Aveda Institute

Pluses:
1. They were kind enough to take a walk-​in on a Sunday (website said they were open, but it turns out that was only for purchases).
2. Truly one of the warmest and funniest hair specialist’s I have ever encountered.
3. Products smell great.
Negatives:
1. First and formost, the lovely stylist helping me (an instructor, not a student), had NO idea how to work with long hair. She asked if my hair tangles easily during washing, but failed to use appropriate crème rinse. She was unable to comb out my hair and ultimately needed my help. Because it became so tangled during washing, this took over 35 minutes (with a lot of ripping through tangles). In her efforts to detangle, she added so much product that I had to rewash my hair before work the next morning (it looked like I had poured a bottle of olive oil on my head).
2. I asked for her to take off 4ish inches. She agreed that she did take off this amount, but when I looked at the floor, the pieces were 1.5 inches. I do not relish having to pay for another cut to shorten the length further.
3. Usually at the end of a cut, the stylist compares each side, to ensure that the shaping is equal on both sides. I believe that she was exhausted from the whole process and just gave up (the cut was straight, but there was no tapering or shaping).
4. She said that she wanted to do a «dry cut». Not only did she not do a dry cut, but she did not even blow dry my hair (she had said that this was included with the cut).
5. Less importantly, they did not offer tea or give the short, complimentary massage advertised on the website.
In summary, ended up paying much more for a cut (I went for a student cut, but the only person available was a senior stylist) than I had planned, I will need another cut in the near future because it was not trimmed or shaped sufficiently, and ended up walking out into 30 degree weather with greasy, wet hair. My gut feeling is that my stylist would likely be very proficient with a routine short hair cut. The star is because she was fun and interesting to talk to, and seems like a genuinely nice person. I think I would rather have her as a happy hour buddy than a stylist for my long hair.

Only make an appointment here if you have straight hair.
I booked an appointment online stating I’d prefer a dry cut and/​or someone who specializes in curly hair. They called me back to confirm the appointment and said they don’t do dry cuts. Fine, I’ll be adventurous. Then, the woman says that they don’t have products for curly hair and recommended I get some type of treatment & flat iron. She also said that my hair wouldn’t come out in the «curly aesthetic» that I would want… Huh?
F-​L-​A-​T-​I-​R-​O-​N. *cries* I just wanted a haircut!
Needless to say, I decided it’d be best if I stay away. Far, far away.

Best haircut I’ve had in years – a wash, cut and blow-​dry for under $ 30. I might’ve just gotten lucky, but I was assigned a Level II student who knew exactly how to style my thick, straight Asian hair. It took about 2 hours (primarily because my stylist had to run my cut by her supervisors every half-​hour or so), which was totally worth it.
I normally have difficulty because my hair is so thick that even high-​end Asian salons don’t know what to do with it, but my stylist advised me, and I ended up with low-​maintenance layers that have grown out nicely. Would definitely go back for Aveda’s spa treatments or another cut.

Came here a few days ago for corrective color after a stylist at another salon messed up my roots. I’ll admit I was a little nervous that the students would not know how to correct my terribly colored hair, but I was not let down. Gabrielle was my stylist and she did an absolutely fabulous job. She explained everything to me throughly and reassured me that my hair would come out the icy blonde color that I intended for it to be. It turned out exactly how I wanted it to and she even did a blow out on me that turned out great!
Only suggestion I would have is that they let the guests know ahead of time that the students can only accept cash tips.
Overall I would definitely suggest this place to anyone for color services. The students and instructors seemed very knowledgable. I also lucked out by getting a very skilled student. Make sure you ask for Gabrielle!

90 minute facial for $ 65
They moved into the space next door and the spa «floor» is so nice. I always get a facial here when I visit Manhattan. My esthetician (Carly I think?) and her instructor were professional and Aveda is always LOVELY to experience. Their space is certainly more compact but with everything all new it was nicer than some other «official» spas/​salons I’ve been to. And there’s make-​up and mirrors in reception, so you don’t have to worry about going back on the street in NYC looking all disheveled after a having a facial.
\0/​YAY \0/

The price for dying hair is cheap and turn out fine. However, it’s a institute not a real salon so don’t expect any nice service. My stylist was fine with her skill but her attitude was not that nice and unprofessional… After she used the tools, she just literally threw on the table or her cart. Definitely need to improve that. Anyway, the price and result is good but probably it’s last time. I rather spend more money to get better service and nicer environment.

