A Hair Mecca Near Bondi Beach
Nestled under the chic QT Hotel just a stone's throw from the heart of bustling Bondi Beach is KODA Cutters, a veritable hair mecca for Sydney's social set and in-the-know hair lovers alike.
Walk a block back from the throngs of sunseekers around Bondi Pavilion, and you will discover the salon, a sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of the busy beachside suburb.
Since opening four years ago, KODA Cutters has quickly cemented itself as a go-to destination for those seeking highly customised and personalised treatments and colour.
Founder Diane Gorgievski and Celebrity Clients
The salon was founded by Diane Gorgievski, a veteran of the international fashion week circuit, lauded editorial stylist, and 2019 AFHA Session Stylist of the year. She also tends to the tresses of Rose Byrne and Elizabeth Debicki.
Given that we are hosting an event with Armani this evening, I'm thrilled that Diane makes a space in her schedule to zhoosh my hair. She expertly whips around my head with a hot tong, then carefully finger styles it at the end, finishing with mistings of Oribe hairspray. I love that this salon has all the trimmings of a luxury high-end salon without any of the attitude. The team genuinely love to look after their clients and you can feel this as soon as you enter.
The salon tends to the tresses of many other well-known faces. WHO profile alumnae Hayley Bonham, Kate Fowler, Lucy Folk, and Saskia Havekes all cite KODA Cutters as their go-to for all things hair. (Visit their website to watch an edgy film of Jesinta Franklin modelling an array of achingly cool hair looks.)
Designer Interiors and Philippe Starck Mirrors
Enter the salon and you're immediately greeted by an elegant reception desk of blue-grey cut onyx, overhung with architectural pendant lighting from Lee Broom. There are a series of asymmetrical windows cut artfully into the wall, displaying the salon's products of choice. A stunning light installation (the Big O Suspension from Moooi) illuminates the next room.
The space is adorned with custom mirrors by designer Philippe Starck, chic Italian chairs, and European oak flooring. The predominant palette is of creams and neutrals punctuated by bold accents of black. It's a serene and intimate space, perfect for whiling away a few hours getting pampered.
Freestyle Colour and Premium Haircare
They're renowned for their personalised and relaxed approach to hairdressing, including their masterful use of freestyle colour for a natural yet perfected finish (and as Saskia Havekes attests, 'Diane at KODA Cutters in Bondi does the best blow-dry, she really knows hair, and is a wonderful cutter and colourist'). They also stock a well-selected edit of high-end haircare from Oribe, Redken, and Olaplex, to name a few.
All in all, it's a chic salon with a fiercely loyal set of customers. Book in for a treatment, and you may well expect to become one, too.
Review by Sigourney Cantelo
