Stephen & Burns Aveda Salon & Spa

First of all, the salon is beautiful inside! They are so kind & you are free to get complimentary tea or water while you wait. I get my Brazilian waxes done here and my friend gets her eyebrows done, and they do a pretty good job. I do wish that they would upgrade to a «hard wax» or «strip-​free wax» since this method of hair removal is MUCH LESS PAINFUL! However, they do a good job, and that painfulness is not their fault lol. Bottom line, they are great!

After trying a few different spots in VT over the years, this one is the best, hands down. Liz is simply the best.

Stephen cuts my hair and I’m very very happy with his abilities. Plus, he’s a sweetie pie. In fact, I used to live in NYC and tried many nice salons but never really fell in love with any stylist. Then by chance, my mom had to miss her appointment with Stephen one time when I was visiting from NYC, so I decided to take her place, and I’ve been seeing Stephen ever since. Even when that meant waiting to visit Vermont from NYC. That’s how happy I was with my haircut!
If you want a massage, Billie gives one of the best massages I’ve ever had.
The salon itself is well designed. Upstairs the spa is tranquil and serene.
I can’t speak for the other stylists or masseurs, but if you want top-​knotch service Stephen/​cut and Billie/​massage are the way to go.
Prices reflect experience. Stephen is expensive, but I tend to use gift certificates and Groupon-​type specials for my haircuts, so I make it work.
Highly recommend.

Always feel like my head is in great hands here. Important when your hair is kind of high maintenance like mine. Plus the service is top notch and atmosphere is relaxing!

I booked an appointment at this salon when I relocated to the area. I had always gone to Aveda salons and had positive experiences, so I wanted to continue seeing an Aveda stylist. In addition, I get my hair colored at Aveda is the best in my opinion, especially for blonde. When I entered the salon I was taken aback by how pretentious everyone working there seemed to be. When speaking with my stylist she compared Burlington to similar markets as Boston, NYC, and Montréal. In my opinion, Burlington (thankfully so) is not those places, nor should the salon’s prices and attitude reflect that of a large metropolitan area. My color was great and my haircut OK, but I was incredibly surprised by the cost (the website sets prices much lower than what I was charged). While the quality was high, I have trouble justifying paying the prices of this salon when there are other, more affordable and friendlier Aveda salons in the area.

I am as regular a customer as my budget allows and a huge fan of this salon! I get professional care during all treatments and services. The one time I did not, I gave feedback and they” made good on the deal.” The staff and owners are seriously intent on making you happy and honor the opportunity to help you to feel good when things don’t go as planned.
Katie and Stacy rock!

I have been a client of Stephen’s for over 15 years. I find staff to be friendly and am very happy with the services I receive.

I had a jump on it deal (like living social but local) that was about to expire so I called to make an appointment for a message. The girl who answered the phone let me know they were booked the next day but they had one opening at 7:00 that night. PERFECT! I arrived and was shown upstairs to a waiting area by the massage. (Kinda awkward because when the client before you walks out you are right there looking at them) My appointment started 10 minutes late — no big deal — I was the last appointment of the day so if one before me was running late I understand. The girl greeted me and asked if I had been to S&B before. She knew she was making a first impression! She also asked me if it was my first massage (Nope — I have treated myself to one a time or two before)
The massage itself was lack luster. I mean it is like the old saying a bad day on the ski slope is still better then a good day in the office… but this wasn’t great. The worse is when it was done I was surprised an hour had gone by. I check the clock on my phone and sure enough it was 7:57. 13 minutes of my massage had disappeared :(That is 25% of my service! I wish I had said something before I left but I was exhausted after a busy day at work and was trying to stay relaxed…
So much for a first impression. It was good they tried to get new clients in but this isn’t really the way to do it… next time I want to treat myself it won’t be here.

I originally chose to switch to Stephen & Burns out of curiosity. I had heard about this high-​end, «luxury» salon around town and was excited to try it, especially since it is an Aveda salon. That was my first mistake right there, since this salon turned out to be the WORST salon experience I have ever had in my life!
When I called to set up an appointment, I had asked for a friendly and talkative stylist. Somehow, the person answering the phone (they have no receptionist), thought it would be funny to give me the complete opposite. When I arrived after some shopping, I checked in and asked if there was a coat room where I could store my bags. I was instead told where I could sit while I waited.
When my stylist walked me over to her chair, I asked again if there was somewhere that I could store the bags. She instructed me to store them on the floor, next to her station. I love what I bought, but the last place I want my new purchase is on the floor near my hair. During the entire haircut, she never said more than 3 sentences to me, and could care less about what responded with. And, when I mentioned my job, she was much more interested in the benefits I got from it than what I actually did or how I did it.; pure rudeness.
She gave me a weak consultation, forcing me to tell her about my hair but then rolling her eyes because it wasn’t what she was looking for when she asked the question. We then went to go shampoo my hair at one of the shampoo stations which is quite awkwardly place. It seems like someone one day noticed that they needed a shampoo station, removed a chair or two, and installed one of these stations, without any designation from the rest of the salon floor at all. During the shampoo, she splashed water in my eye (while it was open), and didn’t even notice; a rookie mistake! At the end of the shampoo, I thought I had gone swimming with the amount of water in my ears.
She then cut it the way I requested but then stopped halfway through and didn’t finish. It’s been one of the worst hair cuts in my life. What’s worse? I paid $ 55 for a hair cut that I have to go have finished at another salon now…
My advice: AVOID THIS SALON like the plague (at least for men’s haircuts). It attempts to give off high-​end impressions, but is a worn-​out salon with staff that would rather be elsewhere and could care less about you as a person. If you are desperate for the Aveda experience, I say make the trip up to Montréal. At least there, they’re willing to have conversations with you. And, in the meantime, I’d wait for it to be featured on Tabatha’s Salon Takeover, because if it treats all of their clients like me, they’re quickly heading towards candidacy.

