About Us

A Message From Gila

Our commitment is to exceed your expectations. The Gila Rūt management team and staff are extremely proud of our two Aveda Lifestyle Salons and over 80 employees.

At the foundation of our salons stands a strong team of experts with specialized education in Haircutting, Colouring, Extension Services, Customer Care ... and even the healing ancient science of Aromatherapy.

We are all committed to helping you achieve the desired look that suits your lifestyle by offering you the highest quality salon experience and exclusive Aveda products. We look forward to a lasting relationship built on mutual respect and enhancing your total beauty.

Many guests throughout our history have asked what the name Gila Rūt means. This is my name in Hebrew. Gila means 'happiness' and Rūt means 'freedom or friendship'.

Our goal is that every guest who walks through our doors feels the happiness and freedom to express themselves in their own lives.

Yours in Service,
Gila
גילה

History

After traveling and teaching across the United States and Europe, Keri Davis-Duffy wanted to put her unique stamp on the salon industry. Along with her mother, Carol Davis, Keri opened the first (now flagship) Gila Rūt Salon in 1992, in the hip neighborhood of Hillcrest, San Diego.

From then to today’s two thriving salon locations, Gila Rut Aveda Salons were recently named ‘The #1 Salons in San Diego’ in San Diego CityBeat’s ‘Best of San Diego’ 2014 readers’ choice poll.

The goal was and remains to create an environment where the staff would flourish and the guests would receive the ‘ultimate salon experience’

The salon had established a reputation as one of the most progressive salons in the country. Along with the growth came an expansion of our 1000 sq ft loft into a 2000 sq ft Salon and retail center.
Karla Lopez-Martinez partnered with Keri and Carol to open their second location in the South Bay at Otay Ranch Town Center in Chula Vista. Gila Rut ‘Otay Ranch’ was received with immediate success.
Demand was growing in the North County/San Diego area, and Gila Rut Aveda Salons found a perfect third home in the beautiful area of Torrey Hills (Near Del Mar).

Published regularly in the salon industry’s national and international media, Gila Rut Aveda Salons have been named six times as one of the "fastest growing salons in America" by "Salon Today" Magazine.

Our proud salon group was also awarded the prestigious 'Masters of Business Award' (MBA) 2012, presented in Las Vegas during the North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA)

Gila Rut’s fashion trendsetting reputation has resulted from the design team’s ongoing national participation in Fashion Week in New York and Los Angeles and their signature hair fashion photo collections are seen regularly in print, on air, and on the runway.
2015 marks their third year as sponsors and lead hair design team for Fashion Week San Diego™. Gila Rut’s runway presentation of their most recent "Mystic Gallery" hair fashion collection will debut in fall, 2015 at the national Aveda Congress.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Torrey Hills location was merged into our other two locations and we continue to service all clients while social distancing, with increased safety & sanitation protocols.

Education

We have developed our unique training program with a singular purpose: To create an exceptional team of truly talented and passionate stylists.

The comprehensive educational program at Gila Rūt begins with our teams’ first day on the job and continues weekly throughout their employment.

Our ‘Gila Rūt Talent Stylists’ are a group of passionate individuals who have completed our advanced, in-salon training program. They are a specialized team of cut, colour, extensions specialists and skin care/make-up experts who consult with you to obtain the most effective results for your ever-changing style.
Jr. Talent Stylists are a team of designers and colourists who are licensed and currently participating in our year-long advanced training program. They are learning to cut and colour hair the Gila Rūt way. While doing so, our guests get to experience these services at a lower (special) price. Please be patient, as New Talent Services take a bit longer.
Our staff starts out in our Assistant Training Program where each individual receives one-on-one and group instruction from the Gila Rūt Educational Directors. Our educational program consists of weekly in-salon training, web based customer services and guest retention training along with required ‘out of state’ academy education.

Gila Rut Gives Back

The cliché 'giving back' is more than just words: it is our philosophy for action and holds true at both the local level and the global one.

We are proud to have supported many important causes through the larger global resource of the Aveda network such as Aveda's Earth Month activities and Cancer Awareness.

It's too easy for all of us to think our local 'small' contributions don't make a difference to the big picture. They do!

In our own community, we offer our support for many important causes including The Boys & Girls Club, St. Madeleine Sophie's Center for Adults with Developmental Disabilities, The Ronald McDonald House and many other local non-profit organizations that serve to educate and empower our youth.

We support our troops! Gila Rut Aveda Salons offers an ongoing 10% discount to all Active Military and their families. We believe they have sacrificed so much for our country… offering a little financial relief to look and feel beautiful is the least we can do!

We are constantly seeking causes that 'make a difference' for the environment and our community.

WHY ARE WE AN AVEDA LifeStyle SALON?

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL ALIGNMENT

Aveda's overall 'vision' for its role in the world is almost perfectly aligned with Gila Rut's. All of us at Gila Rut strive daily to operate with the basic guideline of "connecting beauty, environment and well-being".

We help our clients achieve their desired look and radiate from within by providing only the highest quality products. Our authenticity and our client salon experience creates a harmony of ultimate beauty and care within our environment.
We use and sell only products formulated to be ecological responsible. We believe in treating our planet with the care and respect it deserves.
True beauty springs from the combined elements of wellness and beauty. They are inextricably intertwined. We strive to inspire and educate our clients to integrate them both into their lives.
As the earth is our world platform, our community is our 'home'. The stronger and healthier our community is, the stronger and better are all our lives.

Reviews

Aww, thanks... see what our recent guests are saying about us.

Hillcrest Reviews Otay Ranch Reviews
The Gila Rut Experience Is
More Than Just
A Color Or Cut

What You Can Expect

We have developed our unique training program with a singular purpose: To create an exceptional team of truly talented and passionate stylists.

We are specialized teams of cut, colour, extensions specialists and skin care/make-up experts who consult with you to obtain the most effective results for your ever-changing style.