The staff was exceptional! The lovely receptionist was warm and resourceful in calming our nerves and advising us of what to expect from the visit. My stylist was Jessica and she was beyond amazing. Jessica took her time with me, the process took a good 2 hours but I got exactly what I wanted.
I guess a routine doctors visit would be a good analogy. If u would rather prefer an over-​cautious medical resident who takes their time and provides a thorough checkup over an overrated doctor who speeds through the visit with little consideration for your well being, THEN THIS IS THE PLACE TO BE.
The students here are well-​trained however lacking hands-​on experience, which is compensated for with patience, willingness to listen to your feedback, and the close supervision of their instructors.
The Unilocal reviews don’t really do it justice. Tips for your next appt
— be assertive, speak up! The students will refer to their instructors, who generally will fix your concerns.
— double check your confirmation email for the time, our appt was confirmed via an automated email, however the «comments» state that our appt was for a different time. -.-
— my boyfriend had paid for my visit a few min before I got to checkout and I was still asked to pay. Was it lack of communication between the 2 ladies that was there??? Or was it simply just inability perform their required job descriptions? The storefront had no customers. I don’t quite understand this. I had to return to have them void my transaction, and their attitude was the downfall of this experience.
***** 5 stars for the haircut, Jessica, receptionist
* 1 star for the ladies at the checkout counter next door
** 2 stars for availability of appts and the lack of common sense to even call clients regarding a different requested appt time.

Decided to treat myself for a much needed facial and haircut at the Aveda school.
I have been visiting the school for a few years now and have never had a bad experience.
Understanding that some of the services take longer than normal since they are performed by students, I made sure to a lot plenty of time to get both services.
Not to mention the prices are pretty great and they use all the Aveda products
My facial was the «express» selection so I could also squeeze in the haircut. Erin was my facial technician and made suggestions for my sensitive skin. She made the experience very relaxing and I will for sure be back for a longer session. If you book a facial, ask for Erin.
After the facial I headed to the salon to get a cut from Genevieve. I was going in for a basic trim and shape up so I was very open to any ideas she had. After the cut and curly blow out, I was very pleased. She did great job. I’m excited to wear my hair down for a change.
After the cut, took a trip to the retail store to make my purchases and to make sure that both Erin and Genevieve got the credit for the purchases I made. Aveda Products are great for my sensitive skin and smell wonderful too.
I’ll definitely be back soon.

I’ve always dreamed of rocking shorter hair, but was constantly told that my long hair was pretty and that I should keep it. On a whim, I cut 14″ off and my hairstylist made sure to check in with exactly what I wanted. She showed me pictures and talked me through the transition, since there was a moment of panic when she made the initial cut. After styling it and showing me the results, I couldn’t have been happier. Not only that, but she also offered me a lip color to go with my outfit that I adored. I had nothing but positive experiences here and for the price, you really can’t beat it. Will definitely be making an appointment here again!

If you don’t need a long-​term relationship with your hairdresser, but you do need a haircut and color touch-​up under $ 100, you can’t find many options better than this in Manhattan.
The stylists are students, but always mature students on the verge of being full time professionals who have their work double-​checked by teachers.
The products are all high quality and Eco-​conscious Aveda products. When you get on the mailing list, you’ll also get discounts and special promo nights for complimentary extras.
It’s easiest to make an appointment online, but there is a phone number that takes a while to get through if you need to talk to someone.
The only limitation is that the hours for appointments may be more limited than you’d find at most other salons.

Anytime I have left a message to get an appointment, the call was never returned. I just go by the salon and make the appointment in person. and the last two appointments I was given, there were no students available to do the haircut. Several people in line complaining about the same thing. The haircuts I have had here are okay but when I make an appointment, Aveda needs to either keep the appointment or call and cancel. In other words, horrible customer service;plenty of other places to go.

