The Studio

About The Studio

The Studio by Sam Su'a is a contemporary hair salon situated in the light-filled loft of a heritage building in Whanganui Central. Founded by director Sam Su'a, one of New Zealand's sought-after stylists who returned to his hometown in 2020 after nearly two decades away, the salon was created as an unpretentious creative hub where craft, community, and collaboration meet.

Designed as a calming antidote to busy schedules, the airy open-plan space pairs high-end hair services with mindful touches. Clients are treated to complimentary organic loose-leaf tea, sustainable wines, and fair-trade coffee while enjoying a tranquil sanctuary overlooking Victoria Avenue. The salon also opens its doors to host community events, tastings, seminars, and exhibitions.

Sustainability sits at the center of the salon's ethos. The Studio exclusively utilizes biodynamic, organic, and ethical styling and colour ranges from Oway and O&M, and operates as the region's only dedicated refillery for Oway hair care products.

Signature items

• K18 Bonding Treatment
• Oway Refillery Service
• Balayage & Creative Colour
• Women's Cut & Blowdry
• Multi Foils & Colour

Menu

Foils

• Foils Short — Dimensional foil highlight application for short lengths.
• Foils Medium — Dimensional foil highlight application for medium lengths.
• Foils Long — Dimensional foil highlight application for long lengths.

Colour

• Tint Short — All-over colour application for short hair.
• Tint Medium — All-over colour application for medium-length hair.
• Tint Long — All-over colour application for long hair.
• On Scalp Lightening — Full lightening service applied directly to the scalp.
• Toners — Refining colour toner to enhance shade and neutralize undertones.
• Multi (Foils & Colour) — Combined multi-dimensional foil highlights with base colour.

Treatments

• K18 / Bonding Treatment — Restorative bonding hair treatment to rebuild internal structure.
• Bespoke Treatments — Tailored hair nourishment and repair therapies.
• Smoothing — Professional hair smoothing treatment to reduce frizz.

Cut & Blowdry

• Women's Cut & Blowdry — Tailored haircut and professional blowdry finish for women.
• Men's Cut & Blowdry — Precision haircut and styling for men.
• Fringe Trim — Complimentary upkeep trim for existing fringes.

Complex Colours

• Creative Colour — Custom artistic and vivid colour placement.
• Colour Correction — Specialist technical correction for previous colour work.
• Freehand Colour — Hand-painted colour application for seamless contrast.
• Balayage — Soft, blended hand-painted sun-kissed lightening technique.
• Ombre — Graduated colour melt transitioning from darker roots to lighter ends.

Blowdry & Styling

• Short Blowdry — Professional styling and blowdry for short hair.
• Long Blowdry — Professional styling and blowdry for long hair.
• Colour Blowdry — Blowdry service following a colour treatment.
• Bridal Styling — Dedicated styling service tailored for weddings and bridal parties.
• Hair Up — Special occasion updos and event hair styling.