Koda Cutters, a Bondi salon stalwart just one road back from the beach, faced a problem many salons would actively want – it simply ran out of room, after two years in their previous Gould St space. Needing more chairs, a designated colour space and a new look but a similar location, Koda Cutters shifted over to The Pacific, Bondi’s new hub. Nestled behind shops, restaurants and the QT hotel, meet Koda Cutters 2.0.
With more staff, more chairs and an entirely new aesthetic, Koda Cutters’ move has been prolific, and their re-opening already a standout in terms of both service and design. Their interiors were lauded with a feature on Vogue Living (the publication called it “one of Bondi’s coolest salons” with “interiors nicer than your home”) and they were the salon behind Jestina Franklin’s headline-making platinum bob late last year. For salon owner Diane Gorgievski, the salon is the realisation of decades in the industry, with incomparable experience and vision that has led to her creating her uninhibited, dream space.
“We’ve really been able to consider everything, because the venue we decided to go with had nothing in it before,” Diane explained. “So I think I put up all my dreams, being in the industry 21 years, I wanted colour to be in a space where nothing can be stained and I wanted lots of natural light in the colour room because you really want to see tones and what is true to colour. I wanted the styling to have a sense of luxe but a homely feeling, so it has beautiful wooden floorboards and every drawer that we’ve put into our joinery has a purpose.”
The space is anchored around a bold marble reception desk, a hero interior piece surrounded by an influx of light that captures the eye the moment you enter the salon. Diane describes the dramatic piece as a “beautiful statement” and “the heart of the flow of the salon” that is one of the many reasons its staff are so proud to work there. Beyond that, the salon is defined by full-size windows and mirrors, giving it a sense of openness and space. Paramount to the salon structure is the separation between styling and colour, with each room given its own unique treatment in adjacent areas.
“Colour is something that takes a long time and needs to be in a comfortable environment, and it needs to be in an environment where hairdressers can feel free to makes a mess,” Diane said of the space. “Styling and finishing is very clean and a lot about having space and time to really look at structural haircuts, so it’s two totally different vibes.”
The team has a specialised following in blondes, foilyage, lived-in colour and pops of colour, from peach tones to reds. They’re also well-known in terms of cut and style. Their popular Koda blow dry, a face framing style with straight ends that every salon member is trained to excel in, is something the salon is particularly renowned for. With these specialties, lighting was paramount, in order to achieve perfect colour and then style it accordingly.
“The lighting was a really big thing for me, because a lot of the time you have these beautiful colours coming down into styling and you can’t see them, so we’ve had lighting be a massive feature in the salon,” Diane said.
The team offers luxury, high-end hair, without the exorbitant price tag, supported by brands such as Oribe, R+Co, System Professional, David Mallet and Balmain at the basin and on the retail shelf. The salon refuses to price themselves out of the market but still feels as if they are elevating the Bondi hair scene as a whole with premier products and services. “We’re not just doing that high end client, we’re doing everyone, we’re giving that high end hairdressing back to everybody,” Diane said.
The clientele really does fall into that “everybody” category, bringing over every Bondi local that has been a Koda regular for years, and mixing in travellers and tourists who now leave Australia with a stellar impression of Sydney hairdressing, services and products.
With Diane’s dream space in an iconic location, it’s no wonder Koda couldn’t reopen with a whimper, but with a bang. Between celebrity stylings, media attention and an aesthetic that makes you stop and walk inside if you pass it on Bondi’s famous streets, look out for the very new iteration of Koda Cutters. We promise, you can’t miss it.
For more information visit kodacutters.com
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