Looking for a hairdresser who can cut weird curly hair in Auckland NZ.
June 3, 2010 8:45 PM Subscribe
Possibly a long shot: anyone have a hairdresser good with curly hair in Auckland, NZ? I have a lot of long, fine, curly hair which desperately needs a cut and I'm sick of having it butchered.
My hair is actually kind of complicated, curly at the front, wavy at the back and straight underneath, so it needs a complicated cut to make it hang right and look normal. I have had a few great haircuts (not locally) so I know it's possible but they get it wrong at least 50% of the time, something I'd like to avoid. I don't know anyone in Akl with awesome curly hair to ask for recommendations. I've tried looking online but negative reviews tend to disappear from the few places that have them (eg finda), so I haven't seen anything I trust. So I'm hoping a mefite can help me out.
At a minimum I need a hairdresser who will look at my hair while still dry to see how it hangs, not cut layers into the bits I tell them not to cut layers into, then not straighten or blowdry it at any stage during my visit (that last one is surprisingly difficult). But what I'm really hoping for is a stylist who is interested in hair, spends time playing with it to understand the texture, knows how to cut curls, is prepared to do whatever weird stuff works for my hair rather than a standard cut they've memorised, and will listen to what I'm telling them. Oh and I hate the hairdressers who scold me for not going more often so it would be nice if they left that stuff out.
I can go pretty much anywhere in Auckland City (i.e. not North Shore, Waitakere, Manakau) but would prefer somewhere between the waterfront and Mt Albert Road. I'd prefer a really specific recommendation, i.e. a stylists name, and at this point I'm not worried about cost as long as my hair looks decent afterwards. I figure a curl specialist would be the best way to go but if you know someone who is just good with hair in general that would probably work too.
My hair is actually kind of complicated, curly at the front, wavy at the back and straight underneath, so it needs a complicated cut to make it hang right and look normal. I have had a few great haircuts (not locally) so I know it's possible but they get it wrong at least 50% of the time, something I'd like to avoid. I don't know anyone in Akl with awesome curly hair to ask for recommendations. I've tried looking online but negative reviews tend to disappear from the few places that have them (eg finda), so I haven't seen anything I trust. So I'm hoping a mefite can help me out.
At a minimum I need a hairdresser who will look at my hair while still dry to see how it hangs, not cut layers into the bits I tell them not to cut layers into, then not straighten or blowdry it at any stage during my visit (that last one is surprisingly difficult). But what I'm really hoping for is a stylist who is interested in hair, spends time playing with it to understand the texture, knows how to cut curls, is prepared to do whatever weird stuff works for my hair rather than a standard cut they've memorised, and will listen to what I'm telling them. Oh and I hate the hairdressers who scold me for not going more often so it would be nice if they left that stuff out.
I can go pretty much anywhere in Auckland City (i.e. not North Shore, Waitakere, Manakau) but would prefer somewhere between the waterfront and Mt Albert Road. I'd prefer a really specific recommendation, i.e. a stylists name, and at this point I'm not worried about cost as long as my hair looks decent afterwards. I figure a curl specialist would be the best way to go but if you know someone who is just good with hair in general that would probably work too.
Sirocco Hair and Beauty was recommended on the Naturally Curly site. Here's the salon's site.
I have very curly (slightly less problematic) hair so I'm familiar with the NC site—but my knowledge of NZ geography is less than nil so I have no idea if Sirocco will work for you. If not, you might try posting a question on the NC forums. There's lots of decent advice there, amongst all the squeeing and loling.
posted by dogrose at 6:16 AM on June 4, 2010
I have very curly (slightly less problematic) hair so I'm familiar with the NC site—but my knowledge of NZ geography is less than nil so I have no idea if Sirocco will work for you. If not, you might try posting a question on the NC forums. There's lots of decent advice there, amongst all the squeeing and loling.
posted by dogrose at 6:16 AM on June 4, 2010
Response by poster: Awesome, I'll follow up on all of these. I did google but clearly not very well, these are great leads. Thank you!
