Aveda Institute Minneapolis

I only gave it a one because no option for a zero review. I had used aveda Institute ever since I learned of it. I loved the cuts color I always got. The price helped to.
I realize it is a school students are doing live training. However their should be some accountability.
Last year I went I had asked for soft around the face texture because I have extreme thick hair. Anyhow the student told the Instructor what I wanted all agreed.
I am not a stylist but I questioned how she was cutting my hair. When I finally saw my cousin in July I found out they did a Mohawk style. I liked it up it is a very poplar cut for thick hair.
I never even asked for that.
I spoke with a manager who was rude.
I have not been back since.
I am still trying to fix my hair from that.
Maybe the students if they do a haircut the customer didn’t want have to pay to fix it. They will be held accountable in real life.
I felt horrible about myself since. I never wanted to look boyish. I don’t know how it went from asking for soft around the face to a Mohawk type style.
I am considering the school again. But I may ask the instructor to keep a close eye on the hair dress r to make sure hey are doing he actual cut.
The other experience I had is I had an appointment and everyone in the lobby got called back. I never did. I had asked about it but somehow I was missed.
The school has really chance since back 2004.
I just hope that hanged will occur so students will listen to their customers instead not to do what they choose to do that is popular against the customer wishes.
Bgarrity

The 1 star is solely based off my experience today. My appt was scheduled for 11 am. I received a call at 9:45 telling me my stylist was going to be running late on the appt before mine so I rescheduled for 1:30 pm. I checked in 1:15. A little after 1:30, an instructor came and found me to tell me that my stylist was still running late and asked if I would mind seeing someone else. I said that was fine. At 1:45, I was told that my stylist left for the day and they could get me in in 20 minutes. At that point, I left. I know these are students, but it is still a business and I had already had to reschedule my day once.

This Unilocal listing says they are open Mondays, but you can’t get a haircut on Monday.

I had my roots bleached by Lisa R and she did a great job! She definitely knew what she was doing but the instructor also checked on every step of the way. don’t expect to be there any shorter than 3 hours if you are getting a hair color — they are students and this is their live training and it counts towards their grade. the building itself is wonderful and lively. complimentary tea, water, shoulder and hand massages and a light makeup application at the end if you choose. don’t be afraid to talk to the stylist to make sure you are getting exactly what you want. I will definitely be back and highly recommend you ask for Lisa.

my mom was sweet enough to give me a gift card for the aveda institute. so, i booked: a facial, a pedicure and lash tint.
i am from nyc and have been to the aveda inst. on spring st in nyc many times, they have always been excellent, so i figured it would be the same kind of quality. boy, was i wrong.
the facial was literally a young woman nervously applying, and then wiping off different creams and masques. no steam was used. no extractions. no bright lights with a magnifying glass. no talk about what i could be doing more of or less of. nothing.
the pedicure was done by a different young woman who told me during the course of the service that she was 17. that was glaringly obvious. she got paint all over my feet. not just my toenails. not even just my toenails. but my FEET. there was no foot massage, she did not exfoliate or scrub my feet or legs. she acted like she had actually never given a pedicure in her life. and the results confirmed for me that maybe she actually hadn’t. no supervisor anywhere to be seen. we were off alone in a weird corner. the chairs are super awkward, and you have to hold your own leg up because you don’t sit higher than the person working on your feet.
after the botched pedicure, i told the young woman that i didn’t trust her to do a lash tint because she couldn’t even stay inside the lines on my toenails, i didn’t want her anywhere near my eyes. i have to say that she was very understanding and brought over a completely vacant and bored-​looking supervisor who could not have cared less about what was going on. i showed her my feet, and she didn’t even raise an eyebrow. she said she would do the last tint. she left the dye on for five minutes and then sent me on my way. (eyelash tint takes significantly longer than that) she never offered me a hand mirror to look at my eyes. and when i asked for one, she pretended not to have one. i then found one under the treatment table and confirmed my suspicion that my blonde eyelashes were still indeed completely blonde. by the time i had found the mirror, she was nowhere to be found. i complained to the front desk and they were super nice about it and asked me if i’d like to have another person do it, but at that point the experience was so terrible, that i didn’t trust anyone else to actually do a better job. the man at the front desk reminded me that this was, «at the end of the day» a school. but good grief. save up for a consummate professional to service you at a real spa or salon. this place is a trainwreck.

