Charliez Hair – 'Pony-tales' and six hair styling tips

Charlie has a self-confessed passion for styling hair. Her first experience in a salon started at an after-school job in Hamilton (when she was still wearing a ponytail). And, after 34 years of working in top salons in towns and cities throughout the North Island, she certainly has an incredible amount of experience to offer her clients.

I love working as a stylist. It really gives me the opportunity to meet lots of different people, and to help put a smile on their face for the day. Every client has different needs. They may be based on the farm, at home, in the office, or have a special occasion to prepare for. As an experienced stylist it’s my job to create the client’s vision,  and to help them achieve something that suits their lifestyle and needs.

Charlie – Charliez Hair

Six top hair tips from Charliez Hair  

After seeing an average of six clients a day over three decades Charlie has seen a multitude of heads (9,790 or thereabouts) through the door. Some requiring a ‘tidy up’ and others a more significant transformational hair do.
 
With this experience in mind here is some sage advice from Charlie when styling and caring for your hair:
 

1. Try to maintain a regular hair care regime at home – this will keep your hair healthy and shiny and reduce the need for too many products in the longer term. Make sure you have a shampoo and conditioner that suits your hair type. Comb or brush your hair when it is dry as it is weaker when it is wet. 
    
2. Don’t over colour your hair – this can really damage your hair. Work with your natural base colour to avoid really obvious regrowth until your next colour.
    
3. Use the natural fall of your hair when styling – instead of fighting against it. This helps your style last longer. 
    
4. Choose a style that compliments your lifestyle – something that you can easily manage as an everyday style when you are busy, and also something that takes minimal time to jazz up when you are going out or for a more formal occasion.
    
5. Book in with your stylist at regular intervals – rebook with your stylist within 6 to 8 weeks to maintain your cut, colour, and your hair condition. 
    
6. If you are going on a trip – pack curl cream – it’s for wet or dry use and can dry naturally. It’s a versatile product that results in great looking hair.

Charliez Whitianga hairdressing services

Charlie offers styling services for women, men, and kids. 

• Styling services – cut, colour, blow dry
• Beards – beard trims. 

Charliez Hair is open for appointments throughout the week, including late nights.   

I work with each client to achieve the look that they really want. Many clients will bring in an image and we’ll discuss what style would work for them. Often the biggest thing is to find out what clients don’t want – then this leads to the right decision making for the result they really want.

Charlie – Charliez Hair

Quick fire questions

All About New Zealand – What is on trend for hair styling?
Charlie: Hair trend styles are currently in a cross over period between straight and sculptured styles, and recently beach wave styles are increasingly popular.
 
Clients are also choosing more dramatic colour – becoming more adventurous with cherry reds, fuchsia and ice grey for blondes.
 
I am also seeing more men visiting my salon are more aware that hair is a really important part of their overall look and are also using product to maintain their hair.
 
What are your favourite go to products?
For women – curl cream is great to help with natural elasticity, it takes away fluff and results in the natural movement of your hair.
 
For men – medium shine clay which can add texture, or a more polished finish when needed.
 
Your favourite hair styling brands?
DeLorenzo and Angel en Provenance – which has a great chemical range. However, I don’t limit my clients to just using my favourite products.
 
What is the craziest style you have been asked to create for someone?
I was asked to use the Waikato colours of black, amber, and red for a man’s beard in the lead up to the Shave for Cure challenge. It looked great and was a fun way to raise attention to this special fundraising cause.
 
What advice do you have for people wanting to become a hair stylist?
I have so much to tell them! It’s a very rewarding job. Focus on the lifestyle, the recognition aspects of a job as a stylist and not just the dollars. It’s such a positive industry to be in, and really people focused.  
 
Is there a difference in working in a city or a small-town salon?
No there isn’t. There really is a fantastic upmarket service being provided for clients in a small-town salon like this. Also, fashion information is just so much more accessible and clients coming through my door are a lot more knowledgable compared to my early days in the salon.
 
If you could style anyone’s hair, who would it be?
Meg Ryan as she has funky cuts and seems like she would be open to different ideas. And David Bowie would have been an amazing person to style for.
 
What do you really love about being a stylist?
I love the diversity of families that I have got to know.  As a stylist I get to see my clients weekly or monthly, and sometimes you may even see them more than your family! Many of my clients become like a chosen family. I get the chance to do styling for balls, weddings, and every day. I did a girl’s hair for her ball, and later her wedding and then as time progressed, she then brought in her children for their cuts. That’s pretty special.
 
Are ponytails still a thing?
Yes definitely still on trend and can suit every face shape. They are so versatile and can be easily dressed up or down and require minimal styling or special techniques. A number of my clients had these as a go to style during lock downs!

More about Charlie

Charlie owned a successful salon based from home in Ohaupo for 19 years before moving to Whitianga in 2021.  She had previously worked in a high-end salon in Newmarket, Auckland for 4 years, and salons in Hamilton and Whangarei.
 
Charlie has a trade certificate in styling and certificate in colour correction and regularly invests in training throughout the year to keep up with styling trends.
 
After years of holidaying in Whitianga Charlie and husband moved to town in 2021 and have two children. She enjoys hunting and fishing and was a competitive ski racer. She has been involved in her community with numerous clubs and fundraisers over many years.
 

Contact Charliez Hair 

For any hair styling questions or to book your next hair appointment use the related link below to contact Charlie.