I think curly hair isn't fashionable at the moment so many hairdressers have been sucked into the must-flat-iron-while-cutting mindset which doesn't work for someone with multiple types of hair (and straightening it makes me look exactly like my sister, which is just too weird).
posted by shelleycat at 3:17 PM on June 4, 2010
I think curly hair isn't fashionable at the moment so many hairdressers have been sucked into the must-flat-iron-while-cutting mindset which doesn't work for someone with multiple types of hair (and straightening it makes me look exactly like my sister, which is just too weird).
posted by shelleycat at 3:17 PM on June 4, 2010
Best answer: You should try Gina at Rodney Wayne in the downtown shopping centre.
I too have frustrating curly-straight hair. I like how it looks when it's straightened, but I'll be honest-- I'm all thumbs when it comes to my hair and I'm just not interested in investing the amount of effort that's required to keep it under control on a daily basis. And it's not curly enough to go that route either. So typically I walked around with a frizzy mushroom-head or just kept my hair tied back.
Gina listened to my concerns, looked at my hair, and made some suggestions. She spent over 90 minutes on my cut. It's a style that I never would have chosen on my own, but it uses my hair's natural unruliness as an asset. Now, my hair just kind of naturally falls into place, and stays more-or-less acceptable even when it's windy and I'm all disheveled. As a bonus, it's easier than ever to style in the morning. I don't know if Gina has any specific training for curly/wavy hair, but she certainly nailed it for me.
posted by oceanmorning at 8:42 PM on June 4, 2010
I too have frustrating curly-straight hair. I like how it looks when it's straightened, but I'll be honest-- I'm all thumbs when it comes to my hair and I'm just not interested in investing the amount of effort that's required to keep it under control on a daily basis. And it's not curly enough to go that route either. So typically I walked around with a frizzy mushroom-head or just kept my hair tied back.
Gina listened to my concerns, looked at my hair, and made some suggestions. She spent over 90 minutes on my cut. It's a style that I never would have chosen on my own, but it uses my hair's natural unruliness as an asset. Now, my hair just kind of naturally falls into place, and stays more-or-less acceptable even when it's windy and I'm all disheveled. As a bonus, it's easier than ever to style in the morning. I don't know if Gina has any specific training for curly/wavy hair, but she certainly nailed it for me.
posted by oceanmorning at 8:42 PM on June 4, 2010
I'm in Auckland, and have an ex colleague with super super curly hair that always looks fantastic. She says Sara at Stephen Marr, in The Department Store in Takapuna is the only way to go! I have been to them before and have to say they were awesome.
posted by girlgeeknz at 4:58 PM on June 6, 2010
posted by girlgeeknz at 4:58 PM on June 6, 2010
Response by poster: I had a look at both The Department Store and Sirocco but they're both a bit far away, whereas I could get to downtown by bus. So I had my hair cut by Gina at Rodney Wayne yesterday and she did a great job. She didn't spend too much time talking to me about it before hand because she was able to see from my hair what needed to be done and also totally understood what I meant about not layering the curls so the straight bits don't stick out. Plus, you know, cut it really well.
I took some photos: before and after. I'm not sure if the before shot shows how tangled and heavy it was but it feels a lot lighter and nicer now (although there's still some frizz, my hair has been falling out from stress so not much I can do about that). The after shot is the next day after washing it because it didn't seem fair to compare the salon version, but Gina also showed me a way to style and dry it which looked really cool (and even more curly!).
So thanks for the help!
posted by shelleycat at 8:47 PM on June 12, 2010
I took some photos: before and after. I'm not sure if the before shot shows how tangled and heavy it was but it feels a lot lighter and nicer now (although there's still some frizz, my hair has been falling out from stress so not much I can do about that). The after shot is the next day after washing it because it didn't seem fair to compare the salon version, but Gina also showed me a way to style and dry it which looked really cool (and even more curly!).
So thanks for the help!
posted by shelleycat at 8:47 PM on June 12, 2010
You look great! Glad it worked out.
posted by oceanmorning at 1:58 AM on September 2, 2010
posted by oceanmorning at 1:58 AM on September 2, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
How about ringing someone in NZ who might be able to refer you? Google's first suggestion for 'nz curl specialist' is www.taboohairsalon.co.nz, who claim to indeed be curl specialists. They're in Wellington, but could you ring and ask if they know of an Auckland hairdresser who is awesome with curls? Or how about the NZ Hairdressers Association?
I feel your pain. Good luck.
posted by malibustacey9999 at 2:42 AM on June 4, 2010