Aveda Institute Los Angeles, a school specializing in cosmetology, is set to open in Westwood in July.
The Aveda Institute, which will open at 10935 Weyburn Ave., will educate students in hair cutting, color and texture services, business development, retail knowledge, wellness, makeup, and nail technology, according to the Aveda Web site.
Patrick Thompson, the owner of a hair salon and other Aveda Academies, is preparing for the institute’s opening, said Katie Goodman, Thompson’s assistant.
Thompson always chooses to open his schools in college towns, Goodman said.
“We always open in college towns because we feel that some students who have been to a four-year university and find that it doesn’t suit them may want to consider cosmetology school,” she said.
But Goodman said potential student recruits are not the only reason to open up an Aveda school in Westwood.
“Our school is not only affordable for services, but it’s less intimidating for our (Aveda) students to work on their peers,” she said. “Sometimes working on clients of the same age is better for our students who are learning cutting-edge styles.”
Jez Coxon, owner of Fusion Hair in Los Angeles, said Aveda is a reputable, fairly popular name brand, and it was especially popular in the 1980s.
Coxon said he would be willing to hire someone with an Aveda cosmetology education.
Along with a reputable name and convenient location in Westwood, the Aveda Institute of Los Angeles will also offer affordable hairstyling to UCLA students, adding to its appeal, Goodman said.
“Our Aveda students will be able to offer UCLA students hairstyling at reduced prices,” she said.
Jesse Schmidt, a second-year English student, said he was not sure if he would go to the Aveda Institute in Westwood to get his haircut, because he has some concern that cosmetology students, who may not be as well trained in hair cutting, would be responsible for styling his hair.
Christine Seidel, a second-year communication studies student, said she typically gets her hair cut at home, but if she needed a stylist in Westwood, she would consider the Aveda Institute before other salons if it offered cheaper haircuts.
But in Thompson’s experience, a college-town location for his schools is a good decision, Goodman said.
Thompson has two other Aveda schools, both in college towns, she said.
One is in Columbus, Ohio, near Ohio State University and one is in Chapel Hill, N.C., near the University of North Carolina, she said.
Prospective students of the Aveda Institute of Los Angeles will study a program similar to that in Thompson’s other two schools. Goodman said 90 percent of the focus is on hair, but students also learn makeup, nail, skin care and waxing techniques.
Aveda puts its own spin on the 1,600-hour curriculum required of cosmetology students in California, Goodman said.
“While they’re here, or while they’re in school, they won’t only learn the California curriculum for cosmetology,” she said. “They’ll also be learning the Aveda Advanced curriculum, as well.”