07/27/09

AVOID THIS SALON AND CARRIE ANNE

by damehrtens

I WAS NEW IN AUSTIN AND HAD NEVER HAD A BAD EXPERIENCE IN AN AVEDA SALON BEFORE. AVANT GAVE ME BAD COLOR AND A BAD HAIR CUT THAT COST ME A FORTUNE TO HAVE IT CORRECTED. FOR THE SAME PRICE TRY KEITH KRISTOPHER SALON. THIS SALON USES BETTER PRODUCTS....NOT AVEDA....AVEDA PRODUCTS ARE TRULY BECOMING OBSOLETE......THER ARE TOO MANY TALENTED TECHNICIANS IN AUSTIN TO WAIST YOUR TIME AT MEDIOCRE SALONS LIKE AVANT. I TOO DID NOT WANT TO GIVE ANY STARS...

• Pros: NONE
• Cons: INEPT TECHNICIANS

07/08/09

Great Place

by jocelyn86

i had roxy. she was great and made sure i was 100% styled before leaving.

• Pros: relaxing

06/20/09

Worst Management!!!!! Ever!!!!

by lexyjane01

I received a gift certificate for $100 when I first moved to Austin, I called to make an appointment, the front desk was very rude...being in the beauty business myself, I understand people can have rough days. I called to make an appt the second time because they couldn't fit me in the the first, they couldn't find my gift certificate. I wanted to check because I know my friend bought it for me several months prior! I have met Svetlana, the manager, on several occasions, both, being in the beauty business, so I emailed her to ask a management perspective, I really wanted to use my $100, that my best friend 1500 miles away bought for me!....no repsonse.....I emailed a second time....no response....I left several messages with the front desk staff....still nothing??? Apparently Avant doesn't care about customers...or must not be hurting for business...or doesn't want to honor gift certificates! If salon workers be wary....then real patrons should be extra wary....if you can't trust people that are in the same business as you? Then how can you trust them with your service?

• Pros: Couldn't Tell
• Cons: Management! Svetlana!!!

06/02/09

High Quality results...

by Porteea

In an effort to make me happy, the schedulers often ask me when I would like to come and somehow make it happen at the last minute. This translates to some pretty tense and rushed staff members trying to get me through an already full schedule. I wish they front desk would be more realistic and say, "Hey, we are full, come in next week". I could easily handle that.

The ultimate result, though was that my color and cut looked great..but I felt sort of "violated" by the rush rush of the service and the fast intense energy of the colorist and stylist. BUT , YES, I got compliments afterwards from folks about my hair as usual.

• Pros: quality color and cuts
• Cons: taking on too many clients?

05/02/09

great facial

by saverytx

I chose Avant for a facial because of their participation in Spa Week. I got an amazing facial at a great price. I had never had a facial before. The facialist (April) was great, never pushed products and my skin was soft.

I would go back again. No wait, offered beverage etc.

• Pros: great facial
• Cons: ??

05/01/09

UGLY HAIR...AWEFUL CUSTOMER SERVICE

by LadyKatelyn

Maybe I'm asking too much from this salon, but from the moment I booked the appointment, I was served a big ole plate of attitude!

First and foremost, if it weren't for my assistant texting me a reminder the night before, I would totally have forgotten about my scheduled appointment with Avant (hello!!! a confirmation phone call the day before would have been nice)

When I entered the salon, I was told to wait in the reception area and my stylist would be with me shortly. 10 minutes went by and no one offered me a beverage (I could see other clients with them) nor an explanation as to why I had to wait... finally, an apprentice came over and let me know that she would be doing my shampoo. She was sweet, however, that was the lousiest shampoo I've ever received and my neck wasn't supported at all during the process.

I was escorted back to the reception area where I waited for another 20 minutes...my appointment was scheduled for 10:30am and it was now 11:10 and I had yet to see or hear from my scheduled stylist. At this point in time, I requested to speak with the manager and informed her that I was very displeased and that I needed to have my hair blown dry, as I had meetings to attend. She hustled up an apprentice and I was taken to her station.

About 5 minutes into the blowdry, my scheduled stylist made an appearance and said that she would take over from there (I wished that I'd have stayed with the apprentice)...to make a VERY long story short, I received the ABSOLUTE WORST blowdry I could ever have had; my 9 year old nephew could have done a better job!

I've got a full head of great hair...I don't know how she managed to do it, but I looked like a frizz ball with flat hair. Although the service was comp'd, I tipped the stylist $10 and called it a day...in hindsight, I overtipped by $10...not being a b*tch, but the moment I stepped out of the salon, my hairstyle collapsed into a stringy Aveda product mess. NEVER AGAIN!

If you are seeking a salon that doesn't know the first thing about VIP customer service, this is the place for you!

(PS.........I didn't even think they deserved 1 star....but this website forced me to give a rating!)

• Pros: Got a compliment from an apprentice on my outfit
• Cons: Everything: customer service, quality of service, lack of...

04/28/09

Wish the wait was shorter.

by Fairandhopeful

A bit too loud and busy.

Upside, hip, trendy and the people are nice.

Running that far behind is not acceptable.

• Pros: Good Salon
• Cons: Long wait for some stylists

04/08/09

Amazing experience

by chraustin

I've gotten my hair cut and colored by Melissa/Carianne twice now and it is by far the best my hair has ever looked. I love the experience of coming to Avant and from here on out, won't go anywhere else!!

• Pros: professional and very knowledgeable staff
• Cons: none

03/27/09

I will definitely come back!

by squarah

I am so happy with the service I received here. I was able to book online, which was very convenient, and I didn't have to wait at all when I arrived for my appointment. The salon is beautiful and very clean and I particularly like that the music isn't loud or obnoxious. Shanna, my stylist, is clearly very skilled and knowledgeable. She gave me exactly what I asked for and didn't do anything different without asking, which is a problem I often have with stylists. I will definitely come back and see her again!

• Pros: lots of parking, nice atmosphere, skilled stylists
• Cons: I don't have any complaints.

03/09/09

Best stylists!

by frogprof

I've been seeing Carianne for cuts and Melissa for color for about 6 months now; they are both absolutely WONDERFUL. They're easy to work with and very honest when it comes to telling me what will and won't work with my facial structure and hair type; and they've not only improved the condition of my hair, they've actually made it look GOOD! (AND I don't feel as though I need for them to be in my bathroom every morning while I do my hair, either ... the style is simple but exactly what I wanted.)

Both of the girls are young, with funky hairstyles [compared to me, anyway] -- and I was slightly leery of what they might end up doing to me ... but there was nothing to worry about. They actually listen to you and WORK with you -- and the salon always seems to have an opening when I need it!

I've tried several other "upscale" salons in Austin, but I will never leave Avant -- unless Carianne and Melissa do!

• Pros: Wonderful stylists
• Cons: Front desk staff sort of snotty