Santa Barbara Independent, 10/16/14, Best Of

Page 75

Looking good

(CLOCKWISE FROM CENTER) Darin Jon, Niki Mickler, Linda Ogle, and Gabby De Sevilla

barber Shop

and new chairs that offer more versatility for stylists moving between mani and pedi concerns. “We can change with the seasons. All these things help us keep up with the times, as well,” she said.

1028 Coast Village Rd., 969-1314

Finalist: Angels Nail & Spa

Montecito Barbers Hair Salon

Darin Jon Studio 1428 Chapala St., 962-1884

“We’ve always been community-based and all about the customer,” said Darin Jon, who opened his own salon 17 years ago after working for some of the other bests in town. “We don’t really campaign to get the readers’ approval, and we were very happy to be a finalist. For us to get it means our clients must be voting, and that means our clients must be happy.”

Finalist: Walter Claudio Salon Spa

It was 48 years ago when Tim Sanchez’s grandpa Bob and fellow barber Jess Martinez opened the current location of Montecito Barbers, a place where grocery clerks, movie producers, old money trustafarians, and Robert Mitchum got their ears lowered. Today, Tim is proud to win the readers’approval and even happier to have inherited the chair four years ago from his dad, Matt. “It’s a great job and it’s a lot of fun,” said Tim. “Sit around talking to the boys and watching sports all day. And the people who come in here aren’t our customers; they’re our friends.”

Finalist: Arturo’s Barbershop Nail Salon

Aqua Nail Bar 3455 State St., 687-8483

“I think we win because we are on the forefront of innovation in the nail salon business,” laughed owner Claudia Cordova-Papa. But she is serious, too. They’re proud of the new online chat reservation system

Day Spa

Float Luxury Spa

18 E. Canon Perdido St., 845-7777 On one hand, owner Natalie Rowe believes that the setting matters. “I do think this is the most beautiful spa in town,” she said, of the place that seems so small from the street. It’s magically sandwiched between the Lobero and El Paseo yet opens to reveal many hidden glories.“But the real reason people like us,”said Rowe,“is my amazing team.” Many of them have been with her since the spa first opened five and a half years ago.“And I think that’s why we get so much repeat business. Word of mouth is so important, and I think the team is so great that our reputation just gets passed from local to local.”

Finalist: Bacara Resort & Spa continued ¬ october 16, 2014

THE INDEPENDENt

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