Selwyns Barbershop (formerly Ladish) sits at 276 Moray Place in central Dunedin, a barbershop with a history stretching back over 64 years. Originally known as Selwyn Graves, named after the local icon who owned and operated it, the shop was rebranded to Ladish in 2022 under new ownership before being relaunched as Selwyns, paying tribute to its original name and legacy.
Selwyns is owned by Mandy Harrington and Keith Macdonald. Mandy brings over 26 years of experience in barbering and hairdressing training, having previously run the Harrington/Vaughan Academy of Hairdressing and Barbering, before stepping back behind the chair herself at the end of 2024. The shop underwent a full refurbishment over the 2024 Christmas close-down, doubling in size from 4 chairs to 8, and the team works alongside Skillsec Dunedin on barber training programmes for the Otago region.
Operating primarily as a walk-in barbershop, Selwyns caters to all ages, from kids' haircuts to senior beard trims, and also offers short female classic cuts and undercuts. Core services include haircuts, fades, buzz cuts, beard trims and shaves, with wet shaving available by appointment only. The barbering team includes Mya, Trudy, Mandy and Carlos, each bringing their own specialties and background to the chair.
Selwyns Barbershop, at 276 Moray Place in central Dunedin, carries more than 64 years of history under its current and former names. The shop began life as Selwyn Graves, named for the local icon who owned and ran it, before being rebranded to Ladish in 2022 under new ownership. It has since been relaunched as Selwyns, a deliberate return to its roots and a tribute to the man who first built its reputation.
Selwyns is now owned by Mandy Harrington and Keith Macdonald, whose venture into the barbershop came somewhat unexpectedly. Mandy brings more than 26 years of experience in the barbering and hairdressing training sector, having run the Harrington/Vaughan Academy of Hairdressing and Barbering before selling the business and taking a brief break from the industry. At the end of 2024, she stepped back behind the chair herself, working alongside Keith to rejuvenate the shop's reputation for quality and tradition.
The barbershop has changed little over its long history, with only two major shifts: the 2022 rebrand under new ownership, and a full refurbishment during the Christmas close-down of 2024 that doubled the shop's size from 4 chairs to 8. That expansion reflects Selwyns' continued role as a fixture of the Dunedin barbering scene.
Selwyns prides itself on making everyone comfortable, from kids' haircuts through to senior beard trims, with services running from a Full Restyle and Zero/Skinfade to Buzz Cuts and Under Cuts. Beard and face shave services include a Head Shave, Full Face Shave, Line Up and Neck Shave, while wet shaving is available specifically by appointment. Short female classic cuts and undercuts are also offered, reflecting the shop's commitment to serving a broad client base.
Selwyns' barbers include Mya, who has honed her skills over four years with a particular passion for the Burst Fade; Trudy, cutting hair for around 20 years and especially skilled with clippers; owner Mandy, who moved to Dunedin in 1997 and built a 26-year career in tertiary hairdressing and barbering education before returning to the chair; and Carlos, of Cook Island Māori and Polish descent, who has been barbering on and off for six years.
Selwyns operates primarily as a walk-in barbershop, though the team is happy to arrange appointments for anyone whose schedule makes waiting difficult. The shop also works alongside Skillsec Dunedin to grow barber training programmes across the Otago region, continuing its role in shaping the next generation of local barbers.
Selwyns Barbershop is open Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 5:30pm, with the last chair at 5pm, and is closed on Saturday and Sunday. Gift vouchers are available in any value, usable towards cuts or product, and can be purchased in-store or over the phone.