Cheap cuts and frugal facials

The Aveda Hair Institute on 40th and Chestnut streets offers low-cost haircuts to the University City neighborhood.

Thanks to the recent opening of the Jean Madeline Aveda Institute, students can get pampered on a budget.

The Aveda Institute, located on 40th and Chestnut streets, opened its doors last April to University City clients as well as prospective cosmetology students.

The local branch of the citywide school is the third to open and is the largest in the city so far. Its services range in price from $16 for a haircut and $10 for a manicure to $33 for a customized facial.

Currently, 67 students are enrolled in the Institute's cosmetology curriculum.

According to its Web site, the Institute aims to teach students how to rejuvenate their clients' mind, body and by promoting an atmosphere of warmth, beauty and wellness.

According to Danielle Lehman, director of the new Aveda Institute, the first level of classes take about 13 weeks to complete. Students then perform in clinics and work with clients.

"The [entire] cosmetology program is 11 months to complete, and it includes learning to do hair, manicures and pedicures," Lehman said.

The strategic location of the institute allows students to interact with a diverse client base which consists of a mix of University City students and Philadelphia locals.

"Our students get to experiment with different hair types. There is such diversity in this location," Lehman said.

The Institute has been highly recommended in various publications: Allure magazine ranked it as the best hair salon in Philadelphia and noted the Caribbean hand therapy treatment as its most enjoyable service.

Lucky magazine featured the Institute in its report of best budget beauty services.

Comments (3)

yes you do lesleigh, i do my own at home with the things i bought from sally beauty supply. i love facials.

I think I speak for almost all the other ladies out there when I say that most of us love a frugal facial.

Caveat emptor. I was lured to Aveda by its cheap haircuts. It took 90 minutes for the student to cut my hair. When she was done, it looked terrible. I expressed doubt that my hair was a) cut the way I wanted it and b) cut evenly on all sides. The supervisor praised the work of the student and said that my hair simply needed product, handfuls of which the student promptly gobbed on my head. I hastily went to another salon for an experienced cutter to fix the mistakes of the student cutter.

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