Tuesday, 4 May Fully booked out until July, with online availability now open through the end of September. Hoping for a short notice opening? Get Availability Notifications.

2021 Release Schedule

• Oct, Nov, Dec bookings available,
  7 June, 9am

As of January 1st, there was a price increase to $250. This change was announced both on the blog and on the pricing page back in October of 2020.

 
​Throughout my career, there has been considerable time spent analysing the entire process in an attempt to further refine every aspect of it. The goal here is to continue doing so until a time when this journey reaches its inevitable conclusion. For now, I wanted to put together a list of fundamental principles and practices. Each statement directly correlates to client contentment and consequently, continuing success. The list below, like everything else relating to my practice, will be revisited and amended over time.

There's been heaps of positive feedback and subsequent enquiries regarding the current playlist featured in the studio. Originally compiled in March 2020 to help soothe and support frayed emotions, it has since grown and evolved to become the full-time playlist. As with everything played in the studio, this too is publicly available online via Spotify. Shuffle it up and enjoy. Genre tags: Instrumental, Neo Classical, Melodic, Minimalist, Contemporary

A waitlist has been the most highly requested service since switching exclusively to online booking 10 years ago. The answer to this request was always "there's no waitlist", and for very well-considered reasons. That said, COVID changed things here too. The need and requests for a waitlist increased substantially. A decision was made to give it a go, despite my previous hesitations. 

Aside from the obvious concerns relating to our current health crisis, I've heard that this website overall presents in a way which gives the impression that I take this whole cutting hair business rather seriously. It has also been commented that much of what is written about is particularly critical. While many seem to inherently understand why this is, I felt it best address this topic for those, particularly new clients, who might have questions or curiosity.

Let's begin this writing exercise with a strong opening statement; a thoroughly researched and well-considered observation distilled through an abundance of first-hand experiences. Ahem. Hair salons that choose to curate and actively maintain a social media presence are pretty much all the same, regardless of their individual focus. The following post will attempt to validate that statement by asking some important questions. The purpose of which is to shine a light on a fatal flaw regarding that which I believe to be of utmost importance, a great haircut. 

I am a cutting specialist. Success in this particular endeavour has leaned heavily on a constant and consistent evolution of the tangible skill set which my career relies on. This ongoing refinement has always been paired with a focus which is readily influenced by the area, city and country I am working in. Currently, my practice is aligned with and best suited for individuals with challenging hair types (or situations) who live with their hair in a natural, low-fuss and low up-keep manner. This is a deliberate directive which offers a much needed alternative for people for whom the conventional salon industry does not readily support.

Introducing my first ever eBook, The Curly Hair Handbook. Download a FREE copy for yourself today!

What do most religions have in common - besides the basic tenets of love, kindness, tolerance and compassion? A book. A prophet. Places of worship and of course, loyal followers. While the Curly Girl Method (CGM) isn't technically a religion, it does have at its core a book, literally referred to as a bible, and a 'prophet' of sorts standing behind it. There are indeed dedicated 'churches' (CGM salons) with enthusiastic pastors ardently reinforcing the key message and a loyal congregation who have a very strong sense of faith in it all.

​There are quite a few online groups which offer help and support for people with curly hair. 'Curly Kindness Society' is one with a different approach. Their focus and support is for those who want helpful information which isn't too strict or rigid.

Do you subscribe to the notion that ammonia-free hair colour is better and or safer for you or your hair? Does the salon you frequent like to promote that their hair colour is healthy, organic or natural? This post will take a close look at the marketing hype and provide some crucial information you're likely missing. To be clear, I do not offer hair colour services of any kind. This information is to help those who get them done.

​"Oh wow, your hair is so dry and damaged. We really need to do a treatment today. It's going to make your hair so much more healthy."

