Images Salon offers a smooth new image

My favorite hair salon, Images Salon, is now offering the latest

technology in hair straightening, called Bio Ionic. If you’re tired

of your frizzy or curly hair, you’ll love this new permanent

solution. Clients who have had the process done are amazed at the way

their hair suddenly becomes shiny and silky smooth. Other benefits

are that it’s a no-damage formula, it’s safe for most chemically

treated hair, there’s no burning or itching, and it revives dull,

lifeless hair. The process takes about three to six hours and prices

start from $300. The new growth needs to be treated about every four

to six months. Images is a full-service salon that offers all kinds

of hair services, including haircuts, hairstyles, scalp treatment,

hair color and permanents. There’s also a make-up artist who offers

waxing and professional make-up applications, and a manicurist for

manicures and pedicures. Images is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday,

8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday

and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. It’s at 2515 E. Coast Highway, Corona

del Mar. (949) 675-5531.

Party planner

Whether you’re planning a party at home or a business gathering,

Champagne French Bakery offers some time-saving platters for takeout.

The Champagne Breakfast tray serves nine to 12 people for $21.75. It

comes with assorted pastries, including croissants, Danish pastries,

muffins and scones. Champagne’s Specialty Sandwich tray is $4.25 per

person. You may choose from a variety of cold sandwiches served on

freshly baked baguettes. Champagne’s Specialty Quiche Tray is $3.25

per person. It includes an assortment of quiches, served in halves.

The Champagne’s Dessert tray serves nine to 12 people for $39.75. It

includes a selection of cakes, tarts and cookies. Champagne French

Bakery is at the Westcliff Plaza at 1120 Irvine Ave., Newport Beach.

(949) 646-0520. It’s also at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa. (714)

429-1502.

Car guy

You won’t feel like you’re being completely taken advantage of at

Costa Mesa Auto Service Center. The owner, Jim Tallman, is so fair

and his work is excellent. The center works on all types of cars,

foreign and domestic. And they can do all kinds of auto work,

excluding smog checks. Costa Mesa Auto Service Center is at 1747

Anaheim Ave., Costa Mesa. (949) 645-7878.

All new rug

Hemphill’s Rugs has added two new rug collections, Tommy Bahama

and Ralph Lauren, and is doing very well with them. The Tommy Bahama

rug collection is about half what you’d expect from Tommy Bahama --

palm trees, pineapples and tropical themes -- the other is

traditional, a British West Indian colonial look. The Ralph Lauren

collection is popular as always, and Hemphill’s now stocks its own

line of wall-to-wall broad loom carpeting with tropical themes --

palm leaves, palm fronds, etc. Tommy Bahama is at 230 E. 17th St.,

Costa Mesa. (949) 722-7224.

Moving up

Huggs & Kissez has moved to a much larger location on East 17th

Street in Costa Mesa in the Design Exchange’s former showroom.

Everything you need for scrapbooking projects is at Huggs & Kissez.

The shelves are stocked full of new papers, stickers and die cuts.

“Recently, embellishments have been very hot,” says owner Garrett

Glava. “Eyelets, brads, buttons, and charms add creative detail and

beauty to enhance the personality of a page.” Interesting textures

are created with fibers such as cording, yarn and threads in

beautiful colors and patterns. They’re expecting new merchandise soon

that includes color book papers, stickers and albums, more eyelets

(large and small) in a variety of colors, hearts, flowers and stars,

more Anna Griffin, new scrapbooks -- toile, tapa cloth, leathers and

handmade paper books. Every week there are specials on theme

merchandise. Current specials are 15% off on Christmas and holiday

papers and stickers. And there are always free workshops and

scrapbooking classes offered. For class and workshop schedules, you

may pick up a calendar in the store. It’s open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4

p.m. Sunday. Huggs & Kissez is at 435 E. 17th St., Costa Mesa. (949)

642-9090.

Exchanging places

The Design Exchange has moved from its East 17th Street location

in Costa Mesa to a new Laguna Niguel location. It’s now at 27995

Greenfield, Laguna Niguel. (949) 448-5776.

* BEST BUYS appears Mondays and Fridays. Send information to

Greer Wylder at greerwylder@yahoo.com or 330 W. Bay St., Costa Mesa,

CA 92627, or via fax at (949) 646-4170.