Aveda Institute Of Atlanta

07/02/08

Inconsistent but average

by HAS03 at Citysearch

Aveda is one of those places where the quality of the work is so unpredictable because the students graduate so soon. Therefore, you probably only get to go to the same person twice or maybe three times and then they pick a new person for you. If you want a nondramatic cut (like a trim) then I would go here. If you want to do something dramatically different with your cut, I would not go here as they are not that experienced with hair (most of the time the instructors have to show them what to do). For the price, I liked my highlights 80% of the time. There have been some occassions where my highlights were not as nice as other times, but overall you get what you pay for. I'm very picky about my highlights and I've been to nicer salons and ended up liking the highlights I've gotten at Aveda Institute more than the nicer more expensive salons. The one thing I hate is you can't request a level. When you go for an appointment, unless you give them a name you get who is available that day. They have 3 levels at the salon and the higher the level the more experienced the stylist is.

• Pros: Price
• Cons: Different person everytime because students graduate

05/20/09

don't waste your time or money

by stephpardue at Citysearch

i get it. it's a SCHOOL.... so you can't expect much.

but the quality of the haircut is ridiculous. i've tried it about 4 times. i would MUCH RATHER spend 10 more bucks and go around the corner to the VAN MICHAEL where their "students" are fabulous.

05/11/09

You people are ridiculous...

by moni567 at Citysearch

Just FYI...I'm going to vent!

This is a SCHOOL you imbecilic morons! I can't believe some of you spoiled whiny brats have the audacity to come on this website and trash hard working STUDENTS. God forbid one of your precious hairs be an inch too long. These men and women work their butt's off! If you want to take your unnecessary aggressions out on someone, then talk to a teacher at the Institute. Can you imagine if someone talked that way on a public forum about YOU?! Much less while you were trying to LEARN and PURSUE your career! Where do you people get off acting like this? Grow up you selfish pigs!

• Pros: It is affordable and the students give 110%
• Cons: Occasional grouchy and insensitive customers...

05/07/09

The teachers need to pay more mind

by slymm at Citysearch

I used to go to the Institute in Denver and it was always fine, often really good, sometimes great. The big thing with Atlanta is the teachers don't check on the work. In Denver they would always come, make sure everything was even etc. Atlanta, they nod at you as you walk out the door. Last cut I got was way off - when I got home I realized I had a whole chunk of hair that was about 2 inches longer than everywhere else. I went to a real Aveda salon to repair it. The students vary, but it is on the teachers to check it and in Atlanta they rarely do check.

• Pros: Can be good
• Cons: Can be bad

04/30/09

Do not go here for mani/pedi

by traveler42 at Citysearch

Obviously they are students, so you don't expect the best from them. I have gone here for a haircut, where it took 2 hours to blowdry my long, curly hair (it takes me 20 minutes). Haircut was mediocre--nothing spectacular, just a plain haircut that I could have gotten at great clips. I have also been there for a facial. My face just feels nasty afterward with so much product on it. Most recently I went in for a pedicure ( I don't know why I keep going back) and had the WORST experience. 3 different people worked on my nails. Do not ask for a french manicure, b/c they don't know how to do that. White tips were not striaght and I had them take it off and just cover with regular nailpolish. Even that was bad. They kept putting coats on top of each other so the nailpolish never dried. An hour after my pedi the nailpolish was still not dry and ended up messing up from my shoes.....and this was put on my the instructor. It was just bad! I was there for 2 hours and had the worst pedicure ever. I understand that they are not professionals, but if you charge for a service, you should give it well! Please avoid this place if you are looking for any sort of quality. If you go, make sure you have a lot of time put out of your day for the appt.

• Pros: Atmosphere
• Cons: Quality of services

03/12/09

Unhappy with services

by lrivera15 at Citysearch

I would not return to the Aveda Institute. I had an appointment for a 30 minute pedicure and to get a polish change for my fingernails. The "30 minute pedicure" lasted an hour and 10 minutes and did not look good when it was finished. She did not put my feet under a dryer so after I drove back to work I slipped on my open toe shoes and my pedicure was instantly ruined. I also had to tell her that I did not have time for the finger nail polish change since the pedicure clearly took longer than expected. Very dissapointed overall and will not return. Yes, I did know that students would be performing my services but they should not advertise a 30 minute pedicure if it simply can not be done in that time.

