The best of
Wellington. Ranked.

Nearly two centuries of combined experience on the floor at this CBD favourite. No attitude, no upsell pressure — just technically sharp cuts and colour in a relaxed, convivial room locals keep coming back to.

Thirty-five-plus years mastering hair has made Buoy one of the most awarded salons in the country. Full spa-salon experience if you want to turn a cut into an afternoon, not just an appointment.

Started by David himself back in 1971, this Wadestown institution is now a genuine neighbourhood icon. Old-school loyalty, easy street parking, and a team that's clearly been doing this a very long time.

A Barbercraft NZ Master Section Shave winner running the tightest hot-towel shave and skin-fade game in the CBD. Book the shave if you've never had a proper one — it's the whole reason to come.

Master Barber Wayne Newman runs this Leftbank spot like Wellington's living room — sofas, coffee table, zero rush. Fades and cuts that hold, in the most laid-back waiting area on Cuba Street.

B-Corp certified and recycling every clipping toward coastal oil-spill cleanup — a barbershop that treats sustainability as seriously as the fade. Skin treatments and scalp work push it past a standard cut-and-go.

The Courtenay Barbers offshoot that kept the good chat and the sharp fades but moved into Cuba Street's chaos. Come for the haircut, stay because the shop itself is a proper piece of Cuba Street character.

Tucked into buzzy Courtenay Place, this is the pre-night-out trim of choice for half of Te Aro. Consistent fades, no-fuss booking, open right through the weekend when most barbers have shut up shop.

A New York loft-style salon above Johnston and Featherston that doubles as an industry training centre — which shows in the finish. Approachable stylists in a genuinely striking space, not just another CBD chair.

Cuba Street's go-to for vivid colour and blonding done properly — not a quick box-dye job. If you want a fantasy colour that actually holds its tone, this is the boutique to book, well ahead of time.

The Eastern suburbs' reliable local, pulling clients from Miramar, Hataitai, Lyall Bay and Newtown alike. No CBD parking hassle, no pretension — just a solid cut from a team that knows its regulars by name.

Over 40 years making hair magic in the Eastern suburbs speaks for itself. An experienced, creative team that's outlasted plenty of flashier CBD salons by simply getting the cut right every time.

Owner Tina Fox trained at an advanced US haircolour event — a rare credential for a Karori suburban salon. Twenty-five years in and still competitively priced for the quality of colour work on offer.

From perms to balayage, this Karori stalwart keeps its stylists upskilling rather than resting on the suburb's loyal foot traffic. A genuine local option if you're west of the CBD and done with city parking.

Danny and the team on Taranaki Street keep it simple: a friendly chair, a fair price, and a cut that comes out exactly as asked. No frills, no upsell — just a proper neighbourhood barbershop done right.