Aveda Institutes: School Spotlight
Aveda is one of the most respected beauty brands in the world. Its long-standing reputation for high-quality botanical products that appeal to the senses and environmentally friendly practices have earned Aveda a consistent and loyal following for over 40 years.
With such an established reputation, it makes sense that the Aveda Institutes—a brand of beauty schools providing education that follows the same ethos and values behind its products—draws legions of aspiring beauty professionals to its programs.
Aveda Products: A Premium Salon Brand
Aveda-affiliated salons and spas around the country have helped popularize the Aveda brand for hair and skin care. Devotees love the beauty services offered at Aveda salons and Aveda products with the brand’s signature Pure-Fume aroma created with flower and plant essences, 100% recycled packaging, wind-powered manufacturing processes, and a commitment to cruelty-free testing.
Beauty professionals who go through programs at Aveda Institutes are trained to use Aveda products. Aveda Institutes may not be the most inexpensive beauty programs in their respective markets, but consumers are increasingly choosing to spend their dollars with companies that offer eco-friendly and human-friendly products and practices. Students who select an Aveda Institute may be doing so in part to invest in a career that reflects their values and the values of a growing clientele sector.
Aveda Institutes: Locations, Experience, and Curriculum
Aveda Institutes comprise 62 locations across 30 U.S. states and one campus in Winnipeg, Canada. Together, they graduate more than 7,000 students each year. Though the available programs differ by location, the Aveda Institutes’ full program content includes cosmetology, esthiology (esthetics), and massage therapy.
When students enroll, they receive a kit containing the necessary Aveda brand professional tools they’ll need to do their work. This includes haircutting shears, blow dryers with attachments, brushes, mannequin heads, hair and skin care products, manicure/pedicure tools, sponges, makeup applicators, and more.
The mission that guides all Aveda Institute locations is “to set an example for environmental leadership and responsibility, not just in the world of beauty, but around the world.” To fulfill this mission, the institute is committed to a curriculum that:
In the spirit of Aveda’s founder, Horst Rechelbacher—known for leading by example and serving as a mentor—instructors at Aveda Institutes emphasize the latest skills to help ensure students are ready to work after graduation.
Additionally, student learning goes beyond textbooks, through hands-on experience in student salons and training in Aveda-specific techniques, such as its Texture Curriculum in the cosmetology program. The curriculum is designed to ensure skills mastery so students can pass their state licensing exams and begin work in their chosen professions.
Besides learning about cosmetology, skincare, and massage therapy, students learn about marketing, client recruitment and retention, and other business skills.
The schools are also committed to introducing students to top area salons and spas looking for up-and-coming talent through career fairs, business tours, and recruitment visits. Aveda graduates also may eventually qualify for Aveda-specific career tracks, such as salon development partner, Aveda Purefessional (educator), or member of Aveda’s global Artistic Teams.
Why Students Choose Aveda Institutes
In 2019, Aveda Institutes boasted an average graduation rate of 81.4%, nearly four times the rate of those attending community colleges. Further, between 2011 and 2020, Aveda Institute students accounted for 37 of the 50 North American Hairstyling Awards Student Hairstylist of the Year nominees and 7 of its 10 winners.
A benefit of graduating from an Aveda Institute is its network of affiliated salons and spas around the globe, where Aveda-trained students have an employment advantage. In fact, many Aveda students have jobs lined up before they even graduate. And at the more than 9,100 Aveda salons and spas worldwide, most owners prefer to hire Aveda Institute graduates over those who attended other cosmetology schools.
“I recruit from the Aveda Institute because I believe that the curriculum is the best foundation anyone can get,” explains former student Alisa Halek-Schoenack. “Whenever someone asks me why I do this, it’s because I believe that they will come away stronger people with a caring heart and will serve others very well.”
One former cosmetology student reviewing an Aveda Institute on Indeed wrote, “Incredible education. Worth every cent. I’m honored to be part of such a progressive and environmentally conscious company. Although the work is physically demanding, the intrinsic gratification of bringing beauty to the world and joy to another’s life greatly outweighs the cons. Knowledgeable and patient educators made the journey enjoyable and exciting. From day one, my passion was sparked.”
However, former students also caution that Aveda programs include plenty of hard work, with some courses involving 8- to 10-hour days. And, the tuition at Aveda Institute may be higher than its competitors.
