International Salon

This place is efficient, effective and clean. It is a no-frills approach to services that people need on the go. I have been going here for over 3 years and have never had a bad experience. Any reviewer that calls this place unsanitary is either lying or very confused. I HIGHLY recommend this place. If you are looking for an extra frilly pampering, this not the place for you. But if you want a crisp, clean, reasonably priced, quick wax, mani or pedi, this is definitely the place for you. As for any bad reviews you may read? All I can say is that someone could eat at Le Bec Fin and have ONE bad meal. This doesn't take away from the legacy. International Spa on Sansom has been doing a good job for over 30 years. Pros: Quick, Clean, Reasonably Priced Cons: n/a more

I have have gone to other places for a brazilian and International spa is the worst place. I think the ladies are friendly and nice and I had no issues with the no frills bare bones set up. However I was in the ""fancy"" room and I think the place is unsanitary. Furthermore, wax was slathered all over my bikini area and ripped off abruptly and haphazzardly. Regardless of the pain, the technique was terrible. Furthermore, without my consent, Emma decided she had to remove and ingrown hair and cut it out of me with her tweezers, while professing its ok she is an RN and this is what a doctor would do. My husband is a Doctor and assured me that what happend there was wrong.Aside from the unsanitariness, you cannot just perform a surgical procedure on someone without asking. Furthermore, I do not belive for a second she knew what she was doing. While yes the wax was quick and cheap it was horrible. She left wax all over my bikini are and legs.....and i have tons of strays hairs left. The worst part is that two days later I was still in so much pain, and broke out with close to 75 white heads all over my bikini area. My husband said I had the beginings of an infection and clearly something was not right with her technique. whether it was a sanitary issue or the way she performed the waxing, I would advise women to proceed with caution. Yes, she is sheap, yes she is quick, but my regular waxer is just as quick, although more expensive. I highly recommne Elan Spa at the marriot. Ask for Effie. she is professional and just as quick and never once left me with a rash, or performed a surgical procedure on me. UPDATE: In response to post above that stated my post sounded suspicious b/c I referenced another salon -I only did that b/c there were a few negative posts and I wanted to list someone who I know is quick. I have no vested interested in the salon I mentioned or Emma's and I only posted to make others aware that you can have a bad experience. I stand by my post 100%. Pros: People are nice. Cons: I do not think this place is safe more

Emma is simply the best! Not only is she precise but she's super fast! Her salon is cute and clean, I wouldn't go anywhere else! Pros: very clean, fast, awesome waxing! Cons: nothing at all more

I decided to try International Salon after I read all the reviews and especially for such a great price. Yes, it is true that you don't have the atmosphere and pampering at International Salon that you will at an expensive salon, but for something you want to get over as quickly as possible, this is the best wax place ever! It was over so quickly and was SO much less painful than the others I have gotten! I was in and out of the room in under 10 minutes - the wax itself was less. I definitely recommend it! Pros: Quick, cheap, as painless as possible Cons: Atmosphere, Awkwardness more

What they say is true. Emma is the best out there. Fast, efficient and funny. You can't pay me to go anywhere else. Pros: fast, inexpensive more

International Salon has been owned and operated by a very pleasant Russian family since 1976. I have tried other places in the past, but after my first visit to International years ago, I will never go anywhere else simply because it is the BEST place in Philadelphia! Pros: Award Winning Salon from Allure Magazine, Pleasant Ambience, Clean, Good Services, Great Prices, Friendly Staff that are All Very Professional more

I almost wanted to laugh when I encountered the owner and staff at International Salon because their rudeness was so unbelievable. The space is claustrophobic and the pedicure was terrible. However, my friend wanted to give it a try. We walked into a busy salon and inquired about pedicures and were informed ""we're closed"" by the owner. I must admit, I was relieved that she didn't want my business because I could barely stand the thought of supporting hers. It's a service industry... Maybe rude and cheap works for some people, but I think bad behavior is a warning sign and frankly the lack of cleanliness was not comforting. Cons: Rude staff, poor service more

When I saw a lot of girls waiting I thought to myself, ""i dont want to end up here all day!"" Emma was all business, like a drill sergeant telling us where to go and what to do when we got back there. Some of the phrases you might hear during the 5 minutes it literally takes Emma to wax you are: ""Hold right here"", ""put your legs up on the wall"", ""turn on your side"", ""no getting it on tonight!"" She is quick, clean, painless, and overall INCREDIBLY entertaining! International salon has not only won awards for their services, but is the BEST place to go for the money in the city FOR SURE!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!! Pros: Family owned Cons: Need a bigger salon so more girls can experience Emma! more

