Best of the Gold Coast: The 10 best hairdressers for 2017

A HAIR cut can make or break your look. So getting an amazing hairdresser is key! Who is the best on the Gold Coast? We asked, and boy did you answer, with one of our most hotly contested votes for the year. SEE WHO IS CROWNED NO. 1

Kirra Longmuir, owner of Trendz Studio Bundall took out the title last year, can she do it again?

A HAIR cut can make or break your look.

So getting an amazing hairdresser is key!

Who is the best on the Gold Coast for 2017? We asked, and boy did you answer, with one of our most hotly contested votes for the year.

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE WHO IS CROWNED NO. 1

FLASHBACK: COAST’S TOP HAIRDRESSERS FOR 2016

10. Simone Schofield, Ashmore Plaza Hair Design

LOCATION: Ashmore Plaza Shopping Centre, Shop 36/146 Cotlew St, Ashmore

Incredibly, Simone has been a hairdresser for 28 years after leaving school at 14 to work at her hairdresser parents’ salon — the very same salon she owns and runs today.

But even though she’s been in the game two-thirds of her life, she’s not “old school”.

“I love going to hair expos and keeping the salon and staff up-to-date with the latest products and techniques,” Simone says.

“But I wouldn’t be the hairdresser I am if it wasn’t for the team around me. Your abilities come from those that surround you and I’ve got the best team around me.”

Simone Schofield from Ashmore Plaza Hair

9. Carly Balchin, Minogue Hair

LOCATION: 1 Kingsmore Blvd, Reedy Creek

Carly’s motivations for being a hairdresser are completely selfless: her reward comes from other people’s happiness.

“It’s exciting to be able to change someone’s whole day by giving them a fresh new look,” she says.

“I love natural looks such as balayage and enhancing someone’s natural beauty.”

Now 30, Carly has been in the hair game for half her life and says it’s “110 per cent” her forever job.

“I don’t even know what I would do if I wasn’t a hairdresser,” she says.

“I love my job, I love coming in to work every day and I love being able to make someone’s day a little bit better.”

Carly Balchin from Minogue Hair.

8. Bromwyn Corrigan, Chameleon New Age Salon

LOCATION: 3171 Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise

It’s doubtful you’ve ever been to a salon quite like Bromwyn’s. Chameleon is a holistic hairdresser, also offering services such as yoga, psychic readings, meditation, spiritual healing and tarot card readings.

Having owned salons on the Gold Coast for 12 years, she was “guided” to this mammoth 500sqm space.

“It was intuition or guidance that convinced me to open this spiritual sanctuary,” she says.

“Looking and feeling good is all integrated with spiritual wellness and I specialise in bright colours on-trend with neons and glow in the dark.

“The GC is known for fakeness and bottle blondes, we’re breaking the stereotype and expressing people’s creativity.”

Bromwyn also volunteers at the local homeless shelter helping with meals and doing free haircuts.

Bromwyn Corrigan, owner of Chameleon New Age Salon, Surfers Paradise. Picture: Jerad Williams

7. Lee Cutting, Frente Hair

LOCATION: Shop 4/39 Musgrave Ave, Chirn Park

“My favourite thing would have to be the makeovers,” Lee says definitively of his profession.

“I like the big transformations, making someone look like a different version of themselves.”

So often people will plonk themselves in Lee’s chair and say ‘Just do whatever you want,’ which Lee uses his years of experience to perform to perfection.

“It comes down to skin tone, face shape and the general length.

“I wouldn’t say its nerve-racking, it’s more excitement at having a blank canvas to work with and giving someone a new look and a fresh take on hair fashion.”

So Lee must be pretty confident in his abilities to please his customers then, right?

“Absolutely,” he says.

Cutting’s the name, cutting’s the game! Lee Cutting from Frente Hair, Chirn Park.

6. Tegan Munro, Moosh Hair

LOCATION: 3/34 Musgrave St, Coolangatta

Like many little girls, Tegan dreamt of being a hairdressing, playing with hair and learning the ropes early.

“My passion for hairdressing started when I was little because my mum is a hairdresser,” she says.

“I was always cutting the mannequin heads at my mums salon.

“My dream was always to have my own salon and I’ve been in business for one year now.”

A spot in the top 10 hairdressers on the GC is a pretty good first birthday present, but for Tegan just being in her industry is a gift.

“I love most things about hairdressing — I love the industry and that it’s forever changing and keeping us inspired with education.”

