Best Bargain Beauty Shop: Cosmic indolence on the cheap

Martinez Beauty Salon

It's north of Highway 4 on the Walgreens side of Alhambra Avenue across from the oil-change place -- a whitish Hansel and Gretel house that's a bit tilted. Its slogan: "Our house is crooked but we're not." Good shaded parking under some majestic redwoods. Haircuts for guys go as low as $8 -- women pay $10 for a trim, $15 for a full cut. Highlights, manicures and pedicures, waxing, acrylic; all are available at similarly good prices. Facial: $40. Pedicure: $20. Nail lady Kimberly and hair queen Dalena both are friendly, fast, fair, and do excellent work. Perhaps a little too much Celine Dion on the box, but ask them to put on some Vietnamese romantic tunes and you're golden.