Yung Ai is the best. My daughter came to get a wax here and we were amazed at the outcome. Great service and wonderful to see how the natural ingredients do the work without any harmful chemicals. Sugaring is my new thing and will be back to try more of her hair removal techniques. She is the best ! read more

Sugar Sanctuary - Sugaring Near Me - Oakland, California

I found Sugar Sanctuary about a month ago on Yelp and I was really excited based on the other reviews I read about how great Yung Ai is. I felt relieved thinking I might have found a good place I can be a regular at with good service and treatment. I booked an appt online for 10:15 AM for my first visit, scheduled time off from work around it, and got the confirmation. About a day before the appt, Yung Ai asked if I could come in at 10 AM instead. Then morning of, she asked if I could come actually at 10:15 AM instead to better fit with another client. So after the back and forth, the time was set for 10:15. I arrived around 10:10 AM after some confusion as to where to enter. I looked at all the doors and in the parking lot and wasn't super clear. I checked Yelp again and saw that the entrance was supposed to be in the salon but the doors were not open. Turns out, I was there before the salon was even open so I was just standing outside waiting. I contacted Yung Ai saying I was here and waiting outside, unsure of how to get in. I got a call from her about 10 minutes later saying she was running late because it was daughter's first day of school and that time is important so she would credit me a free service and that she would arrive in about half an hour. Since I had come all the way, had the appt booked, and already spent time waiting, I decided to just wait and do the service today. Another woman who had an appt after me arrived and was also waiting. Yung Ai finally arrived and I got seen about an hour after my original appt time, having to once again, reschedule my work schedule. Yung Ai was very kind and easy to talk to. The sugaring process itself seemed to go well, nothing notable to say here, other than it did take some time. She mentioned she would check up on me after the appointment to see how I was doing since it was my first time. I asked if she could apply the free credit today as we had discussed but she changed what she originally said on the phone and said she would give it to me on my next visit and that she would not forget me. I paid and left, and then the next woman got seen, who also was waiting quite a while. The next day I saw that my skin had a reaction to the sugaring and had white patches. Yung Ai did not end up contacting me to check up on me even though I had mentioned I was concerned about a reaction to the sugar. Ultimately, I do not think I will be back due to: 1. the sugar doesn't seem to work for my skin 2. she didn't follow through on her words of the credit and checking up on me which was misleading 3. timeliness/honoring our appt time I contacted her asking if she could refund my visit since my skin did not react well and she had originally promised to credit me, but I did not receive a response. I'd reiterate she was kind and I believe she did a good job so as long as your skin reacts okay to the sugar and you don't mind waiting around until her schedule fits, this may be a good option for you. I was really hoping that this would be my place but sadly this won't be the case. read more

I've been coming to Yung Ai for over three years now and I can't stress enough how great she is! Not only as an esthetician, but in general. She's the sweetest soul and always makes me feel comfortable! I only get my underarms sugared, I'm too scared to do my nether regions haha. I highly recommend sugaring rather than normal wax because it's all natural and better for sensitive skin. I never get any irritation after a session. She works out of a hair salon called K2 Salon and Spa. There is a parking lot and only a few blocks away from the Lake Merritt BART Station. read more

Yung ai is the best and I love sugaring. It's very gentle on skin and fewer ingrowns. I cannot go back to waxing. Highly. Recommend!

Yung Ai is the sweetest person I have ever met. She is very knowledgeable on sugaring and has an eye for details. She will make you feel comfortable in your first visit and walk you through the process if it's your first time. I will definitely be back again! read more

My experiences with Yung have been so much more than just a sugaring, she is kind, conscientious and present in her work. Extremely detailed and thoughtful about how to make you feel comfortable. I've receiving sugaring from other salons before relocating to Oakland last year, and I was pleasantly surprised at how painless the session with Yung was. Which speaks to her consideration of products she uses as well as her gentle touch. Yung is amazing, her prices are fair and I highly recommend her services! Thank you Yung! read more

Yung Ai is amazing ! I'm just about to book my second appointment with her . I was having such a hard time being able to find a sugar specialist and I finally found THE ONE ! She talked me through the whole time and kept my mind off the process that way I was distracted and wasn't that painful. Compared to regular hard wax pain level 10/10 I wanna say sugaring was a 7/10 . She also has an exfoliating tool that comes in very handy and a mask for your Kitty that leaves you feeling amazing ! read more

Yung Ai continues to be the most pleasant and most experienced sugarist in the business. I've been having my legs sugared for years and have gone to other people, but I continue to come back to her. I have always had problems with ingrowns, and Yung Ai knows how to get them out and gives me "homework" to help get rid of them before I see her again. read more