No doubt you've heard this nonsense before, and likely paid for it too. Aside from the 'you need to get your ends trimmed every 6 weeks' myth, moisture treatments are another example of hairdressers (and product manufacturers) promoting and selling misinformation. Throughout my entire 30 year career I've seen time and time again salon websites and beauty blogs promoting and talking up the importance of getting treatments. As I have to regularly state in this site's blog, do not believe the hype!

​As a well established professional with a highly regarded reputation, I have an obligation to use my voice responsibly. I know people often listen to what I say and take my words or advice on board. Thus it is paramount that any readers know my intentions and how we got here. The decision to forge an independent career path meant I was not indoctrinated by the hairdressing industry or the product manufacturers. This provides a unique opportunity to see things from the outside in. It wasn't long after I started working that I discovered situations from discussions with clients which didn't seem quite right. As a result, I started to define ideals which directly challenged conventional hairdresser thinking and contradicted industry practices.

Without fail it seems, every few years we learn of another hairdresser claiming to have invented a new way to cut curly hair. This time around it's called a 'Rezo Cut' and claims to be salvation for anyone wanting volume and length. As an individual who has been working with curls for multiple decades, these supposed new methods are anything but and certainly aren't specifically necessary to achieve the things they claim to.

Transformation. This is the main theme in Shakespeare's 'The Taming of the Shrew', and the inspiration for this post. One of the greatest lessons we can learn in life is the practice of accepting that which we cannot change and in doing so, find a way to make it serve us positively. Frizzy hair is absolutely one of those things that those who are born with it, struggle to align with. This certainly isn't made easy by the abundance of media, advertisements and products all telling we need to 'fight' it and solve frizziness like some sort of pathogenic virus set on destroying our very existence. Conventional salons, even curl specific ones, often are guilty of instilling an innate fear and loathing of that which many people were genetically born with. These are the same ones who bombard your wallet and your hair with copious amounts of products and time-intensive ritual. It doesn't need to be this way.

​Quite a few times I've been asked, "When did you become a curly hair specialist?" I had to stop and think. Well, I don't think that I am. I'm a cutting specialist who focuses on challenging textures of hair. Does that make me a curl specialist? For some, I suppose so. That said, literally one of my very first haircuts back over 30 years ago was on the fine ringletted curly hair of a co-worker. For some reason, cutting those curls dry just seemed to make sense, so I did.  While absolutely inexperienced back then, I did keenly understand the challenges the texture presented as a direct result of my personal experience and frustrations. People were open to trusting me because I had curls myself and thus started the long road to proficiency that continues to this very day.

Many think a lack of photos online solely relates to being strongly against social media - something which I've been vocal about in several interviews. While that is true, it's only a minor part of the much larger topic presented here. ​Overall, this entire notion of client photos resonates to the very core of my professional philosophy and therein, continued success here in Australia. In fact, many of the post on this blog cover a wide range of topics that all contribute to the positive reputation that I have established.

"I just need a good haircut." This is something which has been stated countless times at the start of a client consultation. While this certainly is a reasonable request, it is often an emotional one too. A lot of that has to do with what appears to be a notable difference of opinion. It's fair to say that every single haircut a client had prior to sitting in my studio, their hairdresser thought that they had performed a good haircut. If you're reading this right now, chances are you probably disagreed with that assessment. This is exactly where the frustrated and at times emotional plea for a good haircut comes from.

​Often I'm asked, “You’re so booked out, why don't you train up an apprentice?" The short answer is this: quality hairdressing isn't something which can simply be taught, certainly not within a few short years. The road to proficiency is a long one, particularly for gaining real skill with anything other than similar, conventional, easily managed hair types. Generally speaking, most people (including a high percentage of people currently working in the industry) know little about what it takes to become a refined and mindful hairdresser.​

There are a lot of people searching for information about the Curly Girl Method or Deva Cutting. Unfortunately, what once started out as an empowering movement now has transformed into something which many think is an overly obsessed cult. As a result, I do not advocate for the method and have developed an aversion to much of it.