Avatar Salon and Wellness Spa

Excellent customer sevice, friendly and professional atmosphere. Bruce Johnson was amazing with my hair! I have definitely found my new salon.

I’ve been going to Bruce at Avatar for over a decade. He has been my stylist through high school, college, grad school and beyond. He has seen me through hair cuts, relaxers, growing out relaxers, keratins and color. Even when I lived out of state I would arrange trips home just to get my hair done. I wouldn’t trust anyone else!

I love great service and results when it comes to my hair. Therefore, it is important to me that I am comfortable and confident at the salon I entrust. That being said, I have found an intimate oasis in Avatar Salon and Wellness Spa. My hair feels and looks nourished and incredible each time I leave. My stylist, Yeama, is knowledgeable and talented and is always up to the challenge my thick, natural hair gives her. She always keeps me well informed of new products and practices I can use to maintain my look at home.
In addition to the exceptional products the salon uses, the techniques they are well-​trained to perform, and product line they offer (Aveda), the wellness spa also provides a full breadth of spa services I have also had the opportunity to enjoy: Christina, my manicurist is awesome. She keeps my «digits» cute and well cared for; and make up artist, Jehan will keep you flawless (I’ve had beautiful lash extensions applied by her).
All these services are provided in an atmosphere that is warm, friendly and professional. I always enjoy returning to this haven. I never leave disappointed.

After reading some reviews, I made an appointment with Bruce at Avatar Salon. I was nervous about trying yet another DC hair salon for a short pixie cut but, my hair had grown out and was in terrible need of a relaxer.
The Staff:
I was checked in right away and escorted to the styling chair. Everyone was pleasant and attentive.
The Relaxer:
First, Bruce’s assistant really took her time to base my hair. I didn’t feel any burn before the rinse — that was shocking to me. I thought maybe the relaxer didn’t take very well, I was WRONG! This was the best relaxer and the most relaxing shampoo!
The Cut:
The cut was so good that Bruce didn’t need to style with the flat iron– at all! That’s a real cut! He really listened to what I wanted and gave me a cut similar to my Atlanta hairstylist that has been cutting my hair for 20 years! I am so happy I no longer have to fly to Atlanta to get a good hair cut!
I am pleasantly surprised how GREAT my hair turned out!

I’ve been going to Avatar for over 10 years and would never consider another stylist. If you are interested in superior hair care, outstanding service and great customer service this is the place for you! Bruce Johnson is an expert stylist that runs a top level salon surrounded by an amazing staff of skilled stylists. One of the best in the DMV.

Over priced for the quality of work produced. I will not return. Paid over a hundred dollars and my hair was dry. The cut and style I requested was at the most a trim and bump.

Bought the Living Social deal and will DEFINITELY be going back again! Everyone was incredibly friendly and did a wonderful job on every service that I received. I got a massage, express facial, and manicure. The scalp massage was out of this world. I will say that my fair looked a bit wonky after the massage and the massage therapist helpfully braided it so that I could be seen in public. Love Avatar! :)

Absolutely horrible experience. Was given a «first timer discount,» unbeknownst to me I had a beauty student cut my hair! She didn’t have her cosmotology license, and when I asked why I wasn’t told this the owner was extremely rude and dismissive they charged me $ 80 which is wayyy to much for a beauty student to charge and is it even legal to have non certified beauticians in a salon? He first tried to charge me $ 105!!! Total rip off and the service took 3 hours and made me late for work. Would not recommend it doubt if they even use aveda color. Have colored my hair at a few credited aveda salons such as salon zoma, and the smell and strength of color was very different. All in all very dishonest business. Will not go again.

This is a small place and I wasn’t sure what it would be like. I bought the living social deal. I had a great experience with my massage and facial. The place isn’t fancy but the workers are very nice and great service.