Yung Ai is amazing! She was on time for our appointment, made sure she got every hair off, and she even took off more than what the service originally was for! I really appreciated her friendly and attentive demeanor. I will definitely be back! read more

Where do I begin! Yung Ai is amazing, she takes perfection to the next level! From the first time I went I was hooked for many reasons. Sugaring is the superior alternative to waxing, lasts much longer between sessions with less ingrown hairs! The studio is very clean and cozy, I always feel very comfortable in there. Finally and most importantly, Yung Ai is so sweet, patient, personable, and accommodating!! I look forward to my visits to relax and chat which makes the time pass so quickly! read more

I just want to say that Yung Ai is such a breathe of fresh air. She is very knowledgeable, makes you comfortable, and she allows you to be yourself during the session. It's truly like meeting a friend and catching up and it was my first session! I have very sensitive skin, I'm acne prone and I'm a person of color like her. She knows all skin types but it's nice to work with a POC since they get and understand my skin and how it works. I've tried all fair removal methods and so far I believe this is the best method yet. She also follows up which is compassionate. I highly recommend her! read more

Well let me just say, Yung Ai is the BEST hands down! This is my first ever review, I just had to. I've been to plenty other wax places but she takes the cake! Yung Ai made me feel very welcomed & relaxed. She explained what she was doing and took her time. I don't know about anyone else but anytime I go to these things I get a little nervous but her whole energy is very calming and sweet and made me feel like I've been known her forever therefore made me feel relaxed and made the whole process smoother. As for the results, I got a Brazilian and had no issues hair grew back way slower and thinner than hard wax or shaving and my skin is silky smooth now. I have gone with Yung Ai about 4 times now and lm looking forward in booking my 5th. If you are looking for a professional licensed esthetician with experience and warm energy, Yung Ai is yo girl! read more

This was my first experience with sugaring. I was very apprehensive about the process but Yung Ai made me feel so very comfortable and so informed. The process was amazing and I will definitely be back! I was very satisfied with the procedure, the conversation, and my results!! read more

First appointment today and my skin feels amazing! Yung Ai is lovely, professional and she is meticulous about getting every last hair. I thought I knew what sugaring was but I was wrong! Hand sugaring is super different from using a popsicle stick - exfoliates, healthier and hair doesn't grow back for a longer time than waxing (plus less/no clogged pores/ingrown hairs). Delighted! read more

I couldn't be happier with my experience! Yung Ai makes sure you are comfortable and is absolutely amazing at what she does. Not only is she passionate in her field but extremely knowledgeable as well. If you are a first timer with sugaring I couldn't recommend her more! read more

Had the absolute pleasure of meeting Yung Ai yesterday for a sugaring appointment. Her space is clean, inviting, and she made me feel so comfortable. She is so kind and friendly as well as did a KILLER job and was pretty much pain free. I Will Definitely be going back to her this was probably one of if not THE best experiences I've had getting this service. Would give her 7 stars if I could highly, highly, highlyyyyyy recommend! read more

Welp, that's it. My search is over. Living in SoCal the past few years, I've been spoiled by a salon I found on a lark that did the best sugaring services anywhere, barnone. Well, today, I found Hey! Sugar's equal. I am BLOWN away. Given my level of... Erm. Growth. It's pretty typical to experience some pain, even with sugaring. Especially since my last "sugar" experience was more like a wax and left me with sensitive skin and endless ingrowns. I was prepared for the worst. What happened instead was above and beyond. First off, I had a full conversation and felt extremely comfortable throughout the entire experience. She was professional and sweet and thorough. My lady parts look all clean and shiny now. It was a little pricier than I'm used to, but there's a $5 discount for paying in cash (and only $60 if you actually keep up with your sugaring every 6ish weeks). Sugar Sanctuary is as legit as it gets. I'm already looking to book my next appointment (which shouldn't be a problem because she is SO accommodating!). Love love love that I've found this place in my time in Oakland. If I could give 7 stars, I would! read more

I went to Sugar Sanctuary for a Brazilian for my first sugaring and it was painless compared to waxing. It's still removing hair from a very sensitive area, so expect a pull. But, YungAi's technique helps with the pain. She places her hand over the area she pulls from as soon as she pulls it. I don't know why, but that really helps. It also helps that she is very gentle and takes her time with you. She didn't miss a hair. When I got waxed several times before, after the wax the area would be really red and I would still feel pain when I put my pants on. After sugaring, I didn't feel any pain. Sugaring also doesn't burn! The sugar ball used to remove hair looks like yummy honey. It's warm and reaches room temperature after a few minutes. YungAi is very easy to talk to and she makes you feel at ease. I've actually met YungAi at a previous place she worked at, but at that time I was getting waxed. I have very sensitive skin, so when I learned about the benefits of sugaring and how organic it is, I wanted to try it. I went to YungAi to get my first sugaring because I remembered my first interaction with her to be pleasant and comfortable. I normally don't like to make small talk or talk to people working on me at all, but my conversations with YungAi feels natural. read more

