I first found out about Madoka when I started seeing TJ at Beauty Logic (both aestheticians share…read morethe same beauty salon space but have separate brands/companies). I had already been seeing TJ for facial waxing, but was interested in getting a brazilian as well. However, since I knew TJ personally, I wasn't quite comfortable with getting my nani waxed by her even though I knew she'd be nothing short of professional. So like a woman in an affair, I booked an online appointment for a brazilian with Madoka. Now, since I felt slightly ashamed for not going to TJ directly for my brazilian, I had booked my appointment on a day that I thought TJ would be off. However, as you may have already guessed...I chose wrong lol. I arrived about 10-15 minutes early seeing as it was my first appointment, and wanted to ensure that if there was paperwork that it was completed prior to my appointment time. I had even confused Anya, the receptionist, who had affiliated me with TJ for appointments, as she had commented that she didn't realize I had an appointment on that day. And of course, just as luck would have it, both Madoka and TJ stepped out of appointments at the same time, and like a deer in headlights, I had to spill the beans to the wife (TJ), the mistress (Madoka), and the kid (Anya). All jokes aside, I'm glad that it happened because similarly to TJ, Madoka is truly a woman who is passionate and skilled in her craft. Whenever you're in an appointment, you know you're in good hands from the get-go, and unlike some aestheticians that just "do the job," Madoka actually takes her time to ensure that whatever service she's providing for you is done to the best of her ability. I don't think I've ever had a brazilian where I've felt completely satisfied as there are often small strips here and there or areas that could've been more taken care of, but with Madoka (and with your permission), she'll ensure that she gets every single hair off of you that she can. She's also a great conversationalist as my appointments with her often feel like a catch-up with a girlfriend, rather than an appointment (even with the heated wax). Overall, if you're looking for a professional in hair removal, I would highly recommend Madoka. I don't think you'll ever meet another aesthetician who is as skilled and passionate as she is about her craft. And the work that she does is truly magnificent. Even after all these years, I still find myself in awe after an appointment just as I had when I first saw Madoka, and I think that speaks volumes with how phenomenal of an aesthetician she is. Plus, I don't think I've ever appreciated a good wax until we started this damn pandemic. Sometimes, I forget that Chewbacca and I are not one and the same.

I don't usually write reviews, but my experience with Wax & Sugar Honolulu -- and especially with…read moreMadoka, the owner - absolutely warrants one. I've been a returning customer for years, even if my hectic schedule as a civil servant kept me away longer than I ever wanted. There's a reason she stays booked: she's genuinely the best. Her knowledge, attention to detail, and the level of care she puts into every customized treatment are unmatched. She doesn't just provide a service -- she creates an experience where you feel understood, comfortable, and taken care of. Recently, I returned out of necessity because my teenage son had his first waxing experience elsewhere, and it was a terrible one - on his birthday too:(( I needed someone I could trust completely, and I knew there was no one better than Madoka...She went out of her way to make sure he felt safe, respected, and reassured. Her calm presence and expertise turned what could have become a long-lasting fear into a positive, empowering experience for him. Madoka truly sets the standard for professionalism and genuine care. I am beyond grateful for her, and I won't be going anywhere else again. If you want someone who is knowledgeable, kind, and consistently exceptional, this is the place. Schedule early bc she gets booked fast! Mahalo nui loa!

10/10 Recommend for all your sugaring needs!…read more It was my first time getting sugared and my first Brazilian done by someone else so I was quite nervous but Sharnay did such a good job making the process as quick and comfortable as possible. I wanted to get sugared for a while now and finally decided to contact Sharnay after looking at other Yelp reviews. She was able to fit me in. She is located in the building across from Kaiser Hospital. Her space is upstairs which was easy to find with her very clear directions I received after booking and the signs presented near the door. There is also plenty of street parking across the street near McKinley HS. When I first walked in, I noticed the room was decorated with plants and crystals-- which is just my style. The room for the sugaring was clean and wipes were provided. The process was a lot shorter than I was expecting, around 15-20 minutes for everything GONE! It was also a lot less painful than regular waxing at home. Will be going back for my 7 week maintenance!

