Glow's hair salons guides.
Two cities live, with Brisbane in editorial review. We test colourists on the longevity of their work — not just the day-one shot.
Best hair salon in Melbourne
Six Melbourne salons ranked on cut craft, colour craft, and how the team handles long hair. Edwards and Co Fitzroy took top.
Best balayage salon in Sydney
Six colourist-led salons tested on tone accuracy, lift quality and how well the colour aged at week six. Includes when to switch colourists.
How to choose a hair salon.
How should I choose a colourist?
Look at their week-six work, not their salon-day work. Anyone can produce a good photo on day one. Strong colourists post grown-out colour intentionally — that's where craft shows. Ask for client photos at the six-week mark.
What should I expect to pay?
Senior balayage at a Sydney or Melbourne A-list salon is $380-650, including blowdry. Anything below $300 is a junior, anything above $700 is a brand premium. Most colourists won't go above the senior rate even if they could — it caps how many clients they can book a day.
How do I avoid a bad cut?
Bring three photos of cuts you like, on faces shaped like yours. Talk through the cut for the first ten minutes, before they touch your hair. If a stylist starts cutting before that conversation, leave.
Is hair gloss worth it?
Yes — between balayage appointments, every six weeks. Adds tone, fixes brassiness, costs $80-140. The single highest-ROI hair spend after the colour itself.
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