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Jean Madeline Aveda Inst
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Neighborhood: Queen Village315 Bainbridge St
Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 574-0963
12 reviews for Jean Madeline Aveda Inst
If you are on a budget Jean Madeline is definitely the place to go, $16 for a haircut, can't really beat that. Be warned though it's not very relaxing and can border on awkward. I was in there today and almost had my hair ripped out and then had about 3 people touching it and then an over-abundance of hair product put on it.
BUT the end result was adorable and I can put up with some discomfort to save that much money.
I paid $12 (without tip) for my haircuts when I lived in Delco. Moving into the city, I didn't want to give up my fabulously frugal haircuts, so I made an appointment at the Jean Madeline Institute near my house. Yes, I had a nightmare that involved leaving the place with a cut like Kate Gosselin's, but I ponied up anyway.
I love the hustle and bustle of salons-- the sounds of the hairdryers, scissors, and constant chatter are all very exciting to me. Entering the upstairs salon at this place was like walking into a hair factory (I'm thinking similar to Santa's workshop). It was still a lot like a "regular" hair salon, except EXTREME! (I imagined the 'X' to be shaped like a pair of scissors, by the way. Hair salons love that stuff.)
Despite the fact that I had an early appointment, my wait was a little on the long side. My stylist, however, was fantastic, and I am so, so pleased with my new 'do.
I also left with complimentary first-timer goodies AND a coupon for next time. And there will be a next time.
Shannon did my cut and highlights a couple days ago and she did such a beautiful job. I requested her based on other people's reviews of her--so note to reviewers--if you have a good experience, post a name so you don't have to walk in blindly and take a chance on having a good experience!! The tough thing about this place is if you find someone you like, they will graduate... So keeping everyone posted about who currently there is good would be an awesome service to us all!
Oops, I just realized that this was on the wrong page. Shannon is at the 40th and Chestnut locale... fyi. :)
I had a great experience here, partly because it was so satisfying to pay such low prices for Aveda services! It's no-frills, because it's a school, of course, and you're paying less, but the quality was fantastic. A student did my waxing under the watchful eye of a seasoned specialist.
Good times! I'll definitely go back.
So I should say that I've had decent haircuts in the past here. I have long hair and a very easy style, so that may be why. Yesterday, however, I received the worst cut of my adult life. Honestly, it is practically a mullet. The instructor actually said to the student "this looks like a bi-level haircut; you need to blend the layers in," but the damage had been done. The angles were cut so short that it just can't look good with any length now. It is SO BAD.
I have to find a better place now to try to fix the job (and probably get a ton of hair cut off to remedy the situation) done by this terrible student with NO business cutting a woman's hair. He didn't know how to do angles. Didn't know how to layer. Really didn't know much. And it took three freaking hours for a haircut. I had to do the walk of shame home from this place, and now I really wish I had just paid the 30 dollars more to get a decent cut. Oh well - live and learn.
My manicure SUCKED. The stylist applied the polish way too thick and it took forever to dry. My nails were all banged up by the time I left. :(
But my waxing stylist was awesome! My eyebrows are thin and are kind of all over the place... Half the time, stylists wax them a little too thick and don't arch them well. Three years later, and I still think she was the best waxer who has ever touched my eyebrows.
They have some weird rules on tipping...you need the stylist's name and you can only tip in cash. (I *THINK* they take cards, but I can't remember. I just remember there being some tip dramz.)
A friend of mine used to get his hair cut there all the time. He has a weird cowlick that most hair stylists manage to accentuate, but the girl he used to go to all the time made his hair look slammin. He got it colored there quite a few times and always had gorgeous results; he even had some TERRIBLE highlights fixed there and you'd never know his hair had been so butchered up elsewhere.
Plus, like other people mentioned, their services are super cheap!
"I took my sister here for a birthday pampering. A head, shoulder, and hand massage is complimentary with every service. She got the aromatherapy scalp massage plus a haircut/style. Her hair looked fabulous! All that cost only $27. A shampoo, cut, and style is only $12. Instructors oversee the process, but it still only takes about an hour. This location also offers facials, manicures, pedicures, and spa services for a fraction of the usual cost. Obviously, they use quality Aveda products. Tea is served while you wait.
Make a reservation well in advance. They book up quickly!"
I could say 5 stars for the price of the haircuts alone, but what good is a $15 haircut if you hate it? The first time I came here I was extremely nervous after hearing all the horror stories, but I decided to go for it anyway since my hair style is relatively simple. After asking for someone skilled in my hair type/length I was given Megan, the cutest girl from Scranton. My first hair cut was great! Though it did take almost an hour (usually takes about 20 minutes), what with all the checking and double checking by her teachers. Before she graduated I ended up seeing Megan about 4 more times and each time you could tell she was getting better (and faster thank god). If you have the patience try this place out! Tell them what you want on the phone and use your gut instincts. I don't know if I'd trust a dye job or a wax job here just yet, but the haircuts are insanely painless for the price.
If you are considering becoming an Esthetician (a technician that performs facials and waxing) DO NOT STUDY AT THIS SCHOOL!
Jean Madeline was supposed to have a great reputation which is why I chose them for my training in Esthetics. The recruiter told some tall tales, i.e. "you'll be making $85,000 your second year out of school." I discovered that Jean Madeline is nothing more than a charm school for misguided teens. Classes are taught by a student who has just graduated from Jean Madeline's Esthetics school. My teacher couldn't pronounce the terms in the text book and was incapable of answering questions about skin. So I moved on to the Magnolia School in Ambler. Staffed with an Esthetics teacher who is a veteran in the business, I completed my esthetics training with Magnolia. People who are serious about learning Esthetics should take a closer look at Magnolia. It was difficult getting a refund on the tuition I had prepaid to Jean Madeline. Fast-forward. I am now a spa owner who has auditioned Esthetics grads from Jean Madeline for possible employment. In all honesty, a few of these grads are, in fact, well trained. But from my hiring experience, most of these grads are in no way primed for work in a spa.
I've gone here a few times and had so-so results. It really all depends on the person who's doing your hair. Try and request a higher level student if you can. Jean Madeline offers nail, massage, makeup, and facial services as well. I got a manicure and pedicure here and they did a really nice job. I've never had a problem with not being able to get an appointment, but weekends can get pretty hectic there.
$16 dollar haircuts, friendly service, great selection of Aveda products. Granted, you do have to sign a waiver acknowledging that students are cutting your hair, which might scare some people away, but it's worth it. There are supervisor/teachers to monitor pretty much every stage of the experience, and they must come over to "sign off" on the final product, fixing any possible mistakes. The only issue I ever had was uneven layering, and the supervisor quickly straightened that out. Pun intended.
Jean Madeline is a hair school that has the students giving the haircuts. The plus side is that it's far cheaper than your typical Philly salon. A regular men's haircut is $12. The downside is that it's really hit-or-miss if you get a good student. You can request a specific student, but with them graduating within 11 months, they're not there for very long.
