True trust is the relationship you share with your hair stylist. They have the power to take you from Jane Birkin to He-Man in a matter of minutes. Nothing is as humbling (trust me, I know). If you're here, chances are you're in the market for a new salon. And if you're in Sydney, you've got an abundance of options to choose from. While a great stylist can navigate their way around any hair style, if you're after a precision cut, a savant colourist or just a really great head massage we know the right person for the job. Below, our most trusted hair salons in Sydney.
1. Usfin Atelier
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If you've been burned before, head to Usfin Atelier's Instagram and flick through its Reels. The videos will give you immediate confidence in the salon's stylists ability to listen to your goals (or far-flung hair dreams) and translate that onto your head while taking into account your unique hair needs and opening a dialogue to keep you in the loop. We love a good communicator. More importantly, everyone leaves this Town Hall salon looking a million bucks. It's a fact. And if you're thinking about experimenting with a fun colour, this is the place to do so.
2. RAW Anthony Nader
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Anthony Nader has serviced the hair of Sydneysiders for 28 years. With that much experience under his belt it's little surprise that the salon owner and stylist is one of the best in the business. If you're looking for a complete refresh, this is the place to do it. Nader's roster of clientele includes Mimi Elashiry, Jarvis Aivali, Isabella Manfredi and he gives a head massage that is to die for.
3. Extra Silky
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Nina Ratsaphong's Petersham salon has a cult following among Sydney's cool kids. In the mood to cut a mullet, Hime chop or test run one of the many animal-adjacent haircuts that have sprung up in the last year (see: jellyfish cut and octopus haircut)? Extra Silky is calling your name. And that's all before we even get into what a whizz Nina is with colour...
4. Eyre by Rory Rice
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Eyre is Rory Rice's lowkey hair salon that faces the iconic Kings Cross Coca Cola sign. While it may be relaxed and without all the frills of a flashy salon, the service is as serious as a heart attack. It's editorial cuts via an accessible approach. Which makes sense as when Rice isn't tending to clients from the marble space with its sunny view of William St, he's on set for luxury brand's like Dion Lee and Burberry.
5. Valonz
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RUSSH editor-in-chief Jess Blanch has been seeing Renya Xydis for most of her life. "A good cut is a must even when your hair needs are simple like mine are," Blanch says. "When I need a lift Renya tells me to come in for a shine treatment." Xydis has been running the show at Valonz, Salon X by Renya Xydis and Renya Xydis City for over thirty years and is a respected industry veteran. You're in safe hands here.
6. A.H Salon
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The younger sister of beloved inner west hair salon Audrey + Him, A.H Salon holds just as much street cred with its local Newtown clientele. At this salon you'll find the brilliant stylists Gina Yates, Ciaran Doherty and Chad Wijayatilake in the driver's seat, which means the service is attentive, meticulous and a warm hug.
7. RUMBIE & Co.
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Helmed by Rumbie Mutsiwa from her Chippendale outpost, Rumbie & Co. is an authority on curly, textured and afro hair. Hailing from Zimbabwe, Mutsiwa moved to Australia to study psychology, but when she noticed a dearth of curly hair expertise in the market, she jumped in and made it her mission to solve. All these years later, Mutsiwa has her own hair care range, salon and training institute for hairdressers looking to brush up on their curly hair knowledge.
8. Paloma Salon
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Are your hair muses Sarah Ellen, Roberta Pecoraro, Alannah Walton or Kelsey Martinovic? You've come to the right place. Helmed by Paloma Garcia, her titular salon is a little oasis on Oxford Street doling out some of the best head massages money can buy. And if you're looking to switch up or retouch your colour, look no further.
9. Koda Cutters
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A Bondi institution. Koda Cutters is known for its precision cuts, influential roster of clientele and its owner Diane Gorgievski, who is lauded for her relaxed and intuitive approach to hair. Whether it's an editorial spin or a simple trim, our bets are on this Sydney hair salon to over-deliver on the brief.