The student was kind but i wasn’t happy with my hair cut.
My hair looked the exact same just shorter I really didn’t mind having more of my hair cut off to make my hair less heavy which they didn’t understand, the teachers were very rude, it was obvious I wasn’t happy with my hair cut at the end but they just kept being rude about it. I just wanted to LEAVE AND GET OUT at that point.
I got home and found a lot of uneven hairs which I was pointing out to them but they just kept disagreeing with me.

If you want an «experience» don’t go to a beauty school! However if you want aveda standards at a discount this place is ideal. I’ve been coming here for years and my experiences have been overall very positive. I go in for a brow wax ($ 10) pretty frequently, and for a cut and color ($ 40ish) every couple months. My color always turns out very vibrant and nice and although hair cuts tend to take awhile I’ve never had to have an instructor fix anything. Be descriptive, have pictures of what you want on your phone, and speak up when the instructor is verifying what you want.
Bonus Tip: 10% off with a student id!

A teaching school, meaning no experience. Don’t go for a cut. Make sure to have them verify everything you say otherwise your hair will end up 4″ shorter than you wanted

Huge, cool space and students who seem very focused and eager to do a good job. I received product info but no hard sell, and the head and hand massage that came with the haircut made this experience as good as most high-​end salons. I didn’t mind having my hair cut surrounded by about 100 other people because it was interesting to see all the work being done to people’s heads, and so many different types of hair! I’ll be back.

I understand that this place is a school, and not a standard salon, but MY GOD. I waited for 15 minutes after my scheduled time today, had an awful haircut that was also inspected by an «educator» and deemed to be fine, and then by force of social expectation, had to leave a tip when I honestly did not want to. When you check out, the receptionist asks you right in front of your stylist how your service was, which does not allow for honest feedback. Then, while you check out and your stylist awkwardly stands 3 feet away, the receptionist asks you if you would like to leave a tip. Despite low price points, I will not be back.

Do not get a pedicure here! I failed to read the previous reviews before getting a pedicure here. The pedicure was terrible and not worth the $. There was no foot scrub, no cutting or filing of my nails, no cuticle cutting, and no leg message. It came off the next day and just looked totally mangled.
However, I will come back to try a different service — NO NAILS! The student was very nice and the atmosphere was cool to see.

This place is a diamond in the rough. All their services are significantly discounted and for the most part, everything is worth it! I’ve had the haircut, the pedicure, the facial, and the massage here.
The haircut took 2 hours including a wash, cut, and dry. It looked great by the end and you don’t feel at all nervous since the mentor/​supervisor does a great job in the beginning, middle, and end. Anything that needs to be tweaked will be done by the supervisor and the students don’t do anything crazy without notifying their boss, so don’t you worry about that!
The pedicure also took 2 hours although I have a feeling that it usually doesn’t take that long. This is okay. They do some great things — they soak your feet, they scrub your feet thoroughly, they massage your shoulders. But it’s also lacking in that they don’t cut your cuticles (for liability reasons) and the polish started to chip a little less than a couple weeks after application. Bonus, they give you the nail polish and nail file you chose for your service after you’re done!
The massage was okay. Remember that these are still students, so if you’re looking for a very satisfying massage, it’s going to be a hit or miss. It’s harder for a supervisor to check on student work since they’re not there the entire time, but the experience is good. You get your own room, it’s relaxing, the student is focused, they have some great scents to use during the session. You can just tell that the masseur/​masseuse may not be as experienced as if you were getting a massage somewhere else.
The facial was AMAZING. Totally worth it, although this is one of the more expensive treatments and less discounted (IMO) in comparison to their other services. They use a ton of Aveda products on your face, it’s very, very calming, the facialist also does a small massage on your hands and feet. The entire experience took about 1.5 hours, which was surprising, and honestly totally worth it. I would definitely get a facial again!
They also have guest appreciation nights a couple times throughout the year and you can go and enjoy some free mini experiences. Last time they had makeovers (you could choose two things — e.g. eyes, lips), hairstyling, waxing (this was a last minute add on though), mini massages, aromatic something… It was totally worth it! Fun night with a girlfriend or two, or your boyfriend if he’s up for it!

