“The So You Experience is about being pampered in the most luxurious way. Professional, consistent service, regardless of who you see” – Abbie
Finding a hairdresser you trust is one of the biggest first world problems there is. If you’re in any way like me, you will have a few horrible memories of times when you left a hair salon trying to stay cheerful as you hand over your cash, while crying inside about the crazy bush you feel you have on your head. Moving somewhere new can bring back these memories, as the time looms where you need to go for a chop once again but your old trusted hairdresser, that took years to find, is left behind.
Maybe I am super picky, but finding a new hairdresser that I love, usually takes me a really long time and lots of trail and error. BUT, by a huge stroke of luck, here in Wellington, I hit the bullseye with my local boutique salon, the amazing So You Hair. Being also sustainable, I believe there is a good chance that So You is the best hair salon in Wellington. I think they deserve this post, and here is why…
(Mini shout out to my hairdresser back in the UK, Tiffany (actually a Kiwi) at The Lounge Soho in London for being so great)
Why So You Hair is the best (sustainable) hair salon in Wellington…
Great Local Vibes
I have had my hair cut by Lacy at So You about 4 or 5 times now, and can well and truly vouch for her brilliance and that of the salon as a whole. When I get my hair done at So You, I genuinely feel like I am over at a friends house. Located in Thorndon, 5 mins from the CBD, the salon is modern and well equipped and all the staff are super welcoming. So You has a really un-pretentious feel to it. I find a lot of good new hair salons that can tend to be really overly trendy, which can be off putting. Its not like this at So You.
Have you ever been to a salon where its so cool and trendy and everyone has punk haircuts or super colour jobs? Those give me the fear. I want the hairdressers at the salon I go to to have haircuts that I would want. I took comfort in the fact that Lacy and the other girls had a hairstyle I would want myself and this gave me confidence before I even had my hair done.
Expat Owned but Locally Focused
@So You Hair is a boutique salon owned by fellow Brit Abbie Thornhill. Abbie works as advanced stylist in the salon and is on hand and super friendly. She qualified in 2013 back in the UK, and immediately left to continue her career in NZ where she purchased So You with her partner in 2015. Proof that talented expats are really accepted and able to succeed here in New Zealand, Abbie has assisted with Wellington Fashion Week and was part of Air New Zealand anniversary show. She is always around and super lovely. Same for all the stylists!
When I asked Abbie what the So You experience was she said “The So You Experience is about being pampered in the most luxurious way. Proffessional, consistent service, regardless of who you see.” I love that and she is totally right, so you is pampered heaven.
Lacy Rocks
I chose to visit Lacy, also an expat, but from Texas, for my first hair cut as I read that she is a dab hand with curly hair. My hair, being super thick, is sometimes challenging for hairdressers to handle, but Lacy totally knows what she is doing and has my confidence. It is also really nice having my hair cut by a fellow NZ newbie who understands the highs and lows of moving to a new place and we can follow each others journey each time I go back.
So You has 4 stylists, Abbie, Lacy, Darragh and Lisa as well as coordinator Adele, so give them a call so find out if one of them could be the hairdresser you need.
Sustainability
So You have also taken time to think about the importance of being a sustainable business. This, I love. All the products that are used and sold in salon are ethical and sustainably sourced. They recycle all their colour tubes and foil and give hair clippings and coffee grounds to local compost collectors. On top of this, the gloves they use are fully reusable, the staff car share or walk and they only use eco products and LED lightbulbs. Every little thing that can be done, they do. It is super important to me to be able to support sustainable local business that are thinking about the environment and So You allows me to do this. Love it!
Learn more about So You and their environmental efforts in Abbie’s interview with the Beautiful Environment Newsletter HERE
Chill Time
I cant forget about the refreshments! In the salon you will be offered a freshly pressed local Havana Works coffee or an organic tea while you visit. It is also possible to order food from across the road at Tinakori Bistro if you are in the salon during the evening. So You have thought about everything “so you” can be well and truly chilled to the max.
Beautiful Products
Since I have been visiting the salon, I have been loving Morrocan Oil hair products. They are a little on the pricey side but so luxurious and the conditioner has been amazing for my coarse hair. This is sold in salon along with Davines. All sustainable of course. They have also started stocking super lovely Girl Undiscovered skin care who I have been following on Instagram because of the pretty vintage branding. I tried the Girl Undiscovered Elixir Oil while in salon and its beaut. The team make great, well thought out choices about which products will be stocked and this only grows my confidence in the salon.
What else can I say… this salon is great! With friendly, good quality, sustainable and un-pretentious pampering, So You could easily be the best hair salon in Wellington. Maybe it seems silly for me to write about my hairdressers, but it honestly usually takes me such a long time for me to find a place I love, and when I do, I need to share it. So there you have it. Check them out if you are looking for a new salon. Not forgetting they also have a Blow Wave club and a $30 Styling Bar if you are looking for a quick fix.
Enjoy!
You can find all the details/price lists/booking info by clicking HERE
Check So You Hair out on Instagram:
Thanks for reading!
Comment below with your thoughts/questions, I would love to hear from you.
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If you liked this post, you might like to read more about other things I have been loving Wellington from June. Have a look at June in Wellington – Stuff I am Loving Vol 2.
Peace
Josie x