For many of us finding a hairdresser is not soley a good haircut. We look for so much more. It offers access to psychological safety and a good listener, the opportunity to read those magazines you just wouldn’t normally buy from Hello to Vogue, a bevvy of drinks, cocktails or fancy teas and if you are lucky some snacks or a cheese board!
Covid hasn’t been kind to hairdressing salons, many have closed, merged and many hairdressers have moved around. This writer has been loyal to one location after finding the hairdresser of her dreams ten years ago, but over the years he left (sob), then others came and went but its never been the same again. So is it time for the break up? Enter Toni & Guy.
The Reception
Finding Toni & Guy Bondi Junction wasn’t as easy as I thought. It’s actually outside Westfield along a street, enter a doorway providing access to a few other not so glamorous retail options, up the stairs and arrhhh here we are!
I am greeted instantly by the receptionist, who notes my appointment, welcomes me and then I am whisked through to my chair in the main styling area. They explained they called and left a message to let me know my stylist was running 5-10 mins late. Now that’s service, if only I had checked my phone!!
The Stylist
The rain has made the offer of Twinings English breakfast tea (its 10am) feel very welcome. Filomenna warmly greets me, she has flowing brunette/gold locks and ace leather trousers which along with her Italian sass means we get along great commiserating on the hell of jet lag having both returned less than 7 days ago from Europe.
My locks haven’t been touched for 10 weeks (shock horror). I have curly hair, so humidity and rain are not my friends. Most hairdressers struggle to cut it in a way that doesn’t make me look like Marge Simpson on a good day. Filomenna plays around with my hair, investigating the layers, in a soft calming way that makes me want to purr like a cat as she gently moves around sections. We talk about cuts that have worked/haven’t and she offers some ideas that sound appealing to correct the wrongs of the past and lead to a better future. Keep the length, shorten the fringe, take some weight out but in the right way. Yes! Am feeling happy about the direction this is all going.
The Colourist
Next up is Aarron. She is wearing a fabulous flamboyant and colourful dress with an apron that speaks volumes about her creativity without any signage – ‘I am Picasso’!! I adore her instantly as our conversation ranges from the trials of finding the right rental, interior design and her passion for house plants. I am hoping that merely being in her aura will change my gardening abilities from plant murderer to carerer. We talk through different ideas, themes, basically for me it is umm… hide the grey, low maintenance and make me feel fabulous! Within minutes she is in her art studio, selecting colours. Over the next hour or so I am turned into a metallic foil conductor which I am sure could help in some way with climate change should Tesla work out a way to turn me into a battery. Aaron expertly weaves tiny fractions of hair into foils and with a whip of her brush and handle, folds, layers and seals each section.
The Dark Room
After a period of time for brewing, like a master beer, I am ready. My black soft Toni & Guy kimono glides with my movement as I settle into a soothing dark room. Head back, legs up and the next 15 minutes is bliss. I am in head massage heaven and foils are removed, warm water showers my head and conditioner applied. This almost horizontal position is better than the end of a yoga session.
The Cut
I am back in the chair with a Will & Co coffee. Aaron has checked in and all looks good! So in a handover smoother than an olympics relay Filomenna is back. The next half hour goes by in a flash. With my head mostly buried in emails and work. The hair dryer is on and it’s all going to plan. When I look up I hardly recognise myself, (not a Myer makeover Coco the Clown way) but in the best of results. My bob is snappy, the new fringe looks fresh, much more on trend and the colour is an edgy auburn with darker red flashes. It looks GREAT! Woo Hoo.
The Products
The team hook me up with my new pals: Wella’s System Professional. I have a Keratin shampoo I need to leave in and a hydrating conditioner I can rinse out after 30 seconds. Every two weeks I need to use the colour super booster. Aaron mixes my colours into the aqua blue tub which will give my locks a pick me up every two weeks.
Addiction Factor
It just goes to show that change is good, necessary and sometimes helps you know what you are missing. With specialists in cut, style and colouring I received a Top Gun style, ‘Best of the Best’ haircut and colour. The team are warm, friendly and you can feel and see the years of training and experience which has been, well… what can we say… a cut above the rest!
Toni & Guy, Level 1/183 Oxford St, Bondi Junction NSW 2022