This place is hard to review. Students do the work and it can therefore be a little hit or miss, especially since there are new students all the time. I’ve been here a handful of times and have had mostly good experiences. The color always turns out great. If it doesn’t they’ll fix it for free. Getting a cut is a little riskier, as things can go awry when you have an inexperienced student. I would definitely recommend their color services. It’s a quality product at a very low price. They also have a student discount, so make sure you ask about that — it’s either 20 or 25 percent off.
A few things: since these are supervised students, you will be here for a few hours. It takes much longer than at a normal salon. If they DO screw up, speak up. Just be honest, it’s how they learn. The instructors are always apologetic and do what they can to make it right — free samples, comp the service, etc. It’s a risk, but if you’re on a budget it might be worth it.

I did extensive training for one week at this institute years ago. I met some great people in the industry and had a blast. They had too much fun the night before and did not make the final class, lol. I was almost the only one there, lol.
People going here need to remember these are students and they need the practice so it is not fair to judge them.
I knew Horst the original owner and he was a very cool guy. This was the top place to get extra training in the day. I don’t know if it is still there but there was a room with a real jeweled ceiling. A meditation room. This room upon entering immediately put me into a trance. I felt so calm like I was given valium! This is the holistic concept. Mind body and soul. Not just hair! Lol.
I learned so much about dealing with customers from Aveda Concepts. I am fortunate to have worked with people who were top notch in the profession and they trained here, too.
I don’t know how much things have changed but the Aveda Concept is very anti assembly line care for customers. A lot of other brands have copied this idea but Aveda is original. I am proud to have been a part of the Aveda Team!
Not to mention their products smell pure and clean.

I was slightly disappointed with this place. I’m sure the reviews here are mixed for a reason, that being that you never know who you are going to get… I got a girl that was definitely still learning. She had her teacher come over 3 times to refix my cut… and even when she said she was done and had to get signed off by her teacher, the teacher spend an additional 20min re cutting my hair. i’m sure the student was quite embarrassed. My hair ended up getting cut shorter than needed to be.
Advice: don’t schedule yourself on a saturday morning — you will be herded like cattle. Do grab a coffee before your cut. Its gonna be awhile. Do tip your student well.
I don’t think I will coming here again. i’d gladly pay extra to get my hair cut by a professional — lesson learned.

So glad that I stumbled upon a bunch of others’ reviews for this place a couple days ago. Duh… what was I thinking and why has it taken me so long to get here?!?
First things first, they have a HOLIDAY SPECIAL that’s expiring on December 23^rd, 2014. I think it’s because I had the facial ($ 45) and then when you purchase $ 75 worth of (full-​priced) product, you get a non-​expiring certificate for a future ($ 45) student facial. So… if you’ve had their facials before, you may (or not) think it’s worth it.
I think it’s worth it, that’s obv why I’m sharing… :)
But my esthy was super sweet. Graduation date is just around the corner for her in early January; so they use students who are nearing completion of the classes. She advised that she started school in August — — so she’s been here a while.
Parking:
Not an issue. Just fed the meter for two-​hours. Cheap too — — only $ 1.00 for 2hrs.
Location:
The spa services are located on the third floor of the building.
**So for my first-​time experience tonight, I had a facial for $ 45 and added a scalp & foot massage for $ 10, and an eye treatment for another $ 10. As others have stated, they will only allow you to tip up to $ 10 total since it is a school-​environment. So… I spent a whopping $ 75 for an hour’s worth of pampering tonight. Not bad! And with this wintery weather, my skin really needed some pampering.
Quality of facial service:
It wasn’t necessarily the absolute best facial that I’ve had; but it was very good. (I think it’s obviously very subjective to prior experiences and the student that you get.) But for $ 45, it was a great bargain facial with superior products. There was no extractions during the facial — — not sure if they do that or not, or if my face was so non-​blemished that it didn’t need. ha! And only had the instructor in twice — –one for determination of products to use and two — after the completion of the treatment. The scalp and foot massage was fabulous!
I will definitely be booking future facials. Now it’s affordable for me to have regular, monthly facials again!
Oh, and… I am certain I’ll be back for the 60min reflexology ($ 45) and possibly… some hair color in the future.

