Aveda Institute Phoenix Salon

Love this place. It takes a long time to get your services done because the students are still practicing and getting checked by their educators, but the quality is often just as good as a regular Aveda salon. This is about the cheapest you can get without going to Great Cuts.
Only downside is that the student is eventually going to graduate, so you need to make sure you get their contact information and follow them if you like them!

If you are interested in going to school here and throwing away 20 grand. Don’t. As a student who is eager to learn and receive a 20 grand worth education, I was intensely disappointed. Some of the educators are awesome but most of the staff just cares about how hard you work the 9 hours you are there. Yes I said work NOT learning (they confused the two). You are not a student or an adult. They treat you like their little worker bee money makers. Understand that you will be with guests at a beauty school to put worth your skills and gain strength on your weaknesses. At inspire greatness (ironically named) they don’t care if you are learning. They care how many guests you have in one day and how many products you milk out of your clients. As a student I expect to have 1 break in a day where I can hydrate myself and eat for nutrition. You’re lucky if you get 1 out of the 3 promised breaks you are supposed to have written in your contract. They WORK you through your lunches to the point where you are exhausted and don’t even want to do your all on your valued clients. It’s a really unorganized school the rules change weekly. Not only is it 20 grand but if you have family obligations or family tragedies and you miss too many Friday/​Saturday school days? Well you have to pay for it, literally. You are charged 10 dollars an hour after you miss over 80 hours of school they YOU already payed 20 grand for. AVEDA is a great name, but inspire greatness institutes should be ashamed of themselves claiming they are following the AVEDA mission because they fail at that 100%

I got my bridesmaid hair done by Lauren here. She listened to what I wanted and her instructors pitched in to help. It looked great!

Checked in at 1025. It’s 11. Standing here tapping my toe, looking around and no one has asked me if I’m ok or if I need anything. I have someone watching my daughter till 12. This is ridiculous.
But then my stylist came and took me back and was the sweetest ever. Ashley Ramirez and the teacher was Katie. They were awesome and made up for the lateness. Thank you ladies!!!

Just got a shampoo and style for $ 12! It looks great. plus my first time in I got credit when I bought product, I used this deal because I’ll be back. Britt had to deal with all my long hair and did great. She was very sweet and friendly too. Thank you!

My hair is very precious to me. And I have to say that I am very happy with how my hair is done each time I visit. I would highly suggest a Master to do your hair.
On a side note, many of the times the people in the front aren’t too good at smiley customer service. But today I met Blake. She was AMAZINGLY welcoming, beautiful and took the time to explain things to me… which was a first. So, KUDOS to Blake at the front desk for being most gracious.
Quality work, clean environment, professional and affordable: why not try it here?

I have been a regular visitor at the Aveda Institute in Tempe and so far I have never had any complaints. After getting a balayage twice, overall haircolor and several haircuts from Aveda, I can only say I have gotten excellent service which makes me come back here over and over again!
All the instructors are really nice and have only great suggestions for you. The only drawback with this place is that you will need more than average time for a haircut as the haircuts are done by students which is further supervised for better results. The prices are really reasonable, so its totally worth every penny spent.
Also, they sell all the products used on your hair. And Aveda products are amazing, I am hooked!
Overall, This is a great place for the price you pay!

This is a school so prices are a lot cheaper than the professional salons. I’ve been going here for a while and typically the facials are excellent. The hair cuts seem to take longer but the students do a great job. I highly recommend this place for facials at a cheaper price. I love Aveda products as they are natural and better for your skin than harsh or over-​the-​counter chemicals.

The only time I’ve been to a beauty institute was the California Academy of Beauty in, you guessed it, California — and they do a miserable job. So it took a few years for me to muster up the courage to go to a beauty school for a service again.
But I’m a broke college student, so I went to Aveda Institute Phoenix for a cut and color this weekend. I went with an A-​line bob (something I’ve done before and love) and a soft ombré/​balayage effect on my already-​lightened hair. They did an AMAZING job. Ashley, my student stylist (she graduates this coming weekend, so I’ll never have her again, which is a huge bummer) was really sweet, gentle when she brushed through my hair, and very attentive to my questions and to the example photos I brought with me. The color was BEAUTIFUL (seriously, my hair has never looked so shiny and healthy, my boyfriend says I belong in a shampoo commercial) and the cut was just what I needed. The salon itself is also very clean and pretty. You kinda forget you’re at a beauty school.
The only reason I’m not providing 5 stars is because when I got home, the back of my shirt had been bleached right where my hair ended BEFORE it was cut. I think some of the hair color she’d put in my hair somehow got onto my shirt, even though they put a cape on me throughout the whole service. It sucks because this was my first time wearing this shirt, and I absolutely loved it. Now the back is ruined.