I had an awesome experience getting my haircut here. Brittany was my stylist and she was top-​notch — had great taste, attention to detail, really talented, and friendly energy.
They also start each haircut with a 2 minute relaxation head massage which is reason enough to go!

We moved from the Midwest to Burlington and I needed a haircut badly. I had gone to a great stylist for many years so I was very nervous about getting my hair cut/​colored in Burlington. I did check out prices but the first recommended salon more than doubled the price I was quoted. I felt like I had been ripped off and the cut was not what I wanted. I was devastated.
Other people recommended I try Stephen & Burns — I checked out the prices and taking a deep breath went to them. Stephen cut my hair perfectly, was delightful to talk to and I am absolutely thrilled to have a new stylist who is not only equal to the caliber of my old stylist, but knows color as well. The salon is lovely, the products are fine but you not only receive excellent service at honest prices, but you leave feeling great with a terrific haircut.

Let me preface this by saying that I am from the metro Boston area originally.
I moved to VT in 2007, and came across this salon on a walk down Church St. I took a look at their website, and based on their prices and the fact that they are an Aveda concept salon, I decided to give it a try.
The building is beautiful inside and out. From the waiting area, to the salon areas and the spa upstairs, I don’t have a single complaint. It is warm, well decorate, meticulously clean and decorated in all the high-​end colors and style that one could expect to find in the Boston area.
The staff are polite, curious and eager to please. I have had my hair cut and styled, nails done and several skin care services in the spa done. I love the quality and the organic ingredients of the Aveda products –especially on my super sensitive skin.
I also love the skills and talent that the women who have worked on me clearly posses.
In regards to the prices — this is not a hair cut from the mall, so it does not cost the same as a hair cut from the mall. You are paying for the knowledge and experience of the staff, the quality of the products and the experience of a higher-​end salon and spa.
This includes niceties like tea/​coffee, a changing room with clean t-​shirts to wear during your cut so that you don’t muss your top or get any hair on it, complimentary head massage with your cut, high quality products, and a relaxing, high-​end atmosphere, then I would highly recommend that you book an appointment. My personal favorites are Brittany for hair or Eva for skincare.

I’m only in Burlington for a night and I desperately needed to find a salon for a facial. After trying to book appointments at two completely booked salons, I came upon Stephen & Burns. I’m so glad they had an open appointment!!! It was centrally located and the staff was super friendly when I got there. Nicole did my 45 minute facial and offered me tea or water before we got started. Once we got to the private room she explained the procedure to me and when I told her I have sensitive skin she let me know that she’d be using aroma free products and that I should let her know if anything felt itchy or uncomfortable. I trust Aveda products and I knew I’d be fine — plus I felt comfortable after her introduction.
I quickly changed and got under the blanket and relaxed in the quiet atmosphere. Nicole did a great job — just social enough and didn’t talk too much, leaving me time to relax and not feel forced to chat. Loved the massage and the stretch afterwards. She did a good job with the extractions — gentle yet firm! I appreciated her recommendations and didn’t feel pressured like I have at other spas.
The salon was not pretentious at all — everyone was friendly and the experience was enjoyable. I would have given it a five but I’ve only tried the facial and not any of the other services. The price was extremely fair and definitely worth it.

I am sorry for the past reviewers unfortunate experience… I have been going to the salon for 2 years now and have had the best experiences, and I imagine it’s because I feel so comfortable with Jessie, the woman I see. Truly she makes the experience about me — selfishly, isn’t this what it’s all about? The pricing is very reasonable, the result has given me many compliments from friends and family and strangers. Love the salon!

It is what you expect from Aveda Lifestyle Salons– expensive and yes, pretentious. I regretted allowing myself to splurge, thinking that an expensive haircut would equate to Va-​va-​voom!
The staff is overly eager; they constantly ask if you need something; and the stylists seem to engage in conversation as if they are obligated to. Maybe that’s where half of what you’re paying for goes to? And really, I wouldn’t mind. Except when I pay that much, I’d like to walk out of the salon having hair that feels and looks expensive.
Note: When you pay with a credit card, you can’t include your gratuity. It has to be paid in cash or check.

Way over-​priced and pretenious.
Nice interior look to the salon.

I went to Stephen & Burns for my wedding day hair up-​do. I knew several people who were devoted to this place for haircuts, but since I live out of the area, I hadn’t had any kind of consultation prior to my wedding day. I really only had a general idea of what I wanted my hair to look like and simply trusted the stylist to do something pretty. She ended up creating exactly what I wanted. A simple, classic and feminine up-​do. I was very impressed. This feels like a salon in a much bigger city.