Rizzieri Aveda School

There’s really no better deal to get salon quality color at bargain prices. I went and got a root touch up, full highlights and a blow out for only $ 56 (same thing costs me 180 – 200 at Ulta)
Although the students are «practicing» on you, they get guidance from their instructors, and the instructors also have to sign off on the colors they’re going to use, so it’s not like you’re going to walk out with orange hair. Unless that’s what you want lol. They’re also usually very eager to show good work and build their portfolio so they take a lot of time and care getting things right.
Which, is a gift and a curse. Do NOT expect to get in and out in anything less than 2 hours. If you’re getting color it could be more like 3 – 4 hours. This is definitely a place to go when you have a day to spend on yourself.
I’d recommend going on a weekday exactly at 11 when they open for the quickest trip. Weekends are always a crazy wait.

I went to this place because 1.) I had a gift card and 2.) everyone told me it was the place to go. Well, all I can say is that I did not have a good experience and will never be setting foot in the place again. Honestly i feèl like I am going yo have anxiety getting my hair done in the future. Here’s what happened: I went for a dye job; I wanted to be very blonde and I took a photo to show my technician, an ash/​white blonde. Not only did the bleach burn extremely badly, but I ended up with yellow and white striped hair, even after a toner. I asked for another toner, and even after that my hair was half golden bright blonde at the top, and more ashy at the bottom. I had to go back the next day to fix it, because I really felt like I couldn’t live with it. The second technician was better and I ended up with an ok ashy color, something I can live with, but not what I wanted. I felt ok about it, since the color correction was free, but when I left I noticed some red dots on my scalp, probably from the fierce burning of the three treatments in less than 24 hours. Now, about five hours later I am noticing burns and scabs all over my head. I don’t understand how an Aveda place can let something like this happen. Not only am I in pain, I am also crossing my fingers that my hair recovers from this damage and doesn’t fall out or something. The technicians were nice, and I hate to be a complainer, but this was just unacceptable.
UPDATE: revising to two stars bc after I spoke to the manager, I was issued a refund. Points earned for great customer service even though the end product was not quite what I wanted.

I really enjoyed my haircut here recently. The staff was very friendly. I planned to have a service, but they consulted with me and told me I did not have to get the botanical because my hair is pretty healthy. I am happy they were honest with me so I didn’t have to spend the extra money. My haircut was done by Lauren. She took her time and gave me exactly what I wanted. Just remember they only accept cash tips and there is no ATM machine!

I am only giving this two stars because I’m happy with how my highlights look.
I show up on Thursday to get highlights and am turned away because I have to get a patch test. now I’ve been getting my hair colored for 10 years. What made it worse is that they didn’t even check the patch when I came back on Saturday. I show up for my 10:00 «appointment» and end up waiting over 45 minutes because apparently an appointment doesn’t actually guarantee you your time. My student didn’t say a word to me the entire 2 hour process; she didn’t even attempt to try to sell me products.

Went for another facial and had a very different experience than my first visit.
A group of customers had the same appointment time and we were all walked back together. I understand it’s a teaching environment but I still felt herded. The student who did my facial really pushed to up-​sell me to a higher end facial and ended up getting something in my eyes that burned for a good hour. Although the student introduced me to the teachers before my session, no one asked me afterwards how I liked it.
To top it off, I broke out the next day. Maybe a coincidence, maybe not.

I attended here almost four years ago. The school is decent, my teacher was great. However, the office staff should get their act together. Like most technical schools, it’s all about the money. When I left, I was informed I owed 4,600 to them, right away. I went through all the paperwork I had signed and could not verify agreeing to this. But they insisted. I was 2 months from being married and buying a home. So what did we do, we paid them in full 4 days after I was told the amount we supposedly owed. Three years later, I receive a call from a credit agency trying to collect $ 4,600. Amazing. Unfortunately for Rizzieri, we sent that check 3 years ago through certified mail and kept copies of the certified check as well. Beware, yes it looks like a good school and they paint a pretty picture but
it’s a business at the end of the day. Keep all records of payment, they sure don’t seem to…

Cant say enough good things about my recent trip. I go often and I love getting my hair highlighted there. It is much cheaper than a salon, but now with Groupon, its not as cheap! LOL. I had Alyssa and she was great. Took her time, gave me a handmassage and my highlights look better than I have ever gotten them done! Sad to see her graduate next month!

Don’t go for nail service. Everything else is ah-​mazing!

Been going here for years. It’s a great deal-​much cheaper than normal salons for things like color. Honestly a full head of highlights comes out to be about $ 35.
Some things:
1) Students are doing the work. I’ve never had a problem but several friends won’t go because students are touching your hair. For advanced cuts and color, consider a real salon-​otherwise you’ll be fine.
2) it takes forever. Since students do the work, they’re slower… alot slower. My highlights take about four hours.

My facial was 4 star and pedicure was a 1 star.
To be fair these are students and you are their guinea pig. When you arrive you will sign a waiver that sums up that in laments terms that even though you’re paying a fraction of normal costs you sign up to be an experiment for their education. That’s not to say you won’t get the best treatment, but it is a ‘hey, we warned you’ waiver and you need to pay either way.
The best was my 1 hour facial located in the back room, away from the madness of the salon. A simple but calm atmosphere with medium-​sized curtained area is the home for wellness services. They use whispering voices and Aveda products to get the spa treatment started. The facial was tranquil and zen-​like. Simply put – a sweet deal and the perfect way to put a stressful day at work behind me. I’ll definitely be back for a spa service.
The worst was my 1 ½ hour pedicure that could have been done within 30 minutes. The tub basin’s jets did not work so my feet sat in luke warm water the whole time. Although freshly packaged, they barely had any tools available. Apparently the AM students used them all — damn you AM crew! Since no nail cutters are allowed everything had to be filed and when I came home I trimmed them myself. During our session there was one point I wanted to paint my own toes because my butt had gone numb from sitting there so long. Still, a week later and my pedicure is holding up nicely but the service was torture.

I went for a facial and was very pleased with the whole experience!

I went there for a cut and color, figuring I have nothing to lose since I’ve had many a bad haircut in Philadelphia. I went to the Salon, not the school, to improve my chances for an OK cut. The person who colored my hair consulted me every step of the way and made sure I was comfortable with the color. She also cut my hair and took time in doing so. I made an appointment to go back for a color and a trim.
PS: you really can’t beat the price!

DO NOT GO HERE!!! The front desk women were dismissive and rude. Your appointment time isn’t really your appointment time. You will be seen when you are seen. No instructor ever came and checked on the student technician. My manicure and pedicure took 3 hours! They allow their students to work at their own pace, but come on! The discounted price was NOT worth the time wasted at Rizzeri. The student was friendly and engaging — the ONLY positive to my experience. They really deserve not stars, but Unilocal won’t allow that…