I am so disappointed. My color is so off from what I wanted I am in disbelief. I spent 4 hours at the salon and left very unhappy. I will not be back and would not recommend it to a friend. Headed home now to cry.

I had my haircut with Christian Fitzgerald Riley, a Premier Talent student, and he totally made my day. It’s been 5 days since my Aveds experience and I’m still glowing! I look and feel fabulous.
I had been growing my hair out and it’s in a very difficult stage. For the last month I was feeling very self conscious because I was having bad hair days; Think grown out 80’s mullets. I wasn’t sure what I could do with my hair so I brought Christian a couple photos of the new ‘bob’ that’s been trending and he totally nailed it! My hair looks and feels like a work of art! He really took his time to listen to my main concerns and exceeded my expectations. I look and feel like a whole new person thanks to his care and compassion. I feel like he brought out the true me with my haircut.
At Aveda you don’t ‘just’ get a haircut; you get an experience. From the shoulder, scalp and hand massages and the very helpful educator checkins. I felt to cared for and will be forever loyal to this Aveda Institute.

Before I start my review, this is a SCHOOL. These are students who are learning a craft and by going there, you should understand the services may not be perfect. It blows my mind how many bad reviews there are for students who are trying to learn a trade and need practice to learn that trade. They are not experts (yet) and will make mistakes, take longer to do the services, and have to check their work with the Cosmo Prof on the floor before you can leave to get clock hours for the service.
I’ve been to the Aveda school on several occasions and have enjoyed my experiences. I normally go to a full service Aveda salon but sometimes it’s $$$$ to pay Aveda prices. That is why I love the school, I get a discounted rate on services ($ 15 for a cut and style vs $ 55) but still get the same great Aveda based techniques and products. I save the heavy lifting for my Aveda stylist but often come to the school for blowouts and other minor services.
Here are some tips when booking services with the Aveda School:
–Bring cash, you can pay for the services via debit/​credit card but tips can NOT be added and must be paid in cash
–Services run long, especially if there are lot of students on the floor and limited instructors to check work. A service that usually takes an hr will take at least and extra 15 – 20 min
–Book online! Request your service online through their website and never have to talk to a person/​wait on hold.
–The students are learning how to introduce/​up-​sell products to potential clients and they need to practice that as well. It’s ok to skip the product basket at the end, but be aware they need practice there, too.
–Tell the student how you do your own hair (ie: my hair takes heat really well, I have a sensitive scalp, I don’t like a lot of product) again they are LEARNING and any info you can give them helps them with better client interaction
–If you are requesting a more complicated service, request a master student
–Listen when the instructors come to evaluate the student’s work, I have gotten some great styling tips for myself just by listening to the Instructor’s technique suggestions
–Be patient and understanding

Good service. Just takes forever. They are students so you shouldn’t come if you don’t have the time or are super weird about your services. My cut was good and pedicure was fine. Really inexpensive

Dear me, I would not go back to this place and here’s why. First it takes up to four hours to have simple things done, color and a cut. That’s a really long time!
Also, when I came here I was really upset because I had a formula and asked for just a root touch up. Simple! But I came in with light brown hair and pretty blond (natural) highlights, and left with black roots and muddy brown hair. No streaks and no definition. All one, bland brown color. I did not find the student or the ‘educator’ to be willing to listen to me and at one point the educator became angry and rude.
There are so many good places in the valley that compete with this salon, I would just pay the extra money and get what you want.