A miracle has happened. My skin is soft and smooth. What's more, I have not touched it for over TWO WEEKS. If you're anything like me- lots of fine body hair, with highly sensitive skin, you're also no stranger to the pitfalls of waxing and shaving. Shaving- what a waste of time! The five o'clock shadow is what I'd consider ideal -- even with a brand new 5 blade razor I get the 11 a.m. shadow. If I want to be hair free, I really have to shave twice a day and battle the inevitable razor burn and bumps that come with it. No thanks! I tried waxing too-- it works okay, unless my skin comes off with the wax. And often it leaves me feeling raw with little microscopic bits of wax clinging to my flesh. It smells like burnt plastic to me. Next, there's something about waxing that seems to encourage rapid hair regrowth and ingrown hairs. So--up until now my hair removal device of choice has been a Braun epilator. It's a spinning wheel with little tweezers that revolves and rips out each hair at the root, sometimes causing blood to squirt out. Yes, it hurts like hell, and it only lasts a few weeks. So my experience with hair removal has been pretty dismal. Then my sweet neighbor mentioned that she was having a sugaring party to introduce her friends and neighbors to a new business owner from Sugar Sanctuary, Yung Ai. I envisioned getting exfoliated with a big sugar scrub. I said 'sure', mostly because I like my neighbor. It was only then that I learned it was hair removal. I gave it a whirl on my inner thigh. Ever since the birth of my second daughter I grew a weird stripe of tenacious hair there that seemed to regenerate in seconds. Yung Ai took care of it in a few minutes, while engaging in pleasant conversation. It didn't hurt. Sugar goes in the hair growth direction and isn't as harsh on your skin. I barely felt anything. Best yet- it washes off with soap and water, and has no perceptible odor. A few weeks passed then a whole month, and I noticed the hair hadn't grown back. AT ALL. Wow. No ingrown hairs, no bristle, no nothing. I booked an appointment with Yung Ai at her actual shop, Sugar Sanctuary which is clean, beautiful room in the K2 salon space in downtown Oakland--well Chinatown really. This time I did my entire leg. It took over an hour to have every microscopic hair meticulously coaxed off. Yung Ai made me feel so comfortable. She is a gentle, kind, non-judgmental person, which is really important to me. I don't want to feel ashamed about my middle aged mom body for one minute! I cannot describe to you how slipping on a pair of jeans felt after the treatment. I felt so... gloriously... naked. Even though my skin flares up over every little thing, the minor redness was gone in less than an hour, and I suffered no palpable damage to my delicate skin. It's been over two weeks. I have zero ingrown hairs, and very very little regrowth. It is nothing short of a miracle! Yung Ai is a master of her craft. I am never waxing or shaving again. I am going to the sugar sanctuary for everything. I should mention that the Sugar Sanctuary prices are the most affordable when I did a brief comparison to other Oakland venues, so the treatment will not break your budget. Next I am going to try removing my Peri-menopausal moustache. First I have to grow it out so it can be removed-- oh, the shame-- If the results are in any way similar, I will weep real tears of joy, being freed from my 100 tweezes a day ritual. Seriously-- go get sugared. You won't believe it. read more

Can't recommend Yung Ai enough. If there was ever such a thing as a spiritual Brazilian experience, this is it. Yung Ai shines kindness and radiates love, even as she plucks hard-to-budge hairs from your nether regions. I'm hairy, and the first time she breathed and talked me gently, assuringly through the whole thing. Yes, it was painful, but survivable with her calming and caring manner. I was swollen as heck for 3 days after my first time, sitting and sleeping on frozen peas, but that's cuz I'm of the hairier variety and this was my first ever experience with hair removal other than shaving. I have since gone back two more times, and each has been MUCH easier, and even enjoyable, as I get to hang out with a beautiful, soulful woman who is living her spiritual path in each moment, leaving me more faithful in humanity every time I leave. For reals. Go. read more

I did it, guys. I finally got sugared. Yung Ai is a total professional. Shes just one of those people who naturally put you at ease. I had heard of sugaring before but hadn't read into it too much - I understood it to be a generally gentler way to groom :). I can attest to that now. A mixture of sugar, lemon and water are all that goes into this all natural wax. It was pretty quick and markedly less painful process - even on a Brazilian. I def recommend! read more

