Capelli Hair Design

About Capelli Hair Design

Capelli Hair Design has been bringing the finest in hair styling and care to Ashburton for over two decades. Located in the heart of Ashburton's central business district, the salon sits right across the road from its original site, which it occupied for 18 years before relocating in 2013 after the neighbouring building was demolished following the Canterbury earthquakes.

At 140 square metres, the salon has a classic, timeless look with a subtle retro feel — crisp white walls, peacock blue Harlequin wallpaper and wood grain joinery — and includes nine styling bays, two consultation areas, and three black basins for delivering indulgent Kerastase spa ritual treatments. A luxury back basin area with no music speaker gives clients a genuinely quiet space to unwind during treatments.

The team works with professional brands including L'Oréal, Kérastase, GHD, Redken and Pureology, and stays up to date with current hair trends, genuinely enjoying discussing them with clients. The stylist team includes Sinead McNab, known for natural shades and balayage; Georgia Bennett, who specialises in hair extensions, blondes and colour work; third-year apprentice Isobel McMahon, working toward becoming a blonde specialist; and senior hairstylist Monique Smith, with 20 years of experience. A makeup artist is also available for special occasion or wedding hair styles.

Capelli Hair Design: Two Decades of Style in the Heart of Ashburton

For more than 20 years, Capelli Hair Design has been a fixture in Ashburton's central business district, built on a genuine passion for hair styling and a dedication to excellence. The salon's current home sits directly across the road from the original site it occupied for 18 years — a move made in 2013 after the neighbouring building was demolished following the Canterbury earthquakes, with the team choosing to relocate across the street rather than leave the area temporarily.

A Salon Built for Comfort and Craft

At 140 square metres, Capelli's space has a classic, timeless feel with a subtle retro touch — crisp white walls set against peacock blue Harlequin wallpaper and wood grain joinery. The salon runs nine styling bays and two consultation areas, along with three dedicated black basins for delivering indulgent Kerastase spa ritual treatments. For clients wanting to properly switch off, a luxury back basin area deliberately has no music speaker, allowing genuine quiet time during treatment.

The team works with professional-grade brands including L'Oréal, Kérastase, GHD, Redken and Pureology, and takes pride in staying current with hair trends, genuinely enjoying the conversation with clients about what's new. That expertise runs across the team: Sinead McNab, with over a decade of experience, has a particular love for natural shades and stunning balayage; Georgia Bennett, with five-plus years in the industry, specialises in hair extensions and colour work, especially blondes; Isobel McMahon, a third-year apprentice now active on the floor, is working toward becoming a blonde specialist; and Monique Smith, a fully qualified senior hairstylist with 20 years of experience, caters to everyone who sits in her chair.

From a Quick Trim to a Full Wedding Day

Capelli's service menu spans the everyday and the occasion-specific. Ladies' and men's cuts cover all ages, from under-fives through to adults, while the Express Hair Menu offers quick styling — a classic ponytail, sleek straightening, beachy curls or a messy bun — all completed in 30 minutes or less. Colour services range from global colour and foils through to short and long balayage, with an Express Hair Colour option available for existing blonde clients needing a gloss, blow wave or face-framing refresh between full lightening appointments.

For bigger occasions, Capelli offers tailored wedding packages, with a team of wedding specialists available to meet clients either at the salon or at their venue, plus a wedding trial to iron out the details beforehand. A makeup artist is also on hand for special occasion or wedding hair styles. Hair extension services, offered by Georgia in both nano bead and weft methods, start with a free consultation to find the best option for each client's hair. Whatever the occasion, Capelli Hair Design's consultation-first approach — recommending an accurate price and treatment plan only after meeting each client — reflects a salon built around getting the details right, not just moving people through the chair.

Signature items

• Balayage
• Kerastase Spa Ritual Treatments
• Hair Extensions
• Wedding Hair Packages
• Permanent Straightening

Menu

Colours

• Global Colour — An all-over colour service. Price does not include toner or blow wave.
• Balayage Short Hair — Balayage colouring for short hair. Price does not include toner or blow wave.
• Balayage Long Hair — Balayage colouring for long hair. Price does not include toner or blow wave.
• Foils 1/4 Head — Quarter-head foils. Price does not include toner or blow wave.
• Foils 1/2 Head — Half-head foils. Price does not include toner or blow wave.
• Foils Full Head — Full-head foils. Price does not include toner or blow wave.