Negative stars. Don’t go here! Went for ½″ roots-​only lighter color & left w/​3ft yellow hair! I seriously Q AIPs adherence to industry Best Practices & Aveda standards. I would’ve never trusted a student, but I sure trusted the wrong EDUCATOR. An Aveda Certified Educator, Color Specialist, Cosmetology TEAM LEAD, and the 2014 Inspire Greatness Aveda Institute Champion (Angie Perino Nelson) did not follow verbal or written instructions that I provided her & the student. Plus, she formulated unorthodox chemicals for someone w/​my coloring. Even AVEDA CORP said she should’ve known better.(Contact me for a .jpg of this document with stud’s handwriting on it and multi B4/​during/​after photos)
I said 2x to ea & wrote once «Apply color to new growth only.» They put color 4.5″ past my ½″ of new growth. I said I wanted to go 1– 2 shades lighter than my standard Aveda formula I have used for 6 years: 30 vol 60g of Deep 10N @ 45 mins. The written instructions also said, «Do not use foils, pull through, or use a gloss.» This formula & method provided me with an earthy honey blond. B/​c I wore my hair in the same braid @ all my outdoorsy jobs, my hair looked like multi-​toned whipped honey peppered w/​sparkly platinum streaks.
Angie formulated: 40 vol 60g of Deep 12N @ 45 min w/​shower cap.
My crown turned POLAR BEAR WHITE. In response, Angie, who teaches blonding classes, said, «I didn’t expect this to be so light. Sometimes this happens. Blondes are hard.» Then she said she’d fix it.
Angie formulated: 40g 0N + 40g 10N + 1g Lite Yellow Orange + 40mL of CTA.
Unfortunately, she & Elisa coated all my hair – not just the white part. Angie tried to dilute the mistake-​not fix it. This wasn’t very prudent. FINAL RESULT: my crown was monochromatic yet streaky ELECTRIC BUTTER YELLOW & the rest of my normally glossy multi-​d sun-​kissed honey blond hair was DULL, DRY shades of homogeneous STRAW YELLOW w/​PUMPKIN ORANGE tones. My entire head was a color mullet in shades of Crayola Crayons. And this was the «fixed» version.
When I got really upset, an older blond mgr told me to come back in 2 – 3 days after my hair calmed down for a FREE color correction. At 1^st, I accepted. I had been there for 5 hours & was exhausted, hungry, & so very much wanted it to be fixable. But, after all my research, I realized how egregious the mistakes were & wasn’t going to subject myself to a 2^nd multi-​mistake incident. There was no way my hair or I could handle a 3^rd trauma. She’s THE BEST of THE BEST – and this is what happened??? I stopped my cc payment the following week, and the Institute did not contest it.
I learned, much later, from Aveda Educators around the country, Color Specialists in the valley, & Aveda Corp that 40 vol is used on people with black/​choco, coarse, & thick hair who want 2 go platinum or Crayola-​colored. (I have naturally dark-​blond, fine hair; fair, yellow-​toned skin; and dark green eyes. How could she not notice this?) She used one of the lightest possible Lift-​Color-​Methods: 40vol/​Deep 12N/​Shower cap.
1 – 2 shades lighter is literally changing only Deep 10N to Deep 11N or 12N – not changing the volume, especially together with color, and most especially w/​n the Deep line. Deep already has extra vol/​lift contained in it. Adding a shower cap on top of all the extra changes is baffling. A Color Specialist noted that 1 – 2 shades lighter could be achieved by just adding foils to the original formula I’ve used for yrs or rinsing out @ 30 mins instead of 45 mins. Also, CTA= gloss, & professionals never tone 3ft-​long blond hair.
The TEAM LEAD should have never bumped me up to 40 vol, especially w/​shower cap. This is significant b/​c I asked her, as we looked at my written formula & instructions, if she could only change 1 number, which would it be, & she responded that she wouldn’t; she’d change both!!! I also discovered that Angie is NOT Elisa’s official Educator. (I’m not sure if Angie took over my hair b/​c she wanted to experiment w/​it, but it’s hard NOT to consider this her true motive.)
The formula she used on my already-​blond hair caused 5 levels of lift (not 1 – 2 shades), which explains the polar bear white. She stripped my crown of all color by highlighting my whole head, & even bleached my scalp. It flaked & itched. If she didn’t expect my hair to turn white, then, tell me, what color did she expect it to turn?
She may excel in other areas, but she does not truly understand blonding or Deep. This will take me 6 years to grow out permanently altered & damaged hair and about $ 1K to patch up. This color service has set me back K’s for time, gas, & corrective products; and they’re not paying me back. Now, I have hi maintenance hair & may have 2 cut short it in the future. I can’t speak for other Educators at this institute, but I can speak for the TEAM LEAD, and seriously question AIPs adherence to industry Best Practices, Aveda superior standards, and basic ethics. AIP is sneaky, dishonest, & not BBB accredited

Terrible. I will never go back.
My appointment was at 3:30, I arrived on time. I wasn’t actually called back until 4:15? Why actually set an appointment if they aren’t even going to call you on time?
My stylist was unprofessional, and quite frankly obnoxious. I just wanted everything to be over with. She smelled horribly of smoke after each break she took every 20 minutes.
My color turned out the worst. I asked for strawberry blonde highlights. What did I get? Dark red, copper-​ish, CHUNKY highlights, that faded into an awful pink color.
I had to spend over $ 100 to get my hair professionally fixed. I even disputed the charge with the salon. I refuse to pay $ 50 to have my hair royally screwed up.

