I am an Aveda junkie. I wanted to find a new Aveda salon for my hair services when I began working in Monterey. I found Mantra online and, well, what you get is NOT what you see online. First of all, as another reviewer said, there is no ""relaxing footbath"" (or whatever they call it on their website)... and the hand massage is only sometimes. Second, and what really chapped my hide, the ""Please, no tipping"" that is also posted to their site AND the pdf of their menu of service has gone out the window. I didn't tip on my first couple of visits as per the online instructions, but then finally noticed that there were little envelopes near the front desk that were marked with ""Thank you for your gratuity."" So, not only isn't there a no-tipping policy, but they actually solicit tips, a practice that I have never before seen at a salon! I felt like I'd been had! I eventually started tipping, but did so grudgingly, as part of the reason that I chose the place was for a $55 haircut with no hassling with factoring in extra money. This set the stage for me to want to find another salon, but what really got me to look harder for a new place was the chatter that I heard among hairstylists there, both amongst themselves and with their clients. First of all, on one of my visits, the stylists were talking about how they don't buy Aveda products for their own use because they are so expensive... this coming from the people who are getting AT LEAST $55 per cut (plus tip, don't forget!) AND who are working in a place that sells exclusively Aveda products. Weird. The worst, though, was sitting next to a stylist on two separate visits who went on and on and on and on about finding Jesus. With one of her clients, this talk even progressed to verbally insulting persons of Muslim faith because they had not found Jesus. I swear that this is not a joke. I heard it. I didn't say anything about this behavior, and I regret it, but I am at least taking my business elsewhere from now on.
Pros: nice atmosphere
Cons: no parking, young & inexperienced staff, not as advertised
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