If your pockets are empty but you want to look like a million bucks, Aveda Institute at 400 Central Ave. S.E. (378-7434) is the place to go.
The Institute, where customers are the guinea pigs for Aveda students, offers discount rates for services ranging from permanents to massages. Haircuts are $9, permanents are $20 to $42 depending on the length of the hair, full hair coloring is $16 to $34 and foils are $20 to $42. The Institute also offers manicures, pedicures, finger waves, wraps, deep conditioning, facials, waxing, massages and scalp treatments, among other treatments.
However, don’t expect to get an appointment the same day as your big date with the stud in your Spanish 1101 class.
Service coordinator Molly Langdon said because of the Institute’s affordability, appointments get booked up to three weeks ahead, especially for chemical services. You could get lucky and get a haircut appointment for tomorrow or the next day, but the rule seems to be, the more painful the procedure, the longer you might have to wait to get in.

— Jennifer Niemela