Vanilla Hair Parlour is a Wellington-region hair salon specialising in colour correction and blonde transformations, with locations in Porirua and Kāpiti. Founded by master stylist Kelly over 9 years ago, the salon has grown from a single vision into two thriving locations, built around Kelly's reputation for creating the ultimate blonde and her eye for detail.
The salon's team of stylists is skilled across cuts, colour, foils, treatments and hair extensions, using premium products including Olaplex and K18. Clients are matched with the right stylist for the job at the time of booking, whether that's a full colour correction, a subtle root retouch, or a full head of foils.
Customer reviews consistently describe a welcoming, unhurried salon experience, with clients praising named stylists including Kelly, Georgia and Kelly again for listening closely to what they wanted and delivering results that matched or exceeded expectations, often after disappointing experiences elsewhere.
Vanilla Hair Parlour has built its name around one core skill: turning dull, brassy or disappointing colour into vibrant, healthy-looking hair. Founded by master stylist Kelly over 9 years ago, the salon has grown from a single vision into two locations, in Porirua and Kāpiti, both built on Kelly's reputation for creating the ultimate blonde no matter the starting point.
One of the salon's defining features is how bookings are handled. Rather than assigning whoever's available, Vanilla Hair Parlour ensures clients are matched with the stylist best suited to what they need, whether that's a full colour correction, a blonde transformation, hair extensions, or a straightforward cut and style. The team also makes a point of sending clients home knowing how to maintain their new look, rather than leaving them to figure it out alone.
The service menu covers the full spectrum of hair needs. Cuts range from a Kids Cut for under-12s at $45+ through to Long/Thick Cut, Wash & Blow Dry at $98, with a Mens Cut & Style at $55. On the colour side, a Permanent Global runs $165-$195, while a Root Retouch, recommended every 4-6 weeks, sits at $107-$123. Foils are a particular specialty, ranging from a Top Section from $152 through to a Full Head for long or thick hair at $257-$270, reflecting the salon's deep experience with highlighting and lowlighting techniques.
For added hair repair, Vanilla Hair Parlour offers the K18 hair treatment, either as a $50 add-on to a colour service or a $60 stand-alone treatment, designed to restore hair from within by reconnecting broken keratin chains after lightening services. For those wanting a fuller look, the salon uses only high-end, ethically sourced hair extensions, with a full quote provided during a personal consultation to ensure a seamless blend with natural hair.
For clients who'd rather not agonise over exactly what to book, Vanilla Hair Parlour also offers curated packages combining custom foils, the K18 treatment, a gloss or toner finish, and a blow dry and style, with the option to add a haircut on top.
Reviews of Vanilla Hair Parlour repeatedly highlight the same themes: being genuinely listened to, and leaving with exactly the result they hoped for. Skye described the team working 'magic' to transform self-bleached, damaged hair into the healthiest and most gorgeous colour it had ever been. Amba Quirk praised stylist Kelly for lightening her hair into 'the perfect shade of blonde,' calling the whole appointment relaxing and enjoyable. Lovisa Pennington, nervous about dyeing her long, thick hair for the first time, credited stylist Georgia for making her feel welcomed and delivering results that exceeded her expectations. Sarah Smarts, after a half head of foils, said all of the stylists were welcoming and always went above and beyond.
Vanilla Hair Parlour operates from two salons: Porirua, at 1/1 Spey Place, Papakōwhai, reachable on 04 260 2077, and Kāpiti, at 39 Kāpiti Road, Paraparaumu, on 04 212 9995. Bookings can be made online, and the salon accepts Afterpay for those wanting to spread the cost of a bigger colour or foils appointment.