– Artist Ahead of their Time
Founded in 1983 within the heart of Austin, Texas, Avant SalonSpa flourished alongside the vibrant growth of the city for nearly four decades. From its humble beginnings as a single salon, we expanded our footprint to encompass five Salon and Spa locations in Austin and San Antonio, and even ventured into the world of photography with our studio.
Throughout our remarkable journey, Avant SalonSpa garnered a wealth of accolades and acclaim. We graced the pages of esteemed publications such as Harpers Bazaar, Elle, American Salon, Modern Salon Magazine, and Salon Today. Our list of achievements includes:
- The Austin Chronicle bestowed upon Avant the prestigious “Best Of” award an impressive 16 times.
- Salon Today magazine honored AVANT as one of the top 100 salons in North America on nine occasions.
- Austin Fashion Week recognized Avant as the “Best Salon.”
- Roy Fredericks, a trailblazer in his own right, earned recognition from Austin Fashion Week as an “Austin Fashion Trailblazer.”
Our esteemed clientele reads like a who’s who of the entertainment and political world, with notable figures such as Nastassja Kinski, Jon Voight, Don Henley, David Byrne, Kelly Willis, Lucinda Williams, Rosie Flores, Shawn Colvin, Charlie and Will Sexton, Ann Richards, Max Frost, Brad Womack, Paul Qui, David Cross, Fran Lebowitz, Bob Balaban, Martin O’Malley, Sonia Sotomayor, and Terri Gruca, among many others. Avant’s educators also graced the stage at prestigious educational events across the USA, including American Excellence, Serious Business, Midwest Beauty Show, and Aveda Congress.
AVANT has left an indelible mark on Austin’s fashion legacy. As aptly put by the Austin Chronicle: “Y’all adore Avant. It’s simply irresistible. Owner Roy Fredericks is a bona fide trailblazer in Austin’s beauty scene, boasting decades of successful salons. Avant’s exceptionally talented stylists undergo a rigorous training process, guaranteeing that an Avant haircut is unmistakable. With an ever-expanding presence in Central Texas, Fredericks and Avant will forever be remembered as the bedrock upon which our current fashion scene was built.”
In 2021, as Avant successfully weathered the challenges posed by the pandemic, and with my 67th birthday on the horizon, marking five decades as a stylist and 37 years as Avant Salon’s owner, I found myself contemplating a new 10-year lease. After careful consideration, I made the decision to redirect my energies toward PureCoach, aligning with the post-COVID trends. I took a leap and resigned from Avant to transform the vision of PureCoach from a mere concept into a force for positive change. So, here’s to the future, and may luck favor this new endeavor!