True Grit is a multi-award-winning hair salon on Manchester Street in Christchurch's central city, widely regarded as one of New Zealand's leading salons. From its purpose-built space — entrance off Welles Street — a team of creative, professional stylists delivers exceptional styling, colouring, straightening and hair beauty treatments, working alongside each client to craft looks that suit their personality and style.
The salon's credentials run deep: HITO 'Training Salon of the Year' two years running, Kitomba Business Awards for 'Excellence in Marketing', 'Best Salon Design' and the 'Grand Salon Award', plus apprentices and New Generation Stylists winning industry honours of their own. The team is recognised as Kérastase Ambassadors (Kérastase Care Coaches) and Evo Evologists artists, and works with MoroccanOil Professional Colour, Kérastase, Evo, Olaplex, ColorWow and Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics.
Services include Curly Cuts using the Curly Cut Method, Hair & Scalp Rituals, hair ups and dedicated wedding packages, with complimentary, flexible consultations. Every visit comes with a complimentary head massage, fresh C4 espresso, beautiful wines, specialty teas and sweet treats. True Grit is also part of the Sustainable Salons network and partners with Flow Yoga and Total Body Concept, supporting a holistic approach to looking and feeling good.
On Manchester Street in the heart of Christchurch's central city, True Grit has earned a place among New Zealand's leading hair salons. From a purpose-built salon space — the entrance is off Welles Street — this multi-award-winning team works at the forefront of hair innovation, trends and styling, pairing serious technical craft with a warm, generous welcome. The salon's motto, 'True innovation, true passion, true hair', captures the approach: creativity in the chair, backed by industry-leading expertise and a mission of complete client satisfaction.
True Grit's awards tell part of the story. The salon has been named HITO's 'Training Salon of the Year' two years in a row, recognition of a culture that develops young talent rather than waiting for it, and its apprentices and New Generation Stylists have collected honours of their own along the way. Kitomba Business Awards for 'Excellence in Marketing', 'Best Salon Design' and the 'Grand Salon Award' sit on the shelf alongside them.
The senior team carries its own credentials. True Grit's stylists are recognised within the industry as Kérastase Ambassadors (Kérastase Care Coaches) and Evo Evologists artists, so the products and techniques used in your chair are backed by serious professional training.
The service list is broad and deeply personal. Expect exceptional styling, colouring, straightening and hair beauty treatments, with the team working alongside each client to select and re-invent looks that suit their personality and style. Colour work draws on professional lines such as MoroccanOil Professional Colour and Evo Hueverse, while a carefully chosen product stable — Kérastase, MoroccanOil Home Haircare, Evo Haircare, Evo Fabuloso, Evo Fab Pro, Olaplex, ColorWow and Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics — keeps hair healthy long after you leave.
Curly Cuts are one of the salon's newer specialities. Built on the Curly Cut Method, they give naturally curly and wavy hair a cut designed for the way it actually behaves. Hair & Scalp Rituals add a treatment layer to any visit, and the team also creates hair ups for events and offers dedicated wedding packages for the big day. Not sure where to start? Consultations are complimentary, flexible and genuinely encouraged before a major change.
A visit here is designed as a proper treat. Every service comes with a complimentary head massage, and the drinks list runs well beyond the usual flat white: fresh C4 espresso, beautiful wines, specialty teas and sweet treats accompany what the salon calls the hottest hair services in town. There is also a 100% satisfaction guarantee — the team encourages you to speak up if you're unsure about anything, rather than leaving you to quietly live with a cut you don't love.
True Grit is part of the Sustainable Salons network, working to divert waste from landfill; a small $3 Green Fee on every bill covers the collection and processing of salon waste. The salon also champions a holistic view of looking and feeling good through alliances with two Christchurch, women-led businesses: Flow Yoga, with its Earth and Fire studios, and skin and laser clinic Total Body Concept. Clients can access discounts and giveaways at both, extending a salon visit into a wider self-care routine.
True Grit is closed on Mondays and Sundays. Tuesday runs 9am to 8pm, Wednesday 9am to 5pm, Thursday 10am to 8pm, Friday 9am to 5pm and Saturday 9am to 3pm. Bookings can be made online or by phone, and appointments are confirmed by text two working days ahead. A 50% deposit secures online bookings, cut-and-finish appointments and colour work, and 48 hours' notice is needed to reschedule or cancel without forfeiting it. New clients should arrive five minutes early to complete the New Client Form.
Payments are taken by MasterCard, Visa, EFTPOS and Afterpay, with Paywave available for a 1.9% fee. Parking is easy — there's on-street parking plus a Wilson's car park next door — and home haircare can be bought in the salon or online, with free NZ shipping over $100. Whether you're after a bold colour reinvention, your first proper curly cut or simply an hour of espresso-fuelled pampering, True Grit delivers it with equal parts skill and warmth.