Got a LivingSocial voucher as a Christmas gift. I tried visiting the website and it didn’t work. Normally I wouldn’t purchase a voucher for a place that doesn’t even have a working website, but since this was a gift and they had decent Unilocal reviews, I didn’t complain.
The voucher is $ 50 for a 30 minute express massage, manicure, express facial, and travel sized product (that I didn’t get) at a $ 100 value. Good price.
Overall, I had an ‘ok’ experience. Every service seemed so… amateur. Laura did my massage, Christina did my manicure, and Johaan did my facial. The ladies were all very nice, but young, and I could tell by the service. It just wasn’t as quality as other spas I’ve been to.
Details:
Massage: This was ok but not much of a variety in massage techniques. I also listened to an entire conversation happening right outside the doors, which wasn’t very relaxing. Also — another girl had a massage right after me and I’m pretty sure the sheets weren’t changed. I saw Laura fix the massage table back up after I left.
Facial: I enjoyed my facial the most. Johaan seemed knowledgeable about my skin and she actually gave a better upper body massage than the massage therapist. I’m used to a facial also having a «skincare health» part where they shine a bright light on your face and take a look at blemishes, remove blackheads, and offer skincare tips, but this facial didn’t have that. It was really just a couple of masks and hot towels, and that was it. «You get what you pay for» rings true here.
Manicure: Ok, this might be a little long. I hate to give a negative review because Chris was sweet, but this was not a good «spa manicure». It wasn’t terrible, but it was kinda like letting a friend who loves doing nails for fun do my nails. The whole thing was just kinda sloppy, my cuticles don’t look manicured, my gel polish looks blotchy, and there was no lotion hand massage at the end.
You’d be better off just going to an actual nail salon with ppl who have been doing nails for years or just asking a friend to pretend she’s a nail tech and do them for you. You’ll get the same result. Women don’t play about their hair or nails. A nail technician is not the type of job where you can hire someone who barely has professional experience and hasn’t worked at a nail salon before.
Overall, it was great for the price, but if you’re actually used to quality spa packages, you won’t be impressed.

I was heading to get my nails done at the place next door but discovered they were closed on Tuesdays. Apparently this is not communicated well and the owner of Avatar was at his door was ready to capitalize and helpfully noted that Avatar does manicures too. Within minutes I was settled and getting my gel manicure. It’s nothing fussy (no lotions, massages, parrafin wax, etc.) but the manicurist was friendly and did a great job. Their gel color selection isn’t huge but I found something I liked. And for $ 25 plus tip it’s a great service for a great place. All in all I’m glad the Asian chop shop nail place next door was closed because I found my new go nail spot!

I highly recommend Avatar Wellness on Colesville Rd, Silver Spring… Bruce will have you looking and feeling like a magazine cover. I go to other salons to get washed and set in between my relaxers, color, etc… due to my schedule or save money but when I want to look and feel fabulous, I go see Bruce. He has done my hair in excess of 15 years and can manage all types of hair. I had/​have long, thick, nearly indestructible hair and he always keeps it healthy and beautiful. Recently job stress and health caused it to thin some but he’s still got me looking like a magazine cover. .hope this helps, Maria

This salon is an Aveda salon and per the Aveda website they participate in the Pure Privileges program. I had earned enough points to order a certificate for salon services. I called Avatar before ordering the certificate to ensure they still participated in the program and would honor the certificate. After being put on hold for 5 minutes I was told «yes». So, after receiving the certificate a couple of weeks later I called to make the appointment. I was told they don’t participate and that they don’t have the machine to scan the certificate. I told the person on the phone what had been told to me when I called originally and she said she’d ask the manager. I was again put on hold for a while and she came back to say the manager wasn’t available. She took my info to have the manager call me back. I never received a call back. I tried again a few days later with the same results. I again checked the Aveda website and they are still listed as a Pure Privileges member. If you can’t honor the certificate and it was a mistake, fine, however its bad customer service to not return calls.

Exceptionally poor manicure offered by Tashica. Pleasant to work with but poor services offered. Forced to go to another salon after 3 days of regular polish wear due to extensive chipping, streaky color & because polish was painted over poorly removed remnants of a gel manicure.

