Tallahassee's Aveda Institute: Head-to-Toe Makeover on a Budget

Feeling and looking glamorous doesn't have to bust the bank in Florida's Capital City. Tallahassee's Aveda Institute can give you a glamorous head-to-toe makeover while on a budget. Orange billboards around Tallahassee boast Aveda haircuts for $12 and highlights beginning at $36. Feeling a little shaggy, I took my unruly mane and tired feet to the institute for some Aveda lovin' earlier this summer to see what the Aveda Institute could do for me.

The Aveda Institute isn't your average hair salon or day spa. It's a training ground for student and experienced ("Masters") hairstylists and spa therapists. The Masters students already have their cosmetology certifications and attend the Aveda Institute to learn the Aveda way, which is well respected in the cosmetology world.

Aveda Institutes are scattered throughout the country and Tallahassee was lucky to land one a few years ago. Aveda raises the bar for beauty, inspiring creativity and cutting edge style. Graduates go off to beautify the world armed with the latest trends in beauty and hair fashion.

Foot lovin'.
The first service I had at the Tallahassee Aveda Institute was the "Essential Pedicure" ($22). A young gal, a year out of high school, treated me to some much needed foot pampering. In the subdued pedicure room, I sat against a wall on a padded bench alongside other women. My feet soaked in the foot-specific whirlpool while I enjoyed the flickering candles, new age music and relaxing scent of eucalyptus.

My feet and calves were massaged and nourished with moisturizing lotions. What I love about the Aveda skin and hair product line is that they have earthy, zippy scents. They're silky, light and non-greasy. The tree hugger in me appreciates Aveda's "green ingredient policy" and eco-friendly process to creating the product line.

A nice selection of polishes was available and my young student carefully applied my color. She corrected her mistakes professionally (she only colored outside the lines twice).

Did I have happy feet?
The treatment was relaxing and pleasant. Afterwards, the pedicure held up pretty well. Three days later I scuffed my big toe while traveling, but the rest of the toes held up for at least two weeks. Not bad for the $22 plus tip. Other pedicure services are the "Stress Relieving Pedicure" ($20) and the "Spa Service Pedicure" ($27).

Taming the mane.
Ten days later, I returned for a must-needed hair makeover. I'm the type of gal who tells a hairstylist, "do what you think is best." To me, it's hair, it'll grow back. This may make some stylists nervous but my Masters student was up to the task at taming my dark roots and frizzy mane. I had foiling (hair is foiled and colored), hair coloring (different color than the foil), haircut and style, all which took two hours and 45 minutes. This probably took a little bit longer than a professional studio, but I was pleased with the results. All students are supervised and the supervisor reviewed my color, cut and style. I was even asked, "Do you like it?"

Did it look like a $12 haircut?
Since I had multiple and complicated services, this was more than the $12 haircuts the Aveda Institute billboards advertise. My tab rang up to $110. But by visiting Tallahassee's Aveda Institute, I was easy on my budget compared if I had visited a professional salon.

Of course, I couldn't recreate the look once I was home but was still able to make it look "pretty." The new do wasn't that dramatic, but enough to garner compliments from co-workers the next day.

Will I return?
I'll definitely be visiting Tallahassee's Aveda Institute. Not only is the cost easy on my budget but I'm helping students get the practice they need. I'd definitely recommend scheduling an appointment for all services in advance, which also include waxing, manicures and make up applications. Gift certificates are available, too. And, it's important to remember to tip accordingly. These are students and most are putting themselves through school.

Aveda Institute - Tallahassee
2020 West Pensacola Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32304
Tel: (850) 576 - 4287
Hours of Operation: Mondays through Fridays: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays: 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
http://Avedaflorida.com/ai/services.php?page=tallahassee