Carlton Hair Corp is an established family hairdressing salon situated on Bealey Avenue in Christchurch Central. Led by owner and principal stylist Randall Turner, who brings nearly 50 years of industry craft to the floor, the salon offers cutting, colouring, and styling services tailored for clients from infancy through to their late nineties. Emphasising individual consultations over generic trends, the team crafts looks suited specifically to each person's hair type, facial structure, and everyday routine.
Operating for over three decades at this address, Carlton Hair Corp holds a notable piece of local hairdressing history as home to New Zealand's first dedicated children's hair salon, originally established in 1987. The purpose-built kids' space provides a gentle and supportive environment for first trims and nervous haircuts, including specialised care for children with special needs. In addition to full salon services, the premises feature two private tanning rooms equipped with sunbeds for quick 15-minute sessions.
Appointments operate on a traditional model focused on direct communication, managing all bookings strictly over the phone rather than through digital forms. Late evening appointments on Tuesdays and Thursdays accommodate working schedules, and walk-ins are accepted for clients prepared to wait. Redken haircare products are used and retailed on-site.
For more than thirty years, Carlton Hair Corp has occupied a welcoming spot on Bealey Avenue, serving as a trusted styling hub for multiple generations of Christchurch residents. At the helm is owner and lead stylist Randall Turner, an industry stalwart whose career spans nearly fifty years. Over five decades, Turner’s styling portfolio has stretched far beyond the salon floor, encompassing editorial fashion shoots, pageants, dance competitions, theatre productions, and weddings. That depth of background translates into a salon floor philosophy rooted in genuine individuality rather than chasing fast-moving, one-size-fits-all trends.
Clients stepping inside find an airy, open layout with a distinct boutique feel. Whether working with long-time regulars or someone visiting for the first time, consultations are an integral part of every haircut. Turner assesses the natural fall, density, and texture of the hair alongside the individual’s facial contours and day-to-day maintenance habits, ensuring every cut and colour works effortlessly outside the salon setting.
One of the salon's defining features dates back to 1987, when Turner launched New Zealand's first dedicated children's hairdressing space. Maintained today inside the Bealey Avenue salon, this section was built specifically to remove the intimidation and sensory overload often associated with traditional salons. Designed to be calm, patient, and welcoming, it accommodates children of any age—from infants having their first trim at six weeks old to older kids, with a particular focus on providing a secure, patient experience for neurodivergent children and those with special needs.
Because the salon caters to the entire household, family appointments are standard practice. Multi-generational visits are common, with grandparents, parents, and grandchildren frequently booked across the week.
On the technical side, Carlton Hair Corp covers full styling requirements. Colour services range from comprehensive tonal transformations and multi-dimensional highlights to fast root retouching. For clients seeking curl definition or structural body, the modern perm offerings create soft beach waves or tighter spiral curls tailored to hair condition. Formal occasions are also well catered for, with custom event do-ups and evening styles prepared for school proms and bridal parties.
All backbar washing and styling utilizes Redken, the salon's chosen professional brand, which is also stocked on retail shelves for continued home maintenance. Beyond hair, the salon features two private sunbed rooms equipped with Luxura units, allowing clients to combine a quick 15-minute tanning session with their haircut or blow-dry.
Carlton Hair Corp intentionally eschews digital booking systems and online booking forms in favour of direct, personal service. All scheduling is managed by phone, allowing clients to discuss what they want directly with the stylist beforehand. To support busy weekday routines, late-night hours run until 8:00 pm on both Tuesday and Thursday, giving Christchurch locals ample flexibility for after-work care.