian, who would no doubt be a regular here if she lived in Boston. read more

I called for the first time yesterday. They had a same day opening and asked if I was interested in coming in which I was very happy to do. The front desk/phone administrator was extremely friendly and efficient. I had botox injected by Lindsay who was quick, very friendly, and compassionate about my needle phobia. I feel like I already see a difference. Time will tell, but I left with a feeling of satisfaction and plan to return for other treatments. read more

After a series of microdermabrasion & chemical peels my bacne has cleared, and my hypopigmentation (white spots) + hyperpigmentation (dark spots) from the acne have faded dramatically. It took about 4 sessions of the combined microderm + peel 1-2 months apart for my skin to become completely clear, with dramatic results after just the first session. Now I have it done twice a year for maintenance. In the past, I tried salicylic, glycolic, and benzoyl peroxide washes/creams with limited success. I'd also tried back facials, which although left my skin plump & hydrated, did nothing for my acne or spotting. Their prices are very reasonable, especially compared to the pricey facials I received from numerous salons. The environment is more akin to a medical office than a pampering soothing spa; Kelly and Lisa & the staff are friendly and very knowledgeable. After my fantastic results, I'd highly recommend Essentially Bare to anyone looking to clear up their acne, and fade their hypo/hyperpigmentation. read more

I am very disappointed with the treatment I got at this place. Because of so many good reviews, I decided to travel 2 hours from my city to Cambridge to be treated at this clinic and unfortunatelly my problem was not solved. It was a skin issue which docter MADE CLEAR it was going to be cleared up and she charged me over $200 for each section: WASTE of money. A few days ago I called her explaning what happened and that she(owner) could set up an appointment for me again, although she told me at first that she could set up an appointment for me on September 25 because according to her it was all booked before that day. Then I called again afterwards, spoke to someone else and then they actually had a time for an appointment on september 15. Very bad experience. read more

Kelly is the skincare person we all need in our lives - passionate, hugely skillful, deeply thoughtful. I am grateful for her careful work and her willingness to address my concerns, large and small. I completely recommend her. read more

Having been coming here for years !!! Staff is amazing & very accommodating ! Have always had the best treatments from laser, electrolysis and other treatments !!! read more

I made it here because someone recommended it as a good place for lazer hair removal. The office looked nice and cozy, so that made me feel relaxed. I had spoken with 2 people prior to my arrival. Both ladies were extra warm and welcoming while I was there. The only reason I gave them a 3... the lazer burnt my skin. However, I was told she was doing her best to make sure that wouldn't happen. I strongly believe she ment no harm. Apparently one machine is stronger than the other. Lazers aren't my area of expertise... I was glad the test area was only a small visible area. read more

I have had a couple of IPL photo facials on my face and chest, one carbon laser treatment and one micro-dermabrasion. Initially, I went in for a consult thinking that I would need something along the lines of laser resurfacing for my sun-damaged, hormonal acne skin. After inspecting my skin, Julie recommended an IPL instead, which was also significantly cheaper. Since then, I have received all of my treatments from Julie who is quite knowledgeable and always takes the time to understand what is going on with my skin, explains the procedure to set the correct expectation and ensures that I am as comfortable as possible throughout each procedure. Personally, I was not a fan of the micro-dermabrasion as it did not appear to yield any results for my skin type, but the carbon laser did help with my hormonal acne. I'm a huge fan of the IPL. I lived in Florida for 18 years, and was a total beach bunny for most of it. After only a couple of treatments the IPL has yielded fantastic results as far as diminishing sun damage from my face and chest. I'm kinda bummed to see so many negative reviews as I have always had a positive experience at essentially bare. I have never experienced issues with scheduling, upselling, product or procedure pushing. In fact, as a regular customer, the staff there has offered special deals to me and are always quite friendly. read more

I have been having botox and fillers at the Cambridge location of Essentially Bare over the past few years. Each time I finish my appointment, I remind myself how lucky I am to have found Essentially Bare.When I call to make an appointment, I am immediately put at ease. Doreen will look at what works for you , and if it is booked. she will call you and leave a message for any cancelations in the time zones you were interested in scheduling an appointment. Also, she is great with telling you the specifics of what you need or may want to consider for each appointment. When you show up you feel welcome, the office is calm, clean and efficient. The register nurses are outstanding, listening to your needs, providing honest feedback and performing every step of the procedure with kindness, in a professional manner. The results I have had are wonderful. I feel as if the nurses are prepared, honest, very kind, efficient, helpful and really try to identify with my needs in the safest and best manner they feel will work to meet my expectations. I am delighted to refer people I care about to this outstanding business. I have had excellent results with the botox, and fillers. read more

I went in for botox injections and the results were very disappointing. I suspect the botox was no longer viable or it was diluted. Called about the ineffectiveness and all I was offered was to purchase more botox--not cool. I should of went to a Doctors office for this treatment. read more

Patricia Crane is the best Electrologist around. You cannot find a nicer and more expert person for electrolyis than Patricia. She explains everything so easily and has great patience and understanding with the whole process. You can't go wrong with Patricia!! read more

I've been going to Essentially Bare for over three years now for botox, fillers and microderm. The owner, Kelly, is awesome, and all of the injection nurses are highly skilled and professional. They also LISTEN to what you want. I truly recommend this Med Spa-- it will become home for you too. read more