Came here on a recommendation from another pro after a dropped appointment at First Avenue Hair Design and this salon managed to do everything that I loathe about black salons in one sitting. Before I rewrite the Iliad, I will say that the color is nice.
You could go here if all you want is a color and you plan on getting up and walking out with a wet head to style your hair on your own or going to another salon for haircare/​styling, but who does that? Not I and I suggest you don’t either.
1) Did I walk in without an appointment? I did, but it took 4 hours, so… NO!
2 They were entirely too rough-​this is like Hair 101. Why are multiple yous brushing through my naturally curly hair freestyle and pulling apart snares with your hands? Snares that weren’t there when I walked in as I’d detangled my hair this morning? NO!
3) Bruce took too much hair. I rarely wear it straight and I made that very, VERY clear. When I walked in I could pull my hair straight and it would be tailbone length. Now? I can barely stretch the longest part to my bra strap. Why? It was cut while brushed out and wet which means I walked out with a tumbleweed sitting on my shoulders. Who paddle brushes curly hair and cuts it while it’s wet? NO!
4) The «service» was too expensive. I have a lot of hair, so I’m used to paying a little more because of time and amount of product; however, I expected far more for $ 375. Far, far more. NO!
5) Bruce didn’t put any sort of styler or gel or a leave in or attempt to style my hair after hacking it off. I paid $ 375 for color, deep condition, and a haircut that I didn’t want? NO!
6) Three hours after leaving a salon and I’m washing and styling hair that took 4 hours to complete and cost $ 375? NO!
Did I need a trim? Yes. Did I need a lot of color? YES. Bruce was supposedly going to give my hair some shape, but all he did was cut it straight across, so telling me I’ll be able to handle my hair after butchering it is laughable… when I’m not crying or throwing things in fury.
I called him the very next day and told him my hair was shoulder length. OF COURSE, he tells me that my hair was oh so damaged that he just HAD to cut it, but not to worry because he’s going to help me take care of it. How, Sway? 1) If my hair was that damaged maybe he should have said that as opposed to telling me it just needed «shape» and let me decide how to proceed. If my hair was sooooooo damaged from my improper care he would have given me tips on how to care for it at home. He would have told me that a color wasn’t possible at this time and I needed to focus on care. If my hair was so, so damaged that it requires his care for an extended period of time why not ask me to make an appointment to fully assess my horrible head of hair as opposed to taking me as a walk-​in? I’m reasonable and could have dealt with those things. The only hair care related question he asked me was what kind of shampoo I use. 2) He’s out of his mind if he thinks he’s ever touching my hair again and I’m disputing the charges with my CC company.
Thus, then, did they celebrate the funeral of Hector tamer of horses.

I’ve been a 12 year customer of Avatar and their like my extended family. Yeama has been my stylist for many years and is one of the most sweetest, thoughtful professional stylists one can have. All the staff have been nothing but the best to me including Bruce, the owner. Immah and Cassandra are gems as well and I adore them equally as well. Avatar stylists care about their clients and promote healthy hair care! Please do not hesitate to call and book a service.

Avatar is awesome! Professional, timely and exceptional work!

I’ve been trying out salons in the DC area since moving to DC from NY. Avatar has been the best experience yet; I don’t plan to look any further. The salon staff are polite, professional and the best part is they get started on your hair as soon as you arrive.
I’ve been to Bruce twice and each time I’ve been VERY pleased with the way my hair has turned out. He’s is a perfectionist, which works well for me since I’m super picky about my hair. I’m happy to have found my new salon home and stylist!
They get five stars from me!

I went to Avatar last year and wanted my hair cut into a short style My hair was completely chopped off, not into a style – just chopped off! When I went in, my bangs came to my mouth; when I left, they didn’t even reach my eyebrows! I also had a relaxer and a deep conditioner. Now, let’s talk about the PRICE! Hair chop, relaxer and conditioner – $ 360!
I was so shocked, I still gave a 15% tip ($ 55) and continued to purchase products I wanted, so my total bill was $ 417.80. With my tip, I paid $ 472. I expressed to Bruce that I thought the prices were high and higher than prices listed on his website (I looked at the website before I made my appointment). His response was that they have «payment plans» for clients… and, he gave me a hug! That was the first and LAST money they will receive from me! Also, I guess the high prices are based upon the owner, Bruce. Bruce did my cut. – two young girls did the rest, and they certainly don’t warrant that type of money! It would’ve been nice to be told the prices before the services were rendered, so I could have said «thank you» and moved on! As they say, the best lesson is a bought one! I’m sure there are salons that are worth this type of money… this isn’t one of them!

I live upstairs in the building and have always kept this salon in mind in case of an emergency.
Unfortunately I injured my right hand and had to get stitches and was helpless. The worst part was being unable to wash my hair myself. I called their salon to see how much it was just for a WASH (no blowdry) and was told $ 25.
What kind of shampoo and water are they using to charge someone $ 25? I used to work an upscale salon & spa (Red Door) — who only charge $ 10 for the wash.
Forget it.