GOLDN AURA

Goldn Aura, also listed as Goldn Aura Beauty Lab and Goldn Aura Hair Co., is a hair salon in Castro Valley. The salon describes itself as a woman-owned small business, and says its mission is a personalized beauty experience in a private, welcoming setting. Appointments are held in a suite designed for one-on-one service, and the salon describes itself as a sanctuary of beauty and wellness.

Each visit starts with a consultation covering lifestyle, hair history, goals and maintenance preferences. New color clients and transformation work may need a deeper consultation, in person or online. Afterward, clients receive a personalized maintenance plan, a home care routine, product recommendations and styling tips. Complimentary beverages, snacks and Wi-Fi are offered during appointments, and quiet appointments can be arranged on request. Additional guests, children and pets are only allowed if they are also booked for a service.

Custom color and lightening are the core of the menu, with ultimate blonding, extensions and vibrant copper named as specialties. The Works is a full custom lightening service for brightness, dimension or transformational color, and Girl on the Go is a partial version that targets the hairline, sides and crown for those maintaining earlier color. Bombshell Blonde is a heavy blonde service with a small amount of dimension. Extensions are installed by the row, with one, two and three row options, and maintenance bump-up visits are scheduled 6 to 8 weeks after an install. Pricing starts at $250 for all over color, $550 for The Works, $1,100 for a two row install and $1,400 for a three row install.

A non-refundable $100 deposit is due to book most chemical services and goes toward the service. Rescheduling needs at least 48 hours' notice to avoid a fee; later changes may carry a 50% service charge, and the deposit is kept. Same-day cancellations and no-shows are charged the full price of the service. Color, cut and extension services are not refundable, though small adjustments such as a re-tone or root smudge are offered within 2 to 3 days. Cash is preferred, and debit cards, credit cards, Apple Pay and Zelle are accepted; card payments carry a 3.5% processing fee. Buy Now, Pay Later is available for bookings from $50 to $4,000 with approval before the appointment. Open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; closed Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.

Services are built around a consultation into each client's lifestyle, hair history, goals and upkeep, followed by a personalized maintenance plan and home care routine.

A private suite built for one-on-one appointments, which the salon describes as stress-free.