Free Hair Treatment at Aveda Institute

Our poor hair! Between blowdrying, flattening and curling irons, it gets quite the workout, especially during the holidays. That’s why I recently went to the Aveda Institute, to get my tresses in tip top shape before party season.

Aveda Institute Calgary

The Aveda Institute is training ground for students learning how to become hair stylists. They need folks to practice on, and offer super low rates in return. Fret not, before any service they discuss their plan with you and their instructor, who pops by repeatedly throughout your session to ensure all is going well.

Aveda treatment options

Since I’m the queen of frizz, I went with the botanical hair and scalp therapy treatment. There’s either a protein or moisture option, and cuz I highlight and flat iron my hair, protein was best for me. Aveda uses a quinoa protein that’s the closest thing to the natural keratine protein found in your hair. Using quiona apparently makes it impossible to over proteinize, but animal proteins can easily be overdosed, resulting in your hair looking like crap again.

Aveda hair school

The treatment begins with a heavenly essential oil scalp massage before a shampoo. Then a solution is sprayed on before the mask, which is left to set for 15 minutes. Then it’s a final shampoo before getting a natural texture blow dry.

You can’t get a full-on blow out with this treatment, as they need to use low heat so the hair cuticles don’t reopen. (If they did reopen, you’d lose all those precious proteins.) I received a twist diffuser blow dry, producing that just tumbled out of bed look with lovely corkscrew curls.

Where to get a cheap hair cut in Calgary

I was thrilled with the results. My hair looks healthier and it’s definitely not as frizzy. Being a beauty school, however, there are a few glitches, like a blast of cold water during the shampoo, thanks to the buildings ancient pluming. And being students, they’re pretty cautious, so expect services to take a wee bit longer than what you’re used to.

But the quality and pricing make it worth the while it in my books. I mean, where else in the city can you get a shampoo and blow out for $14 or a hair cut from $18? If you’re not keen to go with a student, you can choose an Educator or Academy Student who has already graduated, and just talking some advanced courses – a masters degree in hair, if you will.

Want to try it for yourself? Aveda is offering one lucky Travels with Baggage reader a free service of their choice. Simply comment below with your best hair tip or favourite Aveda product to enter. I’ll randomly draw a name next weekend and will announce the winner next Monday. Comments must be received by 6 p.m. Sunday, December 8.

So tell me, what’s your best hair tip or favourite Aveda product?