I recently went to have a microdermabrasion facial with Kelly and it was first one I've had ever! She explained everything to me and after she gave me a complimentary anti-aging mask. I had been here a couple times before last year. I had at first some fillers and I was very happy with the results. I then in November 2017 had my first ever IPL Laser facial and I saw immediate results. It took off a lot of my brown spots I had on my face. I went back for the follow up 2 weeks later on the IPL and Kelly went over my face once more with the laser. My skin felt so soft, like butter! I had a very large spot on my cheek that is gone now from this one IPL I had. I just made another appointment for the IPL with Kelly the owner as I want to keep up with my skin at my age. (50's).. Everyone here is very nice and very professional. The girls here are very good at what they do and the pricing is very fair as well. read more

I had a microneedling session followed immediately by a glycolic peel. I've been doing microneedling for several years now but never with a peel. So I was curious as to what the added benefit may be. I spoke to Kelly, the owner, about this combo. She was very courteous and professional about answering all my questions and explaining why she thought this signature "blended methodology" treatment had shown good results and was one of the strongest 1 visit treatments. Because I've had microneedling in the past we decided I would use the 36-needle option as my skin would tolerate and benefit from the advanced technology. Kelly, my service provider (not to be confused with Kelly the owner:) was extremely personable, knowleadgable and has an amazing ability to gently guide a client through the process. I can't say enough nice things about her. She was just a delight! The procedure itself was easily tolerated. The 36-needle pen just felt like small vibrations across the planes of the face; the topical anesthetic cream mitigated any painful sensation. I was a bit nervous about the follow-up peel. I kept thinking back to all the challenging stories I have read about various high level TCA peels where the recuperation was intense. At the procedure Kelly assured me this was lower level 4. I had forgotten to ask owner Kelly about the peel at our consult so, while I was a bit disappointed it was a low level, I knew I couldn't really judge its outcome until all my healing resolved. Down time was approximately 2.5 days. The downtime for me did not consist of any 'pain' per se, just some mottled skin tone, peeling skin and a tiny area of crusting on my forehead, which can come with this treatment depending on your own physiology. I did the procedure on a Friday and by Monday I was able to put on the provided tinted sunblock and no one knew the difference. I love microneedling. It evens out my skin tone, helps restore some collagen production and just makes my skin appear clear. People often ask me what I do because my skin has a refined look to it. "You're skin looks great!" "Mirconeedling!" I shout back. As for the added peel, I do think just getting a small layer of compromised skin off is a good thing. While I wouldn't say it made a huge improvement as of yet, the jury is still out...I only had the procedure done 2 weeks ago. I think it will only get better, and, as it wasn't an adversarial recuperation I figure why not. I've been coming to EB for approximately 8 years and have always had productive experiences. They do truly offer medical grade treatments, with qualified staff members at reasonable prices. You can get physician quality in a skillful setting without the 'unknown' factor of many flight-by-night med spas. Thanks! read more

All I have to say is I love essentially Bare been a customer for 2 years. After 6 failed hair removal visits at another place ...I was lucky to find Essentially Bare. After one hair removal visit with Kelly I was shocked at how well the hair removal worked, the area treated was dark thick hair , the results after one session were amazing! Kelly is knowledgeable and professional! My next treat to myself was a Photo Facial, my skin was looking tired from years of sun damage and teen zits, this facial really changed my skin it was now beautiful ...bright and sun damage free. My third service tattoo removal, great results my tattoo was a dark deep ink tattoo that I wanted to have removed for years...after several treatments it's almost gone Kelly did a great job working on it and her pricing is very reasonable! If you are looking for a safe , clean, professional and friendly environment I highly suggest Barley Essential!!!! read more

I did my face peeling laser...I thought it was relatively good price for what they do. However, Kelly burned my forehead and burned my hair with laser. I still have dark spot on my forward burned from laser she did. DON'T EVER GO TO THIS PLACE! unpleasant experience... Now, I don't know what to do with my burned forehead from laser. read more

The staff at Essentially Bare is top-notch. They are extremely friendly and professional, and I am always impressed with my results. They even call me when they have specials or last-minute cancellations, offering me a discount if I take the spot. The environment is pleasant and relaxing, and the treatments are quick and well-executed. I would have no qualms about recommending Essentially Bare to a friend. read more

My consultation with Kelly was very informative. I felt like she knew what she was talking about - so I trusted her with my face. I had an IPL for minor melasma which went well. Kelly made me comfortable throughout the process. A couple weeks later, I had a spectra laser peel (right before my sister's wedding) so my skin would glow in family photos. Kelly told me that there was little to no downtime with a spectra laser peel. I did some research and all the information indicated that there was no downtime as well. Unfortunately, I had some sort of allergic reaction which caused my eye to swell. I was panicked because my sister's wedding was in 2 days! The reason I am rating Essentially Bare with 5 stars is because of the exceptional response and customer service I received from Kelly. I felt liked she actually care about the results. She called and texted me numerous times with follow-up care. Kelly was going out of town the day before my sister's wedding, but she even responded to all my texts and calls while she was on her way to the airport. Sometimes, customer service seems like a lost art today. However, I have newfound hope that professionals care and actually like what they do. My skin did glow for my sister's wedding. My eye was still a little swollen - but thanks to good make-up and hair, no one could even tell. My allergic reaction was a complete freak thing - no one's fault, but things happen and it boils down to how you deal with it. Kelly was awesome! I would certainly recommend and use Essentially Bare again. read more