Shear Class crowned Fraser Coast Best Hairdressers for 2024

A salon operated by a hairdresser who grew up in the Bay and has been styling locals for decades has been voted the best. Here’s why.

Angie McFie, owner of Shear Class, has owned and operated hair salons in Hervey Bay for over 30 years.

The Fraser Coast has a new top hairdresser after a poll last week decided the best of 63 salons in the region.

Shear Class Hair Design has been in Hervey Bay has been a popular business for 25 years and now it can add Fraser Coast’s Best Hairdresser for 2024 to its award cabinet.

Owner Angie McFie grew up in the area and did her apprenticeship in the Bay.

“I was born here and did my apprenticeship here, so I’ve been doing this for 42 years,” Ms McFie said.

“I started my business in 1991 on Murphy St and I bought this place seven years later.”

Ms McFie ran two salons for 24 years, before centralising her business to one location in Torquay around two and a half years ago.

Graphic Line Hair Design, which was situated in Point Vernon for over 30 years, merged with Shear Class to create a better atmosphere for her team instead of alternating who worked where.

Shear Class are especially busy around the holiday season as residents get ready for their own festivities.

“The growth has been huge,” Ms McFie said on moving into one location.

“We’re all together working as a team instead of being split over two locations.

“It’s a really fun team and the best group I’ve ever worked with.”

Having a business in the one location has allowed Ms McFie to focus on the client, with her workdays starting at 6am and ending around 7pm.

“Hair is secondary to the trust you have to build,” she said.

“For a lot of my clients, I see them more than I see my family.

“What I love about the industry is that you get instant results for your client.”

The seemingly endless appointments and great staff hasn’t made 30 years of salon ownership completely easy.

The salon is supplied with a wide range of L'Oreal Professional products

“Finding staff in the last 10 years has been difficult”, she said.

“People stop training people.

“Once you get someone and they’re no good, you can’t get rid of them.

“Every trade is running out of people coming through.

“We’re only just meeting our demand.”

Mobile and at-home services, a relatively new trend in the hairdressing world, have been tough to compete with as well.

“Those people (who run mobile/at-home services) would have once gone for jobs in a salon.”

Even with setbacks and challenges, Angie and her team still enjoy walking into work every day.

“You see people come in at their worst and send them out at their best,” she said.

“We just try to make our clients look and feel better.”

Shear Class Hair Design is located at 3/13 Bideford St, Torquay.

The crew at Shear Class would like to thank all her clients and supporters for helping them win the title.

You can find Shear Class Hair Design at 3/13 Bideford St, Torquay.

The Top 5 Salons for Best Hairdresser on the Fraser Coast:

1st. Shear Class Hair Design – 9%

2nd. Burrum Heads Hair Lounge – 8%

3rd. Supreme Hair Artistry – 6%

Equal 4th on 5%: Hair and Beauty by Tayah and Hip Happenin Hair

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