Go here for the massage and facials. RUN away from the mani pedi.
Okay so the facial was great. It was relaxing and because you are not forced to learn facials when all you want to do is cut hair or do massage… The student truly focuses and does their best to provide you with great service.
My student held up 3 different scents to smell so I could decide what I was going to have integrated into my session. I chose rose because it was the most relaxing. Tea tree was a bit sour and the tangerine was a bit too much for me.
She rubbed my shoulders and my temples and put pressure on places that I needed. She didn’t just «touch» me just to pretend she is doing the service. I cannot stand when people do that. Over all she did a great job. Will go back for this service.
For the Mani/​Pedi. These are students who could care less about nails… All they want to do is cut hair! Aveda! Shame on you for offering this service! Their are NO tubs to soak your feet. So yes… Gotta say it was NOT relaxing. You have to stretch your left arm to your right side of your body because the manicurist sits on one side of you and doesn’t move or adjust for your other hand. VERY UNCOMFORTABLE.
I brought my husband for the services and he started after me by 5 minutes and finished 10 minutes before me!
You might think that is because they were more efficient! NOPE! They skipped some of the basic services like sanding his feet! He felt jipped and considering this was his anniversary gift I want my money back.

I got a manicure there the other day. It was delightful. The student who did my nails has a big future ahead of her. I was observing the other students doing their works, and they look like they have some pretty good teachers. The teacher who helped the lady doing my nails was also delightful and helpful.
Before going there, I was a little nervous about a student working on my nails. It turned out I was nervous over nothing. I will be back.

Here’s the thing about Aveda Institute that people should just understand right away: you’re getting your hair done by students. They’re learning. They aren’t quite polished yet, and it’s going to take some additional time to get your service done. As long as you go into it with that mindset, you’ll have a great experience.
The nice thing is, you’re getting really quality product (especially hair color) for a crazy good price. I’ve only had one bad experience here, but the instructor’s helped the student correct their mistake so it turned out fine (you just have to be able to speak up if it’s worth it, which for me it was worth speaking up to not have bleach blond streaks in my dark dark hair).
Tip: don’t book a service on a day you have somewhere to be later, you’ll have anxiety about how long it’s taking to get done. Just enjoy the long experience, and try to be friendly… these are students! Also, bring your own cash for tip, they can’t add the tip on your card, and they can only pull out $ 10 cash for you.

I’ve had nothing but good experiences here for my hair. The students are professional and their instructors are patient and very confident in what they do. I’ve only gone here to getting hair colored because it’s the best quality for the price. I’ve always had long hair so it’s nice only having to pay $ 40 for any color process. I’ve gotten highlights, ombré, and balayage done by students. I must admit, since a student is doing your hair it takes about twice as long because they are constantly confirming steps with the instructors so at times, a four to five hour experience can be pretty typical.
Bring a magazine or your phone charger so you can so something to pass the time faster. They let you tip up to $ 10 for the students as well on your credit card.

Remember when you first started your job/​profession and you knew that you had the nuts and bolts figured out, but it wasn’t until «that moment» when everything clicked and life became easier? That’s the exact thought process I had while receiving a facial the other day. The girl knew the process and was incredibly friendly, but she hadn’t found «that moment» quite yet. It’s a moment that comes with time and practice, and quite honestly, it’s a school. This is what you sign up for when you make the appointment.
Despite the awkwardness, I am honored to be a part of her education process and will be going back in the future. It was clean, professional, fun, and an opportunity to be pampered while helping someone out. Was it the best facial in the world, no. But it was one great experience!