Aveda Institute of Chicago

I posted this last week and for some reason it keeps getting deleted… Shady. But I’m persistent and ill repost everyday if I have to. Anyways here’s my review –
I’ve been meaning to post this review for awhile. I’m also a student at Douglas J Aveda Institute of Chicago. I absolutely love our instructors I love Aveda products and I’m receiving a great education HOWEVER if your interested in attending an Aveda school I do not recommend Douglas J Institutes… Because I extremely regret it. There are better options out there. This school does not care about their students. The instructors do and they are amazing but theres only so much they can do. It’s the admins and corporate side of our school who runs the show and they could care less about the students. A few weeks ago they fired several of our instructors a few whom were terrible and deserved to go but they made a terrible mistake in firing one instructor In particular.FRANKIE. He was strict and sometimes it got on our nerves but he was an incredible instructor I learned more from him in his class then any other classes. Our class was devastated to loose him. And we miss him very much. Him and abbey made an amazing team and If he sees this I just want to say we all miss you! Then not even two weeks after taking our lead instructor for us they decide to change attendance policies. Because of this I will not be graduating on time. I had a salon internship lined up for my graduation date and now I will probably be loosing that opportunity. When we enrolled they promised so much but they are full of false promises. I can’t transfer… if I withdrawal I loose everything I’ve worked for and pay them FULL tuition. They own me. And that’s exactly how they treat us. I don’t regret attending an Aveda school because like I said Aveda products are amazing and the instructors are so passionate, they truly care about us and we really love them. But the people running the school are ruining it. I’ve lost all my motivation and passion for the industry my graduation date can’t come soon enough. So I can get into a professional salon an get back to doing what I love. So wrapping this up if your thinking about attending an Aveda school. Go for it. I love Aveda but stay away from Aveda schools run by Douglas j.

As a recent graduate, I can honestly say that I received the best Cosmetology education one could ask for!
As a customer one would be pleasantly surprised at the amount of skill their student/​stylist might have.
Everything is overseen by a Instructor and checked to insure quality.
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT, it is almost impossible to walk in and be able to get a hair service done.
All in all it’s great school, I recommend it for future stylist and customers alike.

As a former student and grad of the cosmetology program at the AIC, I have a few things I would like to say on behalf of the AIC students…
1. These are STUDENTS. Although the training at the Aveda Institute is advanced (especially compared to many other cosmetology schools), really only the basics and then some are learned while attending school. You are not going to get a $ 60 haircut at a $ 16 price. And yes, it WILL take up 2 hours of your day for a haircut. And yes, it WILL take 3 – 4 hours for a haircut and color. But that’s what you get when you go to a beauty school! Students are taught to be perfectionists… take small sections, saturate the hair with the color thoroughly, yada yada yada. If that’s something you can’t handle, then simply don’t go.
2. Of the reviews I’ve read and from the experiences I’ve encountered, a lot of people are concerned about the price, which is good. It’s good to have a budget or a limit of how much you want to spend. HOWEVER, if you are monetarily limited, your services may be limited as well and you may not be able to get the full head of 2 colors of highlights, all over color and haircut. Also notice, that the prices on the menu say STARTING AT. That does not mean that you will be paying that exact price for that service. It is all dependent on the length of hair, the thickness of hair, etc. If you are that concerned with the price, then you should be confirming the possible total cost with your stylist before the service is started, or letting them know you’re on a budget. Otherwise it will be assumed that you are aware of the prices… it would also be assumed that you have read the menu and are aware of the charges you are about to encounter if you were going to a high end salon.
3. These students are not trying to PUSH products on you. I’m not saying that you will never have a student who just naturally has a pushy attitude, but generally speaking, they are simply trying to recommend products that will be beneficial to you and your new haircut/​color. Selling retail is something that the students are taught and expected to do. After leaving school, any salon is going to expect them to sell retail, and the AIC prepares the students for that. So the students are not trying to push them over just so you will buy them and they get credit. They want you educate you on how to take care of your hair at home.
4. When you go to a high end salon, do you tip your stylist? Why would the AIC be any different? Most often, you are getting a good haircut or a good color (and sometimes it’s even an awesome cut or color) for pretty cheap. Your stylist deserves something for that. Yes, there is always that one exception, but again, I am generally speaking… Tips indicate that you were satisfied with your services and you appreciate what the student has done for you.
I think that is all for now.