• Pros: Cheap
• Cons: You get what you pay for.

11/10/08

Disappointed after several visits

by Graciebaby21 at Citysearch

I have always been a big fan of Aveda Institues including the New York and St. Petersburg training schools. However, my experience in Atlanta could not have been more disappointing. I have been several times and the last 3 times I have waited at least 30 past my appointment time. For one of the appointments, I waited nearly 1 hour. The stylist I booked, and loved, was given to another client and I was given to a very green student who ultimately did a decent job, although it took her nearly 2 hours to cut my hair.

I left frustrated. While they apologized several times for the confusion, it didn't seem to make the service any faster. I treasure my salon time. It should be a retreat and this left me feeling the exact opposite.

• Pros: Price! Very cheap!
• Cons: Always late, service takes a very long time

10/10/08

Dirty and disorganized

by liannestewart at Citysearch

I went here for a haircut and have always been a loyal Aveda customer. This place was dirty, disorganized, and unprofessional. I won't be going back even if it is less expensive than the regular Aveda places. I would rather pay more and have a better experience. Possibly use an Aveda certified independent salon.

• Cons: Poorly trained and late staff, disorganized, dirty, unprofessional, out of products

10/10/08

Not what I expected from an Aveda Institute!

by JeniEscobar at Citysearch

I have been going to the Aveda Institute in Seattle for years (and even worked there briefly) so while I was visiting family in Georgia I decided to take a chance and go to the AI in Atlanta. I trusted the brand and didn't think it would be risky, since I know what Aveda is all about. This experience was totally different from my experience in Seattle, however. I went in for a bleach and tone to get my new growth touched up and made a beautiful blonde to match the rest of my hair. The toner was burning my scalp though, and I told the student who was doing my hair and she washed it out. She told me if it wasn't toned enough, we could try it again to get it to the right. Well, my hair was orange and hideous. There were also brown spots where she didn't work the bleach in well enough. It was awful. I begged them to finish it, but the story changed and they refused to do anything more to it that day. I understand they were trying to protect my scalp, but they shouldn't have told me we'd be able to try again if that wasn't true. I left nearly in tears, and very disappointed that I had to spend another tank of gas and 3 more hours fighting traffic to drive to Atlanta the following day. The next girl who worked on me was able to fix it mostly, but now there is a white halo around the crown of my head where the first girl overlapped the bleach onto hair that had already been bleached last time I got a bleach and tone. Also, they tried to charge me an extra $20 for extra product to run the toner through the rest of my hair, when I had already payed for a bleach and tone for long hair the previous day. I got the feeling that this Aveda Institute was more about squeezing every penny out of you for shoddy service than providing excellent service at a fair cost. I would never go here again and I wouldn't recommend this place. Just goes to show how much difference management makes at different locations!

• Pros: It's relatively cheap...
• Cons: .. but not worth the risk!

08/22/08

HOLLY is outstanding!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Dfitch21 at Citysearch

Great! Although there are students here (and yes you shoul be aware of that.... obviously!) they take great pride in their work and learning. I came in looking for a change- for cheap obviously. Holly was OUTSTANDING!!!!! one of the instructors was there step by step helping create my new Asymmetric look. I have gotten so many compliments and i love it. it was a great change and i was very impressed. Yes it does obviously take longer since their is instruction involved, but if you want to get all that fluff and a quick cut pay 10's more. Go to Aveda and ask for Holly!

07/17/08

It is a school

by BecShelton at Citysearch

I am an aveda graduate, not from atlanta but from another aveda institute. I just want people to know that it is a school, students go there to learn the basic skills. It is not anyones fault when a bad stylist comes through. Just like everything else some people are gifted and some are not, and how you figure that out is to GO TO SCHOOL. I would highly recommend any aveda institute to someone who is not overly picky and is open to change. They will not let you leave with a terrible haircut.... it may not always be what you want, but it would not be bad. And the same with color. The institute I attended they would always offer to redo your color for free if you did not like it. I just hate it when people go to a school and expect perfection. These students are only in school for 10 months and 3 of that is classroom. They are not experianced professionals. Thanks

• Pros: Cheap aveda color
• Cons: time