Tegan Munro, owner of Moosh Hair Studio, Coolangatta.

5. David Dibley, David Dibley Hair

LOCATION: 2 Como Cres, Southport

This is David’s second year in the top 10, but as we all know, a lot can change in a year.

“Basically since last year I opened my own salon under the new Meriton Building in Southport, which is very exciting,” he says.

“I’m specialising in sew-in weft extensions, they’re my favourite, and colour makeovers.

“I absolutely love colour, I do lots of colour packages and full makeovers.

“The makeovers bring a smiles to people’s faces, their confidence levels go up straight away.”

That’s not all that’s changed for David, though, with the addition of salon mascot, Millie, David’s 10-week-old Japanese Spitz.

“She’s so well behaved and sometimes people come in just to see her and I’m like, ‘OK then don’t worry about me’,” he laughs.

David Dibley, owner of David Dibley Hair in Southport.

David Dibley Hair’s mascot Millie the Japanese Spitz (but don’t worry, if you don’t like dogs David will pop her in her pen).

4. Renee Petersen, Neon Hair & Beauty

LOCATION: 5/17 Harvest Ct, Southport

Renee takes her hairdressing very seriously, whether it’s making clients feel good or keeping her skills and knowledge fresh.

“The thing I love the most about the hair industry is that it is always changing and being constantly challenged is something I enjoy — no day is ever the same,” she says.

“I love teaching the team at Neon Hair & Beauty and believe constant education is a must to keep up to date with the trends.

“There is no better feeling in the world than nailing a technical colour or full colour correction and seeing how happy you can make your client look and feel.”

Renee Petersen from Neon Hair and Beauty, Southport. Photo: Regi Varghese

3. Samara Palazzi, La Sorella Salon

LOCATION: 14/492 Christine Ave, Robina

This is Samara’s third year up the pointy end of the top 10 and in that time her business has grown considerably.

“The reason we have grown so much the past two years is my passion,” she says.

“Myself and my staff have educated ourselves with some of the best hairdressers in Australia and have also begun educating others to inspire that passion.

“We also look after some incredible Gold Coast social media influencers who truly love and support what we do.”

A new mum, Samara has recently gone back to hairdressing part-time for balance.

“I love being in the salon — it’s my chance to tune out, be with my client and do my craft.”

Samara Palazzi, owner of La Sorella, pictured in her Robina Salon. Picture Mike Batterham

2. Sarah Sumner, HairArt Boutique

LOCATION: Brickworks Centre, 107 Ferry Road, Southport

Since placing in last year’s top 10, Sarah has moved locations to the bigger, better, newer and more luxurious Ferry Road Brickworks.

“We changed absolutely everything — coming from London I wanted to give it a real boutique London feel,” she says.

“And considering I’m not from here I’m really honoured to have such a wonderful clientele and team. I’m really blown away.”

Being the bronzed, blonde city we are, Sarah’s specialty will be close to a lot of hearts (and heads).

“I specialise in blonde — cleaning up blondes and bringing back proper blondes,” she says.

Sarah Sumner, owner of Hair Art Boutique on Ferry Road.

1. Kirra Longmuir, Trendz Hair Studio

LOCATION: 6 Ashmore Rd, Bundall

“Wow, it’s so overwhelming!” Kirra says of her second year running as No. 1 hairdresser on the Gold Coast.

“I am so humbled and grateful for everyone’s support of myself and Trendz Studio.

“Trendz has become a culture where the staff and clients support each other immensely.

“The buzz it creates is so exciting and the love they have for the salons is genuine and real and they want to show it.”

Kirra Longmuir, owner of Trendz Studio Bundall has won best hairdresser on the Gold Coast for the second year running.

For the past year Kirra’s focus has been on constant improvement while maintaining consistency — it’s clear her mind is as focused on business as it is on hair.

“I feel like the past year I have learnt the most about management and implementing structure for my staff,” she says.

“Watching them grow with the salons is the most satisfying thing for a business owner.

“To keep up with the constant growth, I spend most weekends renovating the salons, knocking down walls while keeping them aesthetically beautiful and on-trend.”

But of course, beautiful hair is why we’re here and Kirra’s web updates showcasing unbelievable transformations — whether it’s colour, cuts, extensions or corrections — have spread far and wide.

“The bonus for us is the images of our work speaks for itself,” she says.

“But we also care about the integrity and health of our clients’ hair and they will often say their hair feels softer and healthier than when they walked in.”