Best of the Gold Coast 2018: Top 10 hairdressers
COMPETITION for the Gold Coast’s best hairdressers was red hot. Or you could say, a ‘cut above’. Thousands of votes were cast for the 2018 Best of the Gold Coast title. Now the winner has been revealed.
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THE competition for the Gold Coast’s best hairdresser was a cut above with the best of the best vying for the 2018 Best of the Gold Coast title.
Thousands of votes were cast, now here’s who you voted in your top 10.
FLASHBACK: TOP 10 BEST HAIRDRESSERS FOR 2017
FLASHBACK: TOP 10 BEST HAIRDRESSERS FOR 2016
10. Tiahn Fairfull
Lavender Blonde, Worongary
After working from home for the past two years, Tiahn is two weeks away from opening her first Lavender Blonde salon in Musgrave Street, Kirra.
“I’ve really missed the salon culture so I’ve taken the big step of opening my own,” she says.
“It’ll be girlie and a bit quirky.”
Tiahn’s forte is creative colour, specialising in blondes and balayage.
Last year, she spent three weeks with Toni&Guy in London where she picked up prizes for her colouring skills.
9. Renee Petersen
Neon Hair and Beauty, Southport
As head colourist for the recent Unite tour of Queensland, showcasing the premium hair brand’s sulfate and paraben-free products, it’s no surprise Renee’s specialty is creating sensational colour blends and tones.
“I love experimenting with new colour trends and thinking out of the box with new techniques,” she says.
“I’m constantly educating myself so I can offer my guests something unique each visit.”
Renee says she strives to be honest with everyone who sits in her chair and spends time educating her clients so they can re-create the looks at home.
“I also genuinely care about the condition and health of my guests’ hair and I think that shows in my work.”
8. Carly Balchin
Minogue Hairdressing, Reedy Creek
Carly has been a hairdresser on the Coast for the entire 16 years of her career and has a following of loyal clients, some who’ve been coming to her for more than a decade.
“I think the best part of my job is making people feel good about themselves,” she says.
“That’s something I get to do every day.”
Carly says foiling is probably her speciality but she “loves, loves, loves” balayage.
Carly’s tips on coming trends: softer, more natural colours and fringes.
“I’ve been cutting a lot more of them lately and that’s exciting,” she says.
“They add something different to a style.”
7. Amber Rahurahu
Do Or Dye Hair Creations, Miami
Amber has been running her Miami salon for eight years and says she’s always made a point of listening to what her clients want.
“I think some hairdressers can be a bit scissor-happy or get carried away with their creativity,” she says.
“There are people out there who’re actually scared of coming to the hairdresser because they’ve had bad experiences.”
Amber says, as well as offering great service, she’s made an effort to be price conscious. “Visiting the hairdresser should be affordable,” she says.
“It’s something I’ve always kept an eye on so coming to a salon can be accessible for everyone.”
6. Tegan Munro
Moosh Hair Studio, Coolangatta
Tegan Munro has been passionate about hair from a young age.
Her mum was a hairdresser too and Tegan never thought about pursuing any other career.
She says it helps that everyone in her salon is equally passionate.
“My staff and I are obsessed with education so we’re always learning new techniques and skills,” she says.
“It’s a great atmosphere to work in.”
Tegan loves working with blonde shades and natural, seamless balyage.
“I love to create a natural look and we’re seeing the colours move higher and brighter.” Moosh Hair Studio is in the process of moving to bigger premises not too far away at Stuart Street, Tweed Heads.
5. David Dibley
David Dibley Hair, Southport
David has always had a love of long hair so it’s not surprising he specialises in creating long, lustrous locks for his clients.
David and his staff have developed their own technique with weft hair extensions.
“They’re slimmer and more comfortable and we’ve had great results with them,” he says.
David’s been hairdressing for 12 years and particularly loves working with blondes and balayage.
“On the Gold Coast, low maintenance, natural looks are the best — sunny blondes,” he says.
“I also love creating creamy blondes, putting more warmth into the colour, and working with root stretch to keep the colour low maintenance.”
4. Lee Cutting
Kiwi & Bull, Southport
This aptly-named stylist has been hairdressing for 18 years, the past 10 on the Gold Coast.
Lee says he’s dedicated to client care and has many long-term followers, including regular holiday-makers who always book an appointment with him whenever they’re on the Coast.
“I have a real passion for the creativity of hair and I always try to work with clients to find out what they want and whether it will work for them,” Lee says.
Lee enjoys makeovers and creating blondes with multiple shades.
“My philosophy is you’re only as good as your last client — that keeps me grounded and focused 100 per cent on the client that’s sitting in front of me,” he says.
3. Samara Palazzi
La Sorella, Robina
As a busy mum of two, Samara understands only too well that going to the hairdresser can be the only bit of pampering a woman might get.
“Everyone at the salon knows the importance of making our clients feel welcome and relaxed so they leave looking and feeling amazing,” she says.
“It can be the only little bit of luxury some clients treat themselves to.”
Samara says relationships are important as hairdressers are often friends and therapists too.
On the hair front, she’s known for creating low-maintenance shades of blonde and balayage so her clients need only visit once every three months instead of every four weeks.
“I’m humbled to be on the list but I couldn’t do it on my own,” she says.
“My staff are right there with me.”
2. Sarah Sumner
Hair Art Boutique, Southport
British-born Sarah loves her work. “I live and breathe hair,” she says.
“It’s all I’ve ever done and I love coming to work every day.”
She’s been working her magic on the Coast for nine years, specialising in blondes and grey hair.
“A lot of my work is in correcting blondes,” she says.
“I’m all about people embracing their own natural colour — you can still be blonde but we can work with root shadow and root stretch.”
Sarah says low maintenance is the key and she has a three-visit rule.
“You can’t correct years of colouring in one shot but give me three shots and you’ll love it. That’s my rule — it always works.”
1. Kirra Longmuir
Trendz Hair Studio, Bundall
What a dream come true! That was Kirra’s reaction when she learned she’d been voted the Gold Coast’s Best Hairdresser for the third year in a row.
“It couldn’t have been achievable without the incredible support of my team,” she says.
Despite her accumulating titles, Kirra is not one rest on her laurels.
She says the past 12 months have been her busiest yet, opening a new Trendz salon in Marina Mirage, her first barber shop Whisky Barbers in Cleveland and getting married.
“Learning from my mistakes and focusing on my salon environment is how I’ve seen vast improvements,” Kirra says.
And, by all accounts, she’s a pretty good hairdresser too.
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