Avant Salon and Day Spa

04/26/2008 Posted by cmcoo1

I have been a faithful Avant customer for the past 8 years and will not be going back. Service has been great until now. I have made 4 appointments between August 2007 and April 2008. Three of the four appointments have been miss-scheduled or not scheduled at all (even appointments I've made in person!!). The first 2 times I rescheduled, but the third time I said no. I will not be going back to Avant. Staff was unapologetic and rude. I do not recommend Avant.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

04/23/2008 Posted by longhorngirl82

I got a massage during Spa Week at Avant and was very impressed with the treatment that I received for the price. Don't be fooled by the busy salon area up front. They take you to a back area that is quite, dark, and serene. My massage therapist was great. She asked me what I was looking for from my massage and she did a great job at working my back and getting some of the knots out. I will definitely return!

Pros: Convenient location, lots of parking

04/12/2008 Posted by electricuth

Being a recent resident of the Austin area, I have been able to experience a few of the so called "top rated" salons in the city. However, I have just really never seem to click with a stylist. Either the cut was a little too edgy/funky or the color would just be an unnatural brassy tone. I had just about given up, when a co-worker of mine came back a little late from her "lunch" with absolutely stunning hair! Within minutes I had made my appointment with her colorist, Mandy. Although I had to wait almost 3 weeks to get an appointment! The salon was very busy when I had arrived, but Mandy made me feel right at home and really gave me one-on-one attention. From the first few minutes of our consultation, I knew I was in great hands! We went over some options for my "Spring Color," and I was totally impressed with our end results. The perfect mix of highlights and low lights to give my hair depth and dimension. Mandy even showed me a few techniques to style my hair, although it never looked so good as when I walked out of the salon that day and I was already on 4th! Even if the color didn't turn out exactly how I had wished, I would have gone back for the shampoo! While my color was processing I never felt like I was forgotten about either. The experience was wonderful! I even made my appointments for the next year! Now I know why it's so hard to get in. Thank you Mandy! Thank you Avant! You have a client for life!

Pros: Amazing, knowlegable colorists!

04/12/2008 Posted by texwats

Please be careful who you go to get your hair colored. I learned the hard way by choosing a terrible salon like Avant. Tina colored my hair and it is now a brassy orange color. She didn't seem like she was paying any attention to me when I was there. I think she was more concerned with her other clients and getting out of there for the day. I've been wearing hats for the past few days and don't know what to do. I thought about making an appointment to have her fix it but I'm sure she'd only make it worse. I'll have to pay for another colorist at a different salon. I would not go to this salon again.

Pros: nothing

Cons: staff acted hurried, tina was the worst, overpriced for orange hair

04/11/2008 Posted by jilis1

I was in your salon on Tuesday getting an updo for a bridal portrait. Mandy did my hair and it looked great! I’m not from Austin so I wasn’t sure where to go for my hair and I was referred to your salon and I was very happy with the results. I have booked appointments for a few other people for the wedding day in June because I was so impressed. Thanks so much!!

04/10/2008 Posted by KimBrinson

I was asked recently to be a model in an Avant Photoshoot. I was excited since I have admired Avants photography since i was child. I was apprehensive about doing anything too crazy with my hair, but Avant promised me that making me happy was their first concern (famous last words). I was introduced to Vanessa (colorist), Jen Marie (haircut), and Jackie (makeup) who put my concerns at ease. This past weekend my hair and makeup was done by this incredible team of stylist. They made me feel like a rock star. Then Roy Fredericks shot me in his studio. He just sent the Avant Portfolio link to me and I am blown away. Avant rocks and they well be my Austin salon for ever. Thanks to Vanessa, Jen Marie, Jackie, and Roy for the day of Glam!

Pros: Austins most creative team of photo stylist and photographer

Cons: I cant do this 'Glam" thing every weekend

04/10/2008 Posted by Niko1960

Avant was recommended by a friend after I relocated from Dallas to Austin. I'm very finicky about who cuts my hair (I have an unruly coif) and wanted an Aveda salon. Lacy and the downtown Avant salon were excellent. I received terrific service, a great cut, and will most certainly return to and recommend Avant.

04/06/2008 Posted by ntrial

An absolutely awful experience from start to finish. Went to the downtown location. The staff are rude. My "master" level stylist (can't remember his name) left me with a thousand layers that totally don't suit my face. Tina, the "colorist," gave me skunk-like highlights that look ridiculous and are also the wrong color for me. Tip for Tina--if a person has warm skin tones/hair/eyes then DON'T use cool colors and vice versa. Where do these people train? I will NEVER so much as walk down the block this salon is on as it will remind me of the entire experience. Now I get to look like *&^$%# until my hair grows out.

Pros: nothing

Cons: everything

04/05/2008 Posted by damienb

After messing up my appt and the receptionist responding extremely rudely to it all, I was shoved in with Tina, the colorist. Something in my gut told me to leave, but I needed my hair done so I decided to stay. I told Tina I wanted a warm brown/caramel color and that I was very concerned about chemicals destroying my hair. She promised me it would "not hurt your hair and will even make it healthier." She slapped permanent color on from root to tip, left me on the couch for 45 mins until I reminded her I was there, had someone else wash it out, and then she left shortly after. I was in the midst of getting my hair dried and cut by a junior stylist (I'd requested a master) when I cried out, "IS MY HAIR RED?" Her response was, "No, that's just the lighting in here." I returned home, looked in the mirror, and cried. My hair is not only red (which looks TERRIBLE with my skin tone), but it's so dried out from the chemicals that it feels like Barby hair. I phoned to complain and they were, once again, so rude. The response was, "Sorry, red doesn't lift either so we can't really correct it. It'll grow out in 2 years though." STAY AWAY. Tina should have her license revoked.

Pros: none

Cons: rude, lack basic hair coloring/cutting skills

04/03/2008 Posted by northie

I have to say, I decided to go to Avant due to all the positive ratings. I called and talked to the receptionist, told her what type of style I wanted (short funky razor cut) and she recommended 2 stylist to me. I decided to go with Amanda - she explained that she was used to doing shorter cuts, razor savvy, and had a funkier look to her. Well, I arrived on time, had to wait about 15 mins or so. Then, I brought in a couple pictures of what I was looking for. I am not picky, as I style my hair a variety of ways. Well she acted excited, said she new exactly what I was asking for....well let me tell you - I walked out of there looking like a COTTON BALL HEAD! She took the length off the nap (blunt & unfeminine) then made my hair round like a cotton ball. the layers were in the last quarter inch of my hair, and even at that, there was a bunch of long straggley hairs left. She didn't style, just blowdried damp, and threw some wax in it. I got home & tried styling in, and am absolutely horrified! All I can do is pin it back, and try to hold back the tears. I could not be more disappointed in a salon, recommendation, or reviews! PLEASE DO NOT GO HERE!!!! You will leave throughly disappointed in your experience! DEFINITELY BEWARE OF AMANDA...now that I look back, she has another unsatisfactory review!

Pros: none - very very unhappy!

Cons: all the stylist were sitting around chit chatting, not professional, long wait