Aveda Institute

Cheap but I wouldn't go back!

They were good and were able to provide me with what I wanted. (I didn't need anything super fancy). It did take a long time, but I didn't mind. :)

I had an *awful* experience here the day before my wedding. The person who did my facial ran out of time, and left me with a lot of redness that did not go away in time. Also the steamer broke. My mani was sub-par and I had to even out the edges myself afterwards. To top it all off they overcharged me and would not take my gift card. The overcharging and gift card were worked out by phone after the wedding. I gave them one star for flexibility because they let my maid of honor get a pedi instead of a mani. Heh.

I went to the Aveda School of Cosmetology in Chapel Hill. This was such an awesome option. By the time the students get out on the floor at Aveda, they're already pretty proficient at what they do. The guy who did my makeup was fabulous. He didn't depend on me to make all the decisions for him. He asked me the "look" I was going for, and then he really got into his art. He chose colors that looked good for me, and knew exactly what he was talking about. Additionally, this can be a really low cost option, since the students aren't yet licensed. My only caveat about Aveda would be to make sure you get in there early, as they tend to take a really long time since they talk with their instructor before they make any final decisions.