I have somewhat difficult hair and was nervous to go to a student salon, but I was pleasantly surprised. I have an asymmetrical bob haircut and thought it would be harder for a student, but everyone was SO excited to have a different haircut to work with instead of a regular trim.
My stylist was new, and a little hesitant, but I’d much rather that than someone just cutting away! The instructor was so friendly, helpful, and came over regularly to guide on the tricky parts of the cut.
In the end my haircut came out amazing! This is a learning salon, so a cut will take longer than at other salons (mine took 2 hours start to finish). I was also told that the studio is currently under renovation which is great, since it looks a little rough around the edges.
My only criticism is that my stylist really did not know how to blow dry my hair straight. I tried to give her some pointers, but it seemed like she was never instructed on how to do it. But hey, as longs the cut was on point, I can restyle it at home.
I’ll definitely be returning

I had a lovely experience at Aveda institute last week. I went in for a long overdue trim and Pascal did a great job. He listened, he was meticulous and he made sure I got what I wanted. He showed me some products but was not pushy about it. I liked the rapport with the instructor. She clearly trusted him yet she was there throughout for support and guidance. Pascal graduates in December 2015 and I highly recommend him :) thank you!

I know some people are a little hesitant about getting a haircut from a student, but I’m all about it. I love the idea of supporting someone else’s education, and also of cheap services, because let’s be real, there are a lot of other things that I want to spend my paycheck on. So far I’ve been here twice, and I’ve had slightly different experiences, but both overall positive for both me and my credit card. The biggest downsides are that it takes a while, and that unlike a professional salon, the ambiance is not all fancy and luxurious… much more industrial and to-​the-​point.
The first time I came here, it was a Monday evening (which I was told is when all the most experienced students are there) and I had a great time! My stylist was super friendly and did exactly what I wanted her to do. The second time, I had to guide my stylist a little more, and she seemed a little more confused, but my hair still came out looking just fine… I just had to ask for what I wanted very clearly. So the moral of that story is, really don’t be afraid to tell your stylist exactly what you’re looking for, and if something isn’t right (like she made my bangs way too thin at first), tell them!
Do be warned, it will take a LONG time. Both times I was there for around 2 hours for just a basic cut. It can be frustrating, but if you’re prepared for it, it’s not quite so bad. And bring cash to tip your stylist! You can pay for the cut via card, but if you want to leave a tip (and you should!), you need to have cash on-​hand to give to your stylist directly.
Overall, I will definitely be coming back here for most of my haircuts. I have a pretty simple haircut (long hair, just trim off the split ends), so I can’t say if they’d be good at making a drastic change. If I was trying to do something elaborate or make a big change, I might hesitate a bit more, but at least for your average trim, it’s totally worth it!

I’ve had better experiences at other Aveda Institutes in other cities. My stylist was great (Annie!) but the check in desk had a major attitude problem. I wasn’t offered water or tea when I checked in, as others have mentioned below. She was incredibly RUDE and made me feel like I was somehow wasting her time by just existing. I asked her what the difference between a Level 1 and Level II haircut was (since this was my first time in a long time) and she didn’t give me an answer, just saying «it has to do with how long they’ve been here». When I tried to ask what that meant and how long the students have been here (to understand why one is more expensive than the other), she brushed me off. She didn’t tell me who I was getting or what the price was. I waited about 15 minutes in the waiting room before someone came to get me. The check in experience is 1 star.
Annie was great, however. She was incredibly thorough– I could tell she was more thorough than the other students. She actually went through the checklist, offered a fantastic scalp and shoulder massage, and took her time. The other students joked (within earshot) that she was very «technical», but honestly I think they were just lazy. So… if you come here and you feel like your stylist is leaving something out, ask for it! Annie is five stars!
Here’s the thing… The haircut was fine. If you’re getting a basic haircut, Aveda is a decent experience. The hair cut is $ 26 before tax and tip. If you want a fancy or complicated hair cut, I wouldn’t recommend it. The total experience took about 2 – 2.5 hours (to trim off 3 – 4 inches of hair and layer). I’d come back again, given the prices, but it’s not the best hair cut i’ve ever received.

And for a new twist: you have an appointment, wait 45 minutes and THEN they tell you they have no students to do your appointment.