Had my first sugar waxing this past weekend! so its a room inside a salon I think its called K2 let them know you have an appt with Yung Ai Sugar Sanctuary and they will let her know. first impression of Yung Ai: warm, welcoming, friendly, passionate and very knowledgeable of her sugaring. She's into all natural products and gave great recommendations and educated me on what to do and not to do we also have great conversation. If you can believe it I used to go to Habit in SF and Yung Ai is way better and less painful. I will only see her for my waxing needs and im so happy that I had the opportunity to meet her and that Yelp helped me find her. Thank you Yung Ai ill see you soon! :) read more

Great service and location! Yung Ai has such a warm and inviting personality. Right off the bat she made me feel comfortable. I purchased a livingsocial deal and she allowed me to apply it towards a higher service (I paid the difference) and she did an amazing job! Down to catching the random stray hairs that didn't want to cooperate. I can't stop touching my smooth skin and best of all the discomfort was minimal and there was no redness or swelling! Extra bonus, Sugar Sanctuary is also conveniently located near Bart read more

I dnt even know where to even begin, however what I do know is Yung Ai is truly amazing! Not only is she a very knowledgeable estictian who knows her stuff but has such a sweet soul! She's very clean, thorough, makes you feel relaxed and is super gentle. I suggest surgering over waxing any day; it's so much better for the skin especially sensitive skin. I highly recommend her and her services she's awosme!! read more

Everyone should sugar rather than wax to begin with. It's a lot more sanitary (no double dipping!), good on sensitive skin, and hair grows back slower. That said, after moving down to the East Bay from Seattle where sugaring is way more popular, I was worried about finding someone good. It was a huge relief to find Yung Ai. She does an amazing job and she's so easy to talk to There weren't any awkward moments or anything like that. She's awesome and if you're in need of hair removal, go to her! 2 notes: She's located in a salon and parking is easy read more

Sugaring was LIFE CHANGING and I'm never getting waxed again! I'm so happy my curiosty led me to Yung Ai, literally, the best bazilian I've had in my life! Went on a Tuesday afternoon, during my (slighly extended) lunch hour. There is a small parking lot for the building, which was full at the time, but had no trouble finding a metered spot. She is located inside of a hair salon and a gentleman cutting hair asked if I had an appt with Yung Ai when I walked in. I said yes, and he let me know she is with a client but should be out soon. That was really helpful since I wasn't 100 percent sure I was in the right place. Ya da, ya da, ya da... Barely felt any pain during the sugaring and have never experienced such softness after a brazilian. Totally ah-mazing! Yung Ai is a beautiful soul and explained sugaring and how it's different than waxing. She was so easy to talk to and I felt very comfortable the whole time. Needless to say, I will be returning for regular sugaring sessions. read more

When I started waxing 3 years ago, I never thought I would say this...but after meeting Yung Ai, I genuinely look forward to my Brazilian appointments. It's a testament to her character that you can spend an hour with her, removing hair from *ahem* intimate places, and at the end you give her a big hug and a "Thanks, can't wait to see you next month!" I wish I had forgone traditional waxing years ago and just gone to Yung Ai from the beginning. Sugaring feels so much better for my skin, my hair grows back slower, and it is way less painful. It's an added bonus that Yung Ai is an amazing woman and I'm pretty sure I've had deeper conversations with her in our one hour sessions than I've had with many of my friends. I've been going to her for over a year now, and I feel like I'm more her friend than her client. She takes care of you and I cannot recommend her highly enough!! read more

My first time getting sugared and, I gotta say, I am hooked! Yung Ai made the entire process very seamless. She was very mindful, knowledgeable, friendly, and professional. I'm so glad that my searches led me to her. Safe to say I will be a regular here! If you are considering trying this service, see Yung Ai! read more

I just met Yung Ai for the first time and let me tell you she is a special woman! She is so welcoming, kind and made me feel so comfortable in her presence. Not only is she clearly passionate about and skilled at what she does, she's also just beyond sweet and enjoyable to talk with. I will never go back to waxing, and I look forward to continuing to see her on a regular basis. If you're looking for this type of service in the area, I really could not recommend her enough. read more

This was the best hair removal experience I've ever had hands down. Great customer service, very friendly, knowledgeable and caring. You can tell she has a lot of passion for her work because it really shows. I'm just happy I found a clean and professional place that does a great job. This is my new sugar home. Also sugaring or maybe it was just her and her technique but it hardly hurt. I am used to getting waxing which is vey painful and I will never go back to after today but honestly I was hardly in any pain, I just laid there having a conversation with her and scrolling Pinterest on my phone as if I was at home in my pjs lol read more