Additionally, students are trained specifically with Aveda tools and products, which is an advantage for those who want to work at Aveda-affiliated businesses after graduation. But for aspiring beauty professionals who aren’t sure where they’d like to work and want exposure to a wider array of products, a brand-affiliated school like Aveda Institutes may not necessarily be the right choice.
Aveda Institutes Company History
Austrian Horst Rechelbacher, Aveda’s founder, was born to an herbalist and a shoemaker/designer, leading to a keen interest in fashion and botanical ingredients. When he was 14, Rechelbacher began a three-year apprenticeship in the beauty and salon industry. He eventually worked at an exclusive salon in Rome, soon winning numerous styling competitions in the U.S.
After being injured in a car accident in Minneapolis, he opened a chain of hair salons called Horst & Friends and recuperated with the help of a regimen of natural healing methods and herbal medicines. This sparked his interest in botanical medicine.
In 1978, Rechelbacher, who was by then a hairstylist, salon owner, artist, and businessman, developed his line of plant-based products. He made these using the principles of Ayurveda (the inspiration for the name Aveda), which he learned while traveling through India. He was committed to testing the products on people, not animals, and the quality of his products and the distinctively pleasant aromas they produced made Aveda a sought-after brand.
Aveda became the first beauty brand to sign the Valdez CERES Principles, pledging corporate environmental responsibility, after the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989. As a result, the company grew to become a world leader in fair-trade practices and environmental stewardship, and in 2021 announced that all its products were 100% vegan.
The Aveda Institutes were developed to guide students in the principles and methods that are part of the Aveda brand and to ensure the spirit of corporate responsibility lives on in its practitioners.
Aveda Institutes Ownership
Aveda Institutes are not owned by a single entity. Individuals own one or more, and some of those owners are noteworthy stylists or salon owners in their markets. This explains why some Aveda Institutes go by different names, such as Jean Madeline Aveda Institute, Douglas J Aveda Institute, Be Aveda Institutes, or Aveda Arts & Sciences Institutes.
Aveda Institutes Locations
3200 Riverchase Galleria
Hoover, AL 36532
305 Kearny Street
San Francisco, CA 94108
111 West St. John Street
San Jose, CA 95113
1745 Peachtree Street Northeast Suite A
Atlanta, GA 30309
837 Pole Line Road Suite 103 Suite 103
Twin Falls, ID 83301
2828 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60657
2834 South Sherwood Boulevard
Baton Rouge, LA 70816
1355 Polders Lane
Covington, LA 70434
102 East Thomas Street
Hammond, LA 70403
2922 Johnston Street
Lafayette, LA 70503
3330 Veterans Memorial Boulevard Suite A
Metairie, LA 70002
333 Maynard Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
331 East Grand River Avenue
East Lansing, MI 48823
138 Commerce Avenue Southwest
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
125 West 4th Street
Royal Oak, MI 48067
400 Central Avenue Southeast
Minneapolis, MN 55414
1520 South Boulevard Suite 150
Charlotte, NC 28203
233 Spring Street
New York, NY 10013
1765 Galleria Boulevard
Franklin, TN 37067
516 South Gay Street
Knoxville, TN 37902
6001 Middle Fiskville Road
Austin, TX 78752
1110 Ayers Street
Corpus Christi, TX 78404
8188 Park Lane North Suite 150 Suite 150
Dallas, TX 75231
21003 Encino Commons
San Antonio, TX 78259
19241 David Memorial Drive
Shenandoah, TX 77385
671 North Glebe Road Suite 1280
Arlington, VA 22203
802 East Pike Street
Seattle, WA 98122
353 East Campus Mall
Madison, WI 53715
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Atlanta – Accredited
Atlanta, GA 30309
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Baton Rouge – Accredited
Baton Rouge, LA 70816
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute New Orleans – Accredited
Metairie, LA 70002
Douglas J Aveda Institute - East Lansing – Accredited
East Lansing, MI 48823
Douglas J Aveda Institute - Grand Rapids – Accredited
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis – Accredited
Minneapolis, MN 55414
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Charlotte – Accredited
Charlotte, NC 28203
Brown Aveda Institute Strongsville – Accredited
Strongsville, OH 44136
Aveda Fredric’s Institute Cincinnati – Accredited
West Chester, OH 45069
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Corpus Christi – Accredited
Corpus Christi, TX 78404
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Dallas – Accredited
Dallas, TX 75231
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Arlington – Accredited
Arlington, VA 22203
Aveda Institute Portland, Vancouver Campus – Accredited
Vancouver, WA 98661