Aveda was a good experience. The price for the service was adequate; but don’t expect that a $ 30 haircut will get you a «perfect» haircut either. The got the job done which was what this really is all about.
I got a long bob cut; the styling wasn’t special. It took 2h+ to my student to get it done; and she did cut her finger whilst trimming my hair.
Pros: Teacher and supervisors came a few times to check everything was on point. My student asked what I wanted, was gracious and courteous.
Cons: $ 30 is too much for what they do, my student cut her finger, the waiting place does look like a high-​school locker room, they do some pushing of their products but the most annoying thing was that the student is with you WHILE YOU PAY which is super uncomfortable as you really don’t know if you should/​how tip or them seeing you handling your money ad looking guilty.

Went in for a shampoo and blowout to support their «Earth Day» celebrations in April. All blowouts were for $ 20 and on Earth day they were donating everything to charity (including gratuity).
Ended up with SUPER greasy hair after the blow out — remember everyone here is a learner and if they don’t understand hair type/​s, using the wrong products can ruin the experience.
However, not fretting for $ 20 bucks. Learning schools can be a hit or a miss, and this one was clearly a miss. I don’t blame the stylist — but the teacher who was doing the rounds. The process would be more effective if she helped the stylist — suggested products & did a spot check in the end to make sure the students are doing an adequate job.
Walk in if you are in the area and are feeling adventurous… but don’t bother seeking it out especially for a treatment.

I had a great experience. Stylist listen to my wants and needs. Explain to me what steps she was doing to achieve my desired hair and overall she was gentle with my hair. Great and tasty complementary tea.

I am a proponent of the idea that low prices do not always correlate with low quality. Therefore, I’m not afraid of the potential risk that comes with having my hair cut by a student, and a different one each time at that. I started visiting Aveda Institute in Portland about six years ago, and have continued using their services in New York for about five years now.
Aveda Institute now offers appointment booking online, which has made it much easier to see what’s available date wise and service wise, and I no longer have to be on hold for ten minutes (those days were awful!). For $ 20, you can get a shampoo, cut, and blow dry from a Level I student (it’s $ 30 if they are Level II). The student is required to consult with an instructor on what you’re hoping to get out of your experience (the cut/​style you want, any specific hair concerns) and they can stop and get an instructor to help them out at any point. Don’t be afraid to ask for an instructor yourself, either! I find it’s best to have a very clear idea in your head of what cut you want, and I’ve always gotten the best results when I bring a picture or two that I can show the instructor and student.
Most students I’ve seen have been very nice, but it can vary. If they forget to offer you a renewing ritual (3 – 5 minute hand, scalp or shoulder massage) feel free to ask for it, as it’s part of their grade! Same goes for offering tea/​water to you. Additionally, if you’re familiar with Aveda’s product line, tell your student what shampoo or styling products you would like them to use. Personally, I love the Dry Remedy line in the winter and Brilliant line in the summer. They also have a great volumizing mousse, Phomollient, that I strongly recommend.
I can’t speak too much towards their esthetics treatments, since I’ve only been there once for a 30-​minute express facial a few years ago, but from what I remember, it was a very pleasant, relaxing experience, and improved my skin noticeably.
Expect your visit to go a bit longer than the average salon visit. They are students, after all, so even a simple cut and style with intermittent instructor consultation may take over an hour. I believe my longest visit was 3 hours, when I had the express facial, and then went for a total hairstyle change, from medium length, straight down hair to an itty bitty pixie cut.
At the end of your appointment, the student is required to walk you through the retail section and show you the products they used that you can buy. Do not feel obligated to buy them! No one is pressuring you, and I’m pretty sure they don’t make commission on those sales anyway.
One other cool thing I’ve learned about the Aveda Institute is that if you aren’t happy with your cut or notice later that there’s something wrong with it, you can go back within a week and have it fixed/​corrected for free. I’ve only done this once, when my bangs were trimmed unevenly and sat weird on my forehead, and the instructor had a different student fix them for me; both were super kind and understanding. That said, I really can’t claim to have gotten a truly awful haircut here, or had a horrible experience (one time a student kinda scalded my head when she was drying my hair, but looking back I should have said something!!).
If you’re not striving for perfection, or if you’re a student on a budget that still wants salon quality service, give Aveda Institute a shot!