Wedding

• Formal Bride — Hair styling for the bride on her wedding day.
• Formal Bridesmaid — Hair styling for bridesmaids.
• Flower Girl — Hair styling for the flower girl.
• Wedding Blow Wave — A blow wave service for wedding day styling.
• Wedding Trial — A trial run of wedding hair styling ahead of the big day.

Men'S Cuts

• Mens Cut — A haircut for men.
• High School Boy — A cut for high school-aged boys.
• School Boy 10-13yrs — A cut for boys aged 10 to 13.
• School Boy 5-9yrs — A cut for boys aged 5 to 9.
• Under 5 Years — A cut for children under 5.

Treatments

• Treatment — A treatment recommended after consultation, using Kerastase or L'Oreal products to care for scalp, hair health and shine; followed by a styling appointment.

Ladies Cuts

• Ladies Cut & Style — A full cut and style for women.
• High School Girl's Cut — A cut for high school-aged girls.
• School Girl 10-13yrs — A cut for girls aged 10 to 13.
• School Girl 5-9yrs — A cut for girls aged 5 to 9.
• Under 5 Years — A cut for children under 5.

Other Services

• Permanent Straightening — A permanent hair straightening treatment.
• Rebalance — A rebalancing service for previously treated hair.

Hair Extensions

• Nano Bead Extensions — Extension service using the nano bead method, offered by Georgia; a free consult is recommended beforehand.
• Weft Extensions — Extension service using the weft method, offered by Georgia; a free consult is recommended beforehand.
• Rebalance (Nano Beads) — Rebalancing service for already-maintained nano bead extensions.

Express Hair Menu

• Classic Pony Tail — A quick, basic hair-up taking no longer than 30 minutes.
• Sleek & Straight — A quick straightening style taking no longer than 30 minutes.
• Beachy or Glam Curls — Quick curling styling taking no longer than 30 minutes.
• The Messy Bun — A quick messy bun style taking no longer than 30 minutes.

Express Hair Colour

• Gloss & Blow Wave — Recommended for existing blonde or balayage clients 4-5 weeks after their lightening service, for face framing and a gloss with a blow wave.
• Face Framing — A quick, simple service for existing blonde clients to refresh face-framing pieces.

Blow Waves & Hair Ups

• Signature Blow Dry — A standard blow dry service.
• Complex Blow Dry — A more involved blow dry service.
• Complex Hair Up — A more elaborate hair-up style.
• School Ball Hair Up — A hair-up style suited to school ball occasions.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a consultation before booking a colour service?

Capelli prefers a stylist to complete a thorough consultation to give an accurate price and ensure your hair needs are met.

Does the salon offer hair extensions?

Yes, both nano bead and weft extension services are offered by Georgia, starting with a free consultation.

Is there a wedding hair service?

Yes, tailored wedding packages are available, with stylists able to meet at your venue or in the salon, plus a wedding trial beforehand.

What brands does the salon use?

L'Oréal, Kérastase, GHD, Redken and Pureology.

What are the salon's opening hours?

Monday 9am-2pm, Tuesday 9am-8pm, Wednesday and Friday 9am-5pm, Thursday 9am-7pm, Saturday 8am-1pm, closed Sunday.

Is a makeup artist available?

Yes, for special occasion or wedding hair styles.

How long has the salon been in Ashburton?

Over two decades, including 18 years at the original site across the road from the current location.

Tips

• {"body":"Stylists recommend meeting first to give an accurate price and treatment plan.","title":"Book a free consultation before a big colour change"}
• {"body":"There's no music speaker there, giving a genuinely calm space for Kerastase treatments.","title":"Ask about the quiet back basin area"}
• {"body":"A wedding trial is available to test your look ahead of the big day.","title":"Plan your wedding hair with a trial"}
• {"body":"The Express Hair Colour service refreshes face framing and gloss between full lightening appointments.","title":"Existing blonde clients: book express colour every 4-5 weeks"}