Literally the nicest, easy going lady you'll ever meet, does a perfect job every single time. Completely turned me over to sugaring after one Brazilian, and iv been waxing for 3+ years. read more

Had the worst experience! I booked an online appointment, got a confirmation back plus a reminder text and reminder email confirming the time and place. I arrived 10 minutes early and she was in with another client (I could hear her voice behind the closed door) and there was no receptionist. A guy was cutting hair and didn't know her schedule. I waited for 30 full minutes, then he came over and asked me what time my appointment was and said there was another woman waiting for her, who had been there even longer than me and was ahead of me in line! Such a bad experience. I left and was so upset, since my schedule is jam packed and I had rearranged three work meetings to make this appointment work. Ugh! read more

Yung is the absolute best. I will try to make this concise but very informative for anyone looking for the best hair removal salon. (1) Yung is a great teacher. She explains the history behind sugaring and the benefits compared to waxing, and believe me, there are many. (2) Sugaring is a lot less painful than waxing. I have a pretty bad ingrown hair problem, and she was able to get around that issue. My skin was not red, bleeding, or ruined like it usually is when I get waxed. (3) Yung is an absolutely wonderful person, and great to talk to while you're getting sugared. Her salon is clean and professional, and she is easily accessible to make an appointment. All in all, I cannot rave enough about her, and everyone should go see her if they are looking for great hair removal solutions. read more

I had my appointment today and was very pleased with the outcome! Yung is very professional, kind and caring. We had great conversation and before I knew it, I was all done. I will be sugaring from now on! I thought it was gonna be painful ... But I'd say on a scale from 1 to 10 it was about a 2! Maybe I have a high pain tolerance ... But I'm really please! Thank you, Yung! Wishing you much prosperity. Blessings Janine read more

Sugar sanctuary has been the best hair removal experience I've had in Oakland. After reading about the benefits of sugaring, I wanted to give it a try at a different salon, but had a pretty bad experience. When I found Yung Ai on Yelp, I decided to make an appointment. Yung Ai is amazing at what she does- the sugaring process is almost painless and she makes you feel comfortable the entire time. Her sugaring is quick, a LOT less painful than other places I've gone and overall, more comfortable. On top of that, it lasts significantly longer than a standard wax hair removal. After two great experiences, I would recommend her to anyone. Also, free kombucha and chocolates! read more

If you are waxing, you should definitely try sugaring & if your not waxing, you should still try sugaring. Sugaring is the least damaging to ones skin with the same results. All the sugaring ingredients are natural unlike wax. I've been waxing for years but in recent months my skin hasn't been reacting well to wax so my doctor recommended that I try sugaring & I am so glad that I did. Yung Ai at Sugar Sanctuary is absolutely wonderful ! She is warm, kind, gifted & cares deeply about her clients. I've already made my next appointment ! read more

Young Ai is the most amazing lady you will meet. I refuse to go anywhere else for Brazilians which sucks cause I'm gonna be moving soon!! She has the best attention to detail when it comes to getting ALL the hairs. Hair removal is never pleasant but, her technique makes this a very painless process. I won't see hair grow back for a couple weeks read more

I was looking into alternative hair removal because I hate shaving and my skin is prone to irritation/ingrowns. As a first timer, Yung Ai instantly made me feel comfortable and made sure to inform me of the process before moving forward with anything. She also shares super helpful tips for home care. My hair growth with sugaring has significantly decreased and I've had no irritation/ingrowns. I've been going to Yung Ai for the last 5 months and honestly can't see myself going anywhere else. I would absolutely recommend Yung Ai -- she is such a delightful and down-to-earth person who really cares about what she does! read more

I found Yung Ai after moving here over a year ago and I couldn't be happier. She's one of the kindest souls I've met, and excellent and thorough at what she does. She carries organic products which I love and is super gentle and has this amazing spray she uses at the end that feels so soothing and doesn't clog your pores. read more

I have been going to Yung Ai for my arm wax for about 1.5 years now, and I'm just so sad that I didn't know about her earlier. She is incredibly warm, friendly and FUN - my appointments fly by with her stories. She is meticulous and always happy to touch up spots. She is flexible about appointment times, which is helpful when I try to run in and out during my lunch break. And my skin feels so much healthier after a sugaring session compared with wax - I never worry about burns or damage to my skin anymore. She's a gem and definitely worth a visit if you're considering it. Prices are average, and I feel good knowing that I'm supporting a woman of color small business in town. read more