Veda Salon & Spa

So very unhappy with the service received. I initially went there for a color and cut, and Liz was my stylist. I walked out feeling like a million dollars. By the time i called to make my next appointment apparently most all of the stylists/​staff had left, including Liz — they all went to Salon 5402 — so highly recommend that salon.
The owner is unprofessional and RUDE to me on the phone just because I tried to make an appointment. He yelled at me and told me to «stop talking» and that «i will make the decision if i will allow you to come back here again or not». Normally i would hang up, but i truly had never experienced this kind of service before so my jaw was on the ground about this — including horrible slanderous words he used to describe his previous staff.
The only good thing I can say about the salon is the lady which does the hand/​feet treatments is so sweet and does a great job.
Other than that I WILL NEVER GO THERE AGAIN AND RECOMMEND THE SAME TO OTHERS AS WELL.

The people in the salon are incredibly friendly. But, I got a manicure that lasted 2 days and worst-​the nails around my cuticles are now peeling because my cuticles were cut. It looks aweful and hurts. Would have been better off without it.

I have not been to Veda for hair services, only spa. Had my previous experience there not been so bad, I would have been willing to try a hair service because each time I went in there, it was they who were friendliest and most willing to be of assistance. I have never seen a smile on the face of the guy at the front desk (I believe he is the manager). He is always so «busy» and this demeanor is certainly not conducive to achieving an «Aveda atmosphere» — calm, relaxing, and restorative. He is brusque and bossy and he doesn’t seem to treat his employees with much more respect than he treats his customers.
The last time I was there to treat myself to a salon manicure and pedicure as I had a big event to go to the next week. I left there, two hours later, with the most expensive and shoddiest mani/​pedi I have ever received. The nail tech was very nice, the preparation good (tho took too long), but the painting was done extremely poorly, the end result looking unfinished and messy. I had to touch things up that evening. Within the next three days I had to remove the whole thing and paint it myself because there was no time for me to get it redone (and was in another city). I even had a friend comment that he can tell when his wife has gotten a pedicure, and mine certainly didn’t look like something professional! To add insult to injury, when I checked out and pulled my customer card out, the manager wouldn’t count the two services as such, but as one combined service! How CHEAP! I am so regretful about having dropped so much money on this place when there are any number of walk-​in nail shops around town where I can get both services done at les than half the price, in less than half the time, and looking five times as good.
Sadly, the best esthetician I have ever receiving waxing services from is no longer there (Christina). She would be the only reason I’d ever go back to that poorly managed place.
By the way, the marketing spiel at the bottom of the Unilocal business info page ought to be updated. «Never run out of products» –on two separate visits I couldn’t obtain a pretty standard Aveda product. «An esthetician is available at all times.» — Not currently! «Best service in Gainesville» — Proven not to be true!
I am so disappointed in this place that is a far cry from my past experiences with Aveda-​concept salons, which otherwise maintain a high set of standards, the least being a calm and inviting atmosphere.
Sounds like their hair stylists are good; too bad I won’t be giving any of them an opportunity to earn my business as long as they are employed there. The success of a business is in its employees, but if the management forgets basic tenets of good customer service, the rest doesn’t matter.

I have been to nearly EVERY salon and spa in Gainesville and this one definitely tops my list. At other salons, the stylists either are caddy and unprofessional, disinterested in their clients, or not skilled enough to accommodate my needs.
I love Veda Salon and Spa! This is primarily because of Jasmine. Jazz, is WONDERFUL. She is very skilled with cuts and color. I have natural curly hair and have been on low-​levels of chemotherapy for years, which can be a challenge for many stylists. Dry, coarse, natural curly hair is no problem for Jasmine. She is terrific at cutting my hair so I can wear it straight or curly and the texture is so soft no one ever believes I’m on chemo. I trust her so much I just give a bit of structure of my needs and tell her to work her magic. Aside from her highly technical skills, Jazz, is a lovely person! She genuinely cares about each person who sits in her chair. Jasmine never talks poorly about her colleagues or other clients, never is dismissive or disinterested with her clients’ needs, and never is unable to meet a challenging demand. I recommend her to EVERY person I know.
Christina, is another reason Veda exceeds all other salons in Gainesville. She is a master at her craft and is truly an artist with her brow work. Christina accommodates my needs by using special techniques to ensure the natural wax and facial products don’t compromise my sensitive skin.
Both Jazz and Christina are truly amazing. They know I have special needs and never push products on me that don’t work with my personal preferences and needs. I love both of them!
The only complaints I have are minimal and are merely suggestions. As another person commented, the website could use an overhaul. I work on websites part time and really don’t think this website does the salon justice. There is far too much text and the site isn’t properly navigated. Also, the photos used on the site are not professional and also don’t do the salon and gorgeous staff and stylists justice. This might turn potential clients off who just don’t know what a gem this little tucked away salon is.

I made an appointment from a referral from a friend, the atmosphere seems nice. But after the big confusing fiasco of scheduling my first appointment then being double booked then having to re-​book with someone else, I was kinda pissed. Yet, instead I was still treated by the manager like me and the scheduling disaster didn’t matter that much. He was kinda snooty and blew me off a bit. Totally a turn off. The haircut was alright & my hairstylist was super nice.

Veda is a little bit out of the way for some but the trek is worth it for a haircut by Concy (spelling?). She is very attentive and will give you her honest opinion about what would look good on you. Concy will not let you walk out with even one strand of hair out of place! On one occasion, I told her that I was going to a wedding and she gave me a hairstyle suggestion and even took the time (20 minutes longer) after my haircut to show me how to get the look! It’s the little things that Concy does that makes her a great stylist … and she’s fun to talk to :). Her services (haircut) start at $ 50.
update 12.11.07
concy is no longer here but at zoetic design on nw 8^th avenue. hoping her rates are the same there!
update 08.04.08
concy is now at thornebrook hair design and is well-​versed in the sahag (dry) cut. at this point, i’m ready to fly her to wherever i end up going after graduating … or at least making it up to gainesville when i visit my mom in tampa!