Never Again.
I have been a customer of Aveda Salons for 20 years at multiple locations in and around Columbus, OH; as well as other states.
I have always supported salon schools.
Yesterday's visit was the first time I left with my hair looking worse than when I went in; due to the students (and instructors) arrogance, ignorance, and inexperience.
(there were two twenty-something African-American women working on my hair, and 3 instructors who argued with me. I am a middle-aged white woman).
I called and requested a simple highlight (minimum amount of foils) and a cut.
I was scheduled for a partial (more foils) and a cut.
I came in with highlights that were growing out.
I wanted a simple highlight to match, to tone the brassiness, and a cut to get rid of the dead ends.
When I arrived, the 2 stylists pulled up a picture of what THEY thought I should have done.
I said NO, that's not what I want.
I explained what I DID want.
(A service I have been getting with zero issues for many years, which, should be well-documented in the Aveda records)
During the consultation, they called the instructor over.
I explained that I did not want what they were suggesting.
I told the instructor what I DID want, which was face-framing highlights, a cut which would allow me to keep length but get rid of the dead ends, and a toner that would reduce the brassiness of the highlights.
The instructor insisted that I allow THEM to move forward with THEIR plan, as flawed and ill-informed as it was.
Despite the fact that it was not going to give me the result I wanted.
They insisted that I would get the result I wanted, that they knew better than I did.
I told them, no, your plan isn't going to do that.
Then, an entire team of instructors proceeded to argue with me about why I was wrong.
They called me "argumentative" and "cold".
I was not wrong, they were.
Not only were they wrong, but I genuinely got a kick out of the "I told you so" moment when the appointment was over, and they got to see the result of their terrible decision-making.
The result?
My hair is green.
And it's a foot shorter than when I went in.
They decided they needed to "add lowlights" to "help the regrowth blend in" and insisted on "baby lights" (the finest weave) for the highlight.
They ignored the FACT that a warm blonde cannot be colored over (using an ash demi).
The highlights?
Not visible, as I pointed out before we began; due to their insistence on using a technique that I said I did not want.
The cut is awful.
Really, I have never had a worse cut.
It's blunt, choppy. No blending whatsoever.
They obviously are not teaching, nor making any attempt to master the basics.
Also, the floors were dirty. The stations were a mess.
This was the first time I had ever witnessed such a thing at a salon.
I will never return (after I make them fix this).
Not only that, I will encourage you not to go either.
Go to Paul Mitchell.
Go to Penzones.
Go anywhere else. But....
DO NOT go to Aveda.
Somehow, they have forgotten.
I am the paying customer.
I am the one who can take my business elsewhere.
And I will.
There's theory, and then there's practice.
They are all theory, and no practice.
Oh, the "stylist" asked if I had children.
She asked what my birthday was.
Completely inappropriate, not professional.
None of her business, actually. read more