Was visiting Arizona and wanted a pedi and found this place really close to my hotel!
My friend goes to Aveda in Portland Oregon and I have been there and a place in Eugene who uses only Aveda products. I am a huge fan of Aveda! I will definitely come back here next time I am in Arizona. $ 20 for a pedi AND I got to keep the polish! OPI polish.
Excellent experience. Girl who did my pedi was awesome. Love the color and my pedi. Thank you!

Pro– it’s cheap…
Con– you get what you pay for…
Got a haircut and seriously I could have done better myself, with my eyes closed.
PLEASE NOTE: I found out that there are two (2) hidden reviews that are 1-​star reviews and not recommended that anyone go to the Aveda Institute in Tempe. Not sure how they are hidden but everyone needs to know that the should absolutely NOT go to the chop and burn shop!

I“ve gone to other Aveda Institutes facials throughout the years and I finally gave this one a shot. To clarify, I know that the services are done by students and my mindset is that it’s just a facial (I leave my hair to the pros), so even a bad facial isn’t that ‘bad’. That being said, this was not my favorite visit I’ve ever had at one of these.
Time: I was there for two hours for a 60 minute facial. I got there early actually and still sat around for 30 minutes. I had a 2:30 appointment and didn’t get into the room until 2:45. Then you fill out the questionnaire and head back to the room for the students to explain the process and then the upsell began:
after reading that my main concern with dryness (damn desert air!), she began upselling my facial. She explained how because of the dryness I should opt to go with the Green Science Facial. All that entails is using a different product during the process, and they charge $ 15 more. So your $ 35 facial becomes $ 50. This went on for a little while before we actually got started.
Then she has me lay down and checks out my skin. Again pushes the Green Science. Annoying. Afterwards she goes to get her instructor to look at my skin and to listen to her explain what type of treatment she will be doing and to get the okay from said instructor. 5 minute wait. After the instructor leaves she goes off to get my stuff ready. Another 5 – 10 minute wait. Sheesh.
At this point it’s like 3:30 and we finally get started on my 2:30 pm facial. I’m irritated by now and I’m supposed to be relaxing.
The facial goes on and it’s fine. She was a little hesitant and I felt some inconsistencies, but again, it’s a student so I know it’s not going to be the best facial in the world. In the midst of my facial she’s telling me each and every product being used and how miraculous it is. I’m thinking, shut UP and let me relax. Then comes another upsell. I hear how I ‘need’ this plant peel to help with my dry skin. A $ 15 increase in the cost.
FAcial ends and I’m ready to GO because I had plans. Oh no, you can’t just get dressed, pay and leave. YOu have to sit through a presentation of each and every product that they used like you’re in a timeshare sales pitch. I then got to hear about the specials and promotions going on when you buy said products. At this point I was about to lose it. Then the instructor walks in for a review of the student. Not gonna lie here: I rushed through that at lightning speed because of the fact that I’d been there for TWO hours and had to GO.
I didn’t notice until I was at a friend’s house later that I had dried product across both sides of my face. Caked on product was on my hairline and looked disgusting. not the end of the world at all, but still.
I’m going to try it one more time because in North Carolina I had great experiences. But if it is now required that you sit through upsells and sales pitch presentations to buy more crap. I’m out.

Extremely friendly and helpful staff. Large and open product area, and super open hair services area (2 spots, not sure if both are open for services or if one is only for classroom sessions as I saw today)
Bathrooms IMO are extremely subpar for an Aveda Institute, and the reservation call line is annoying (automated, have to select the Tempe location rather than just connecting you with an employee). I haven’t checked yet if they have online reservations up.
As with most Aveda institutes (except DC!) the pricing is spectacular for services. Because they are just opening they have some great specials going on, and their open house is August 8!