I've been going to Emma and her daughter at International Salon for years, and I love the quick waxing service - the price is great and I love not having to make an appointment -- if I need a quick clean up -- I just pop in while during errands! The chocolate wax smells good and leaves my skin smooth. Pros: quick service, no appointment necessary more

Because I have been in another salon, I can appreciate how experienced Emma is. Best service ever. Highly recommended. more

Best waxing job hands down! The wax is nicer than other kinds and she knows exaclt what she's doing! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! more

Out of every waxing I've had, Emma does it the best! Not only is she fast, she gets every hair possible! I wouldn't go anywhere else! Pros: very clean atmosphere Cons: none! more

I've only been waxed in 2 other places but this salon is the best, nothing compared to the other places I've been too downtown. Emma is quick, in and out of the salon in about 5 minutes, Least painful of all waxing i've receieved and clean, she's uses different sticks each time she dips into the wax :).... Highly recommended. Pros: price, service, quickness more

If you don't mind the bluntness of the Russian ladies who work there, it'll be the best brazilian wax you've ever had. It probably took less than 5 minutes (fastest I've ever had) for the entire wax, and she got everything (some waxes I get usually leave a few strays). Highly recommended: not only quick and effective, but the most inexpensive I've ever seen in Philly ($35). more

I've been going to Emma for 20 years now, and I would not think of going elsewhere for waxing. Emma knows exactly what she's doing with virtually no discomfort. International Salon is by far the best place to go. The thought of not having Emma there is frightening to me. My waxing job is not lightweight to put it lightly, and only Emma's experience can do it right. You will not be disappointed. Believe me. Pros: Skilled and Experienced more

after googling brazilian wax salons in philadelphia multiple times, international salon kept coming up. i read a lot of reviews that said great things about the place and raved about the waxer, emma. after going for the first time yesterday i can officially and most definitely guarantee that international salon has a life long customer in me! emma was fantastic, i cannot say enough good things about her. i was a little nervous and embarrassed at first but she put totally put me at ease and made me feel completely comfortable. the waxing itself was quick and didn't even hurt too much! the whole brazilian was done in less then 10 minutes and the results are fantastic!! afterwards, emma also did my eyebrows, they have never ever looked so good! she also gave me some great brow advice which was extremely helpful. overall the experience was fantastic and i left the salon feeling really great about myself. i would highly recommend international salon to anyone and everyone who is looking for a fairly priced brazilian (or any type) of wax from an extremely friendly and warm staff!! Pros: lovely, friendly, warm staff, quick, fair price more

I recently moved to Philly from NYC and was scared to go to anyone but my girl back at home-- I found International here and just got a great waxing! Pros: quick, thourough, nice people more

No one likes the pain of waxing, but with Emma it's over in a matter of moments! She's quick, the pain is minimal and it always looks great. I've been to salon's all over Philly and Emma is the only one that provides a consistently great service. I recomend her to all my friends. Pros: low price, great service Cons: some times a long wait more

I've been going to see Emma at her family-owned International Salon for brazilian waxing since I moved into the city a couple of years ago--- every four weeks for a couple of years and NEVER a bad experience. I'm a physician in the city, so time is of the essence. I know I can run over right at the end of the work day and Emma will give me a clean, quick wax in 5 minutes. Even though she is quick, she is meticulous about getting every stray hair. I am a huge baby when it comes to pain and I know I couldn't find a more painless wax anywhere else. Since I've started going to the International Salon, I've convinced many friends and fellow doctors to go to her, too--- everyone's hooked!! I can see why so many people travel wide and far to see Emma-- she's the best!! Pros: Speed, Comfort, Cost, Customer Service more

Let's face it: this world is made up of people who are full of BS--and quite frankly, I don't have time for them. I don't know about you, but I'm a busy female. As such, I don't have time to waste being pampered every 4 weeks when I need to get waxed. Candles, incense, the soothing Chinese instrumental music: save them for my facial and massage. Waxing should be quick and clean; estheticians shouldn't bullsh*t the fact that it hurts by dimming the lights and asking me if I'm OK every time they rip hair off my body. Emma of International Salon understands this! She gave me the cleanest and quickest (and therefore least-painful, since it hurts less when the waxing goes faster) wax of my life, and I'm never going to another salon so long as I live in Philly. And her wax smelled like chocolate, which was obviously clutch. So if you're into being a little wimp about waxing and want to make it as ""serene"" a process as possible, which it will never be since waxing is a bust to begin with, don't go here. But if you're into saving time and money while still receiving amazing results, go to International Salon. And then take the money you saved and spend it on something truly glamorous. xo Pros: Fast, clean, thorough, hilarious esthetician, location, walk-in with little-to-no wait time Cons: Not a joint for pampering, no appointments more