Sharnay was awesome from the moment I contacted her until I left her studio! She was prompt and…read moreprofessional the whole way. She responded to me quickly and was able to accommodate me in her schedule the same day. Easy location to find, only issue I had was the parking I missed the spot fast and had to circle around the building. You'd have to be lucky to get out the driveway onto traffic and in a busy intersection to circle around. Anyways, when I got in side the studio Sharnay made me feel comfortable and relaxed. This was my first time sugaring and threading! She was awesome! Kept checking in on me if I'm doing okay, and she was fast. I'd definitely recommend her to anyone that wants to make the switch to a natural alternative for hair removal. Mahalo Sharnay! I'll definitely be back for more

Anna is the best! She is so sweet and took her time and did a very detailed and amazing job!! Love…read morethem

Very Friendly and affordable. You will like the whole team. They give you cost options so you can…read moredo more if you want.

Great service. I booked their lash special. I was able to get a weekend appointment. They were very…read moreprofessional and my lashes looked Great

Came to get lash extensions. I scheduled a "Classy Classic Set". I met with Noriko, who walked me…read morethrough a whole binder of selections. From length, to style, to color, the works! It was visually appealing. After discussing, it seems that we decided a hybrid set was more what I was looking for so I got that with a few lashes of purple. Noriko explained that these custom lashes that I was asking for would take a little longer than my original scheduled appointment. So I would have to come back at a later time to do it. My first appt was at 2pm and then I came back again at 5pm after her other appt. It would be nice to have an option for "New Client Appt" perhaps next time so we can discuss what the client is looking for and have some buffer time if need be. As well the location is a little hard to find. It's within a parking lot. They do validate parking but you still have to pay $6. The quality of the lashes is wonderful. It's been now 2 1/2 weeks and the retention is great.

Lily's Nail Spa & Hair Salon | across from the mountain side of Ala Moana Shopping Center, left of…read moreBank of Hawaii | Island of Oahu It's been a year, and it was time! About a year ago, I decided to trim my own hair. Let's just say... it didn't go well. The haircut was so bad that I lived with it for an entire year before finally deciding it was time to let a professional fix it. The funniest part? I even took that haircut with me on a trip to New York City... and believe it or not, no one in New York City even sneered! Teeheehee I honestly think providence brought me here. On my way to Ala Moana Center, I happened to notice Lily's Hair Salon and thought, "That's interesting. I've never noticed that place before." Just before that, I had called Macy's to make an appointment at their salon. The phone rang, but then a recording said the number was no longer in service. Since I just couldn't believe it, I went looking for the salon anyway and discovered it had actually closed during the pandemic. That discovery sure earned a surprised panda face! So, believe it or not, I made my way back to Lily's. When I first walked in, the woman at the front desk told me their hairstylist was busy and suggested I try the salon upstairs. I did, only to find they were closed. I came back downstairs and told her I didn't mind waiting about 20 minutes. While I waited, I happily took advantage of their massage chair. After physical therapy, that massage chair felt wonderful. Before long, Min Hee was ready for me. What I appreciated most was that she listened. The first thing she did after I sat down was start with an assessment and ask me what I wanted trimmed. She never once tried to convince me to cut my hair much shorter than I was comfortable with. I showed her how I like to clip my hair up while still having enough length for a little dangling ponytail, and we agreed to preserve that length while cleaning up the overall shape. She then trimmed the ends to the length I wanted, washed my hair, took another careful look at it, cut the rest, and finished with a blow dry so she could see exactly how it naturally lies. I look like Jules Y. again! LOL Now I have bangs again, my haircut is even and balanced, and my hair finally looks polished instead of like the DIY haircut I'd been trying to live with for the past year. My hair frames my face much more naturally now, the ends are clean and even, and everything blends together the way I like it. My haircut was $65. There is a $2 fee if you pay by credit card. Parking was easy, with six free stalls right in front of the salon. The salon itself isn't fancy, but it's clean, comfortable, and more than good enough. As you face the inside of the salon, the restroom is on the left in the back, where you'll also find complimentary water and snacks. Min Hee is the salon's full-time hairstylist and also provides nail services. There are two additional hairstylists who work part-time on their own schedules. Everyone I interacted with was pleasant, courteous, and genuinely helpful. They all seem to know who their customers are, so you won't get asked, "Why are you wanting to use our restroom?" That may sound like a small thing, but it contributes to the welcoming atmosphere from the moment you walk in. Thank you, Min Hee, for giving me such a great haircut and a wonderful experience. I'm very happy to have found your salon on the very day I decided it was finally time to have my hair professionally cut.

