Old salon upgraded to full-service spa

The little white house at 1408 Stratford Court has been a beauty salon for many years, but was recently given a makeover under new ownership.

“It was dreadfully old and tired looking,” said Nela Moch, who took over the salon in August.

In three short months, she remodeled and reconfigured the small Del Mar home, hired a new crew of estheticians, manicurists and hair stylists, and renamed the salon the Stratford House.

Moch worked in the salon for six years under the previous owner. Each woman rented one of the cozy rooms and operated her own business, a system Moch has retained.

“I really wanted to give women the same opportunity I’ve had,” Moch said. “It gives women a really nice opportunity to run their own business and not have to lease 4,000 square feet of space.”

The eight women offer a full range of beauty services, including skin care, facials, peels, hair styling, manicures and pedicures, waxing, brow shaping and spray tanning.

Each specialist offers a unique menu of treatments and services conveniently located under one roof.

For example, esthetician Melinda Peters offers “Simply Natural” skin care, waxing and nails including a Crystalline Facial. Laurie Womack offers flavored manicures and pedicures, including energy cappuccino mint or green tea stress reliever. Brow artist and esthetician Alexis Koravos trained under brow expert Anastasia Soare in Hollywood.

Top-of-the-line hair care is provided by Nicole Godbout, Jennifer Kaschner and Suzie Vu, and airbrush tanning by Christie Sei.

Everyone in the Stratford House has at least seven years of experience and continues to take classes in their field so they stay up to date in an evolving industry.

“We’re really on the cutting edge of our world of beauty,” Moch said, who has 17 years of experience in skin care.

Moch also emphasizes client education; she said she shows clients how to wash and treat their faces at home, which is critical for silky smooth and healthy skin.

Overall, the Stratford House is designed to provide a relaxing, intimate experience for both men and women.

“If we make people feel a little better and look nice, we’ve done a good job,” Moch said.

For more information, call (858) 755-0705.