Beauty

[fitfuninformed]

I am a long time patron of Aveda salons, love the one local to my town here in NY.  Upscale, yes, but understated at the same time.

Aveda's specialty in the numerous salons is there color product and the color specialists and application.  Many seek out these salons for the mostly natural, organic methods and ingredients to protect the integrity of the hair.

If the "cut" is your only concern, I feel you can find a good beautician just about anywhere.  Your best bet is to go on recommendation - if you know or see someone who has similar hair (texture, thin/thick, etc.) I would politely ask who they go to.  At the very least they would appreciate the compliment.

[aggravated]

I've been going to an Aveda Salon now for two years.  A stylist was recommended by a friend and I was terribly unhappy with the last two folks that had been doing my cuts and color.  I wasn't searching out Aveda in particular.  The salon is always crowded, the stylists all have customers that, listening to the conversations, they have been seeing for years.  Professionally run and no one tries to sell you products every visit - although the salon stocks all the Aveda products.  I don't find the scents to be any different than any other salon; in fact less of an amonia smell there than a lot of other places.  Hope you find someone you like.

[Fressa]

I've been going to an Aveda Salon for years. All the stylists are very skilled. It's always clean, friendly and no sales pitch for any of the products. They're on display but no pressure. I use Wen and i buy Tressome hair spray for my husband. (who also goes there). The qulaity of the products used are above average and the prices are reasonable compared to some other salons. I never feel rushed and have heavy input into what I want done. I was searching for a salon like this for years and years.

[CatsyCline]

Its a nice salon  but nothing special although they make it seem to have a certain cache because they serve herbal teas.

They have Fresh Talent and Pure Talent prices and the Pure Talent is the higher pricetag.

Their Aveda color skews gold/ red and the highlights I had came out very gold.  Another time I had a single process turn orange.

I have a gift card i got 3 years ago and I know i should use .  just haven't got around to going back!   i'll have to call and ask if they use another color line.

[Katcat1]

@aubnwa01    I am currently with an Aveda salon.  The more you pay for a cut, the more experience the styist has; however, some stylists are born to cut hair  When my stylist is finished shampooing my hair and adds conditioner she start massaging my scalp (it is wonderful).  Then she adds a very warm moist towel on the head for a couple of minutes and finally rinses my hair.  Stylists do receive additional training at the salon.  As far as products, that is up to you if you want to purchase.  Products are never pushed at me.  

[Trix]

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@aubnwa01 I have used an Aveda salon for morethan 20 years.  I am completely satisfied with the stylist and the service.  As previously noted, stylists working in or who own an Aveda salon have taken Aveda training courses.  This is mandatory even if the stylist is already licensed.  The salon will also use only Aevda products. That said I do agree with @fitfuninformed suggesting that you ask others whose haircuts you like where they go. Women are generally good about sharing the name of their hairdresser -- even to strangers. 

[HerRoyaLioness]

@Katcat1- I totally agree with you that some are born to cut hair - the problem is finding them! 

One guy I went to at an Aveda salon, gave me an awesome cut, one of the best I have ever had for my type of hair.  On the website in part of his comments he said "either you know how to cut hair or you don't..."  I think that is true.  Some go into it as a job, whereas some have a true talent and love for it and are good at it.

The other guy I went to, also at an Aveda salon, gave me a great cut and highlights, but was an alcoholic at his one of his lowest and worst times and was let go within weeks.  I would still be going to him if he was there.

And I forgot about the head and shoulder massages, the warm towel over the conditioner AND a hand massage while my hair was being conditioned.  It was really nice!

Was never pressured to buy products, but I do think they have quality products.  Some work for my hair and some don't.  I love trying new products, but always come back to my favorite Aveda ones.

[50Mickey]

I have my hair done in an Aveda salon in the Atlanta area. They use only Aveda products and I like these products.  The. stylists in this salon specialize either in cutting or coloring. They don't do both. They have a 2 year training program after they obtain their cosmotology license and then they are placed in a New Talents program for additional training.  I pay $85 for a cut. I have what I consider difficult hair to cut. Not curly but different growth patterns and it is thick. You really have to have someone who. is trained in cutting hair. and preferably trained in the 21st century. I used to go to a neighborhood salon and this person cut everyone's hair the same. My hair looked like she put a bowl on my head and cut it. 

[SurferWife]

Aloha @aubnwa01. I currently go to an Aveda salon in Honolulu, and for many years when I lived in Dallas I went to an Aveda salon exclusively.

Your question:  Are Aveda Salons mostly about the Aveda products or do they have a hair cutting learning program for stylists as well to learn how to cut hair?

It's been my experience that 1) yes, they are all about the Aveda products, and 2) the learning program probably depends upon the individual salon owner.  The Aveda salon I went to in Dallas was very picky about the stylists they hired.  Even an experienced stylist had to go through a rigorous interview/hands-on trial process before being going it alone.  I've only been going to the Aveda salon in Honolulu for less than a year, so I haven't gotten the feel for how they train their newer stylists.  My stylist is the "color coach", so I can only assume most Aveda salons have a similar set-up.  My stylist really pushes the Aveda product on me (which I politely decline because I'm a WEN girl).  Prior to WEN I was an Aveda junkie, so I do think they have good products (I still use the eye cream and a few lipsticks, but for my hair, I am a 100% WEN girl).

I do love the ambiance of an Aveda salon.  I really feel like I'm at the spa...the smells...the hand massage when I'm getting my hair washed...the tea...it's my "girly, girly" day!

Your comment:  "Well, you can style it with product & make it do what you want"

1) True to a certain degree, but the right haircut is also a major factor.

I'm not sure how set on an Aveda salon you are, but if you do have naturally wavy/curly hair, have you considered trying a stylist certified by Deva Curl?  If you go to the Deva Curl website, you can enter your zip code to search for a stylist that is certifiedby Deva Curl (menu item "Find a Stylist").  They specialize in curly girl cuts.

Just for giggles, after my last appointment with my Aveda stylist (who is good with both color & cut by the way, I have no complaints), I entered my zip code on the Deva Curl website knowing I would not get any results.  I about fell out of my chair laughing when I found out here in our little North Shore of O'ahu town is a Deva Curl cut specialist.  So...I made an appointment with her for this Saturday.  I'm going to at least try her out once to see what a Deva Curl cut is all about.

I hope this information is helpful!

[SurferWife]

Thanks @San Antonio Gal!  I shared my opinion with @aubnwa01.