I've been coming here for over 10 years and it's really gone downhill in quality and service. Will…read morenot come again. 1) the front desk girl with bleached blonde hair is rude. I asked her when we were going to begin as we'd been waiting for 20 mins and she immediately got defensive. I responded back that all she had to do was let me know when they were planning to start rather than staring at her phone the ENTIRE time and not acknowledging at all that 3 people were waiting (my group). Not kidding, she stared at her phone looking at social media the whole time without acknowledging time. 2) there is barely any ventilation in here. It smells really strongly of polish and is terrible for you. Of course a nail salon will smell like polish, but here it's particularly bad as there's no ventilation (or hardly) 3) we had 3 pedicures where 1 was the normal $29 one and two were supposed to be the $42 one. They ended up charging us $60 rather than $42 saying they misheard and did extra massage service. I told them we'd ask for two of the same $42 ones. I was irritated at this point and just paid for the service and left. If you go here, be warned the service from that particular front desk girl is bad, the ventilation is lacking and the fumes here are carcinogenic, and be careful about your charges.

Need eyebrow help? Are you scared of trusting people with…read moreyour sacred eyebrows? Look no further, SHOKO got your brows! I have been going to Shoko for my eye brows for a couple years now, and always recommend her to friends and family for many reasons. I have gotten my eyebrows done by others *ahem* that didn't know what the heck they were doing. I literally have walked out with 4 eye brows instead of 2 because they burned and pulled my skin off with the wax. Shoko has never gave me more eye brows that I wanted. Shoko makes me feel comfortable with all the options I could do with my eye brows. Eye brows are so important, it could make or break your face. Shoko always succeeds at making me look as natural as possible, which is the style I like. She even allowed me to bring my child with me because I don't have any child care help currently. That means the world to me as a new mom.

I've gotten lamination services done for many years, all over the world and Shoko by far blew away…read moremy expectations!! She took her time, payed attention to detail, informed me on her products before hand, asked me health related questions to insure my safety, guided me through the waxing , and made sure I was happy before getting up. I left feeling super relaxed and so confident about how good my eyelashes and brows turned out!! I will be flying from Maui to Oahu just to see Shoko!

Erika was so sweet. I'm so happy to have met her. It's such a shame that her business is closing…read more She was so insightful with her suggestion of how to make my eyes fuller and sharing products that she uses. I feel like the quality was good too. I think I got a decent price. I also love that location. It's very beautiful and peaceful here in Manoa and it's a very quiet home but I will say it's a little bit tricky to find. It's off the main road. As I was a first time client, she just trimmed my eyebrows a bit and then gave me pointers and advice how to keep them full. I am bummed I did not find out about her business earlier or else I would've definitely been a regular.

Erika is truly the best! She takes the time to make everything look great! I really am blessed to…read morehave found her!

If you're looking for someone who truly cares about her clients and takes pride in her work,…read moreCandace is the one to go to. She has done amazing things for my complexion and lashes, and honestly, she has made me feel so much prettier and more confident. What makes her special is that she doesn't just provide a service, she really takes the time to understand what you want and explain everything she's doing along the way. Candace is incredibly knowledgeable, professional, and very detail-oriented. She's meticulous with her work and makes sure every little detail is perfect before you leave. I also appreciate that she stays up to date with the latest trends while still choosing products that are healthy and safe for your skin. Whether you're new to beauty treatments or already familiar with them, Candace will make you feel comfortable, confident, and glowing when you walk out the door. I highly recommend her!

