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the best small businesses in greater Boston, MA 🫶 (beauty + creative)
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items Before I moved out of my hometown in Massachusetts, so many small businesses grew near and dear to my heart. There were the beauty/wellness spots I would frequent every month, with stylists/manicurists/technicians I knew I could trust and had built r...
Sections
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beauty/wellness
art/book stores
beauty/wellness
For my weekly/monthly maintenance, these are the places and people I knew I could trust to make me look and feel my absolute best!
Holly was my lash tech for years until I moved, and she was the best!! I loved going to this studio. They also give great facials.
Skin Savvy
The massages I got here were life changing. They literally hung from the ceiling and walked across my back. They also really focused on the areas I requested every time and helped me soothe my chronic inflammation.
La Moon Thai Spa Wilmington
This is a tiny hole in the wall nail salon but the team is one of the best around. I lived close by but people would come from 30+ mins away just to get their nails done here. Sam the owner was always friendly and everyone working there was so welcom...
V & V Nails Design
There was no one and to this day still is no one I trust more than my girl Catherine with my hair. Every other hair stylist cut too much or didn’t listen. Catherine told me the truth and gave me a flattering haircut every time. Good prices too, I mis...
SALON REYNA - Updated November 2025 - 20 Photos
For pedicures, this was my go to salon. This is actually the sister salon of V and V (the owner of T&K is literally Sam of V&V’s sister). This is like the Chick-fil-A of nail salons in that it is run like a military establishment. The qualit...
T & K Nails Design
This small beauty school had a great student salon!! Most of their nail techs were still in training when I went but I was able to get a facial that was absolutely divine!! You get a great deal because students do your beauty treatments at a discount...
Chelmsford Beauty Academy
As a childhood dancer, this is the only workout I always enjoy: dance! Julia has one of the only adult tap dance studios in the greater Boston area (sadly!) but I always enjoyed her classes. This is a one-woman business in Somerville!
Julia On Tap
Chiropractic work definitely changed the “wellness” game for me while dealing with chronic back pain + inflammation. Dr. Mike and Dr. Joe truly have healing hands--they treat every single patient with care, respect, and dedication. It's like PT and m...
Symmetry Sports LLC
art/book stores
I grew up in a house of creatives, so books, art and crafts were always on my family's radar. These are the small shops that hold such nostalgia for me.
This was a small family owned stationary store that my dad took me too so many times. It is where I bought my first journals as well as some family-favorite games I played with my family. Recently learned that they closed down after more than 2 decad...
SIGNATURE STATIONERS
This is a special crafts store that I am glad to report is still open for business! A few times my family and I stopped in to participate in their painting crafts and this is where my love for art began.
ARTBEAT - Arlington, Massachusetts
This is a big art/stationary/game store that my dad also took me to growing up! You never knew what you'd find and there was always more to explore because the store felt so big to me! 2 levels of
Play Time, Inc.
This is the best place to buy books in the area. No other bookstore nearby has such a good selection, over 100k used books, always at a great price. They change their deals very often and get new books every day.
Used Book Superstore
On trips to the city this is a fun place to stop by--great selection, including vintage and rare books, three stories tall, something for everyone.
Commonwealth Books