If you haven't experienced the magic of Nicole Mau at the BabeCave, you're seriously missing out!…read moreNicole is the sweetest, most gentle, and insanely talented nail artiste you will ever meet. Whether you're rocking a natural look or going all out with extensions, Nicole's expertise will leave you in awe. But it's not just about the nails--it's about the whole experience. Nicole has this incredible ability to make you feel right at home. You won't feel like you're at a salon; instead, it feels like you're hanging out at your best friend's house, catching up on all the latest tea. Her warm and fun personality transforms your nail appointment into a delightful, relaxing getaway. Additionally, the BabeCave offers an array of other services such as facials, waxing (brows, underarms, and you know da kine!), lashes (extensions and lifts/perms), and hair cutting/coloring. I've seen Candace for a variety of these services and have always left happy and satisfied. Her service is always on point. Seeing Candace is also like seeing your best friend while you get pampered and spill even more tea! So do yourself a favor and book an appointment with Nicole Mau at the BabeCave. Trust me, you won't regret it. Your nails will look fabulous, and you'll leave with a smile on your face and a new friend in your heart. Nicole is a true gem! Also book an appointment with Candace, you'll leave with a fresh, clean face, lashes that make your eyes POP, and a Virginia that's smooth like buttah (go ahead and keep singing that song by BTS!).

Randal, a Chinese woman form Inner Mongolia took care of me June 2026. She gave me a great…read morepedicure. Gel and French tips lasted 10 weeks. Would have been more but my nails got long. She really knew what she was doing. Randal is she still working there?

First ... the ladies are extremely sweet. Even if they are trying to upsell you the entire time…read moreyou're in a chair. Very friendly. Very chatty. Very excited to digest extra stuff ... without telling you it'll be extra. "Oh...can I put a flower on one of your nails?" Both ring fingers done ... $25 extra on the tab when checking out. That was by wife. I was talked into a foot rub. As my feet soaked, the sweet woman bright a pedicure tray over. I had to deny three offers to just let her clip my already short nails. Then she proceeded to give a foot rub which consisted of running her thumbs and forefingers along my lower leg bones for 30 minutes. She also gave me a run down on her family and asked multiple questions about how long I was staying and where and what I did for a living. My entire mission while in that chair was to not cry or flinch. When she was done, I felt comfortable concluding she had not one single day of training in massage therapy. My bill was $60. My wife's was $42 for gel plus $25 for two flowers. All in all, we left laughing (and limping), but $150 lighter than when we went in.

My friend had her eyebrows done by Tina when she was just starting her business. She raved about…read morehow much she loved Tina's work. I was a bit skeptical for a few years, but eventually, I decided to that I was tired of having to do my eyebrows before starting my day (haha!). It's located across of Kahala Mall in the Kahala Professional Building on Kilauea Ave. There's a small parking area of only 4 stalls for visitors. However, there's a lot of street parking and possibly free parking at Kahala Mall. I first came to her in early 2024. Before making my appointment, I had a look at her Instagram and website. Since this was my first time getting my brows done, I had many questions. Tina was incredibly sweet and answered all my questions. She helped me feel more comfortable and made the whole process very easy and smooth. The initial appointment was slightly longer than the touch-up appointments because we carefully discussed the type of brows that would complement my face structure and my preferences. I trusted Tina to work her magic as I was unfamiliar with the process, and I'm so glad I did! My brows turned out beautifully, and I was absolutely in love with the result. They truly enhanced the natural beauty of my facial features. I came back for 2 touch up appointments within the next 2.5 years and each time I came back, I fall in love with my brows all over again. I've been trying to refer family and friends to Tina as she is a fantastic brow artist! She also specializes in lash enhancements including liner tattoo and lash perm. Congratulations to Tina for rebranding her studio from Brows by Tina to Restore Studio with an additional service of restorative, paramedical tattoo! I can't wait to have my brows touched up again in the next few years.

Believe the reviews! I've been skeptical of tattooing my brows for years, especially when I see a…read morelot of people who have gotten it done have very harsh edges and dark lines that didn't really fit my own style. I came to Tina because she showed up in a search nearby Kahala area. But the more I looked into powder brows, the more I realized it would be so nice to wake up and not have to do anything with my face. This is 4 weeks later after healing and I'm loving how natural they look! I included a photo of myself with and without makeup and as you can see, they work great either way . Tina was very sweet, professional, detail-oriented and made sure you felt comfortable the entire time. I'm so happy with my results and would recommend her to anyone!