ZEN IS A WAY OF being...
Zen Hair is not your average salon. Our guests and the local community are at the heart of everything we do. We offer an environment different to anything you’ve experienced before. Come and relax in one of Dunedin’s most beautiful, historic terrace houses.
Founded by Liana and Haley, Zen was born out of a shared passion for creating a safe haven where individuality is celebrated and all are welcomed with open arms. We are proud to be a judgement free space. At Zen we offer a unparalleled atmosphere, inviting clients to unwind in a truly unique environment. Embracing the beauty of individuality, we encourage our guests to explore and express what makes them unique.
Zen is home to NZ Top Preforming Stylist of the Year 2023, NZ Colour Concept of the Year 2022 and a Redken Educator. Our team of award winning stylists aim to continue evolving through education and competitions. We provide services tailored specifically for you so we can make your hair dreams come true!
Thank you for choosing us, we excited to meet you!
MEET THE TEAM
MEET LIANA | Co Director
Tell us a bit about you as a stylist
I have been in the industry for 11 years and I love the creative side of hairdressing and education. Currently I am a Redken Educator for New Zealand!
My biggest passion is colouring, followed closely by styling and bespoke haircuts.
I have won NZ Hairdresser of The Year, Apprentice of the Year and NZ Colour Concept to name a few accolades. Training our team and education excites me so much. Being a hairstylist is my greatest passion and that is something my clients can feel.
Favourite thing about your career?
Oooh do I only get to pick one?! This is a multifaceted question because I wear many hats and the variety of my career keeps things exciting for me. From educator, to salon co-director, working with clients and competing in competitions. I believe I am living the dream!
Your hobbies outside the salon?
I really value spending time with my friends and my husband. Either exploring NZ, boogying to live music or going for dinners. I would consider my friends my favourite hobby!
Best vacation you've been on and why?
My most recent USA trip which was the Redken Symposium in Nashville where I got to be inspired by International Artists and New York with my cousins! Nashville is called Nashvegas for a very good reason, and New York absolutely took me by surprise and stole my heart. You NEED to add NYC to your travel bucket list!
Something no one knows about you?
My parents were honestly going to call me Pebbles, like off the Flintstones!
Worst style choice?
Oh there have been plenty but one definitely comes to mind. I remember one mufti day at school when I was about 13 I planned this outfit which consisted of a tutu over my jeans, a belt with a big bow that matched a big bow in my hair, plastic colourful beaded necklaces and a purple mullet. There is photo evidence of this too!
Career Accolades
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NZ Industry Awards Colour Concept Winner 2022
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Redken Educator
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Otago Hairdresser of The Year 2019
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Wella Trend Vision Finalist 2018
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Hair Expo Finalist 2017
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HITO Apprentice of The Year 2016
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World Skills NZ Winner 2016
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NZ Next Gen Hairdresser of The Year 2015, 2016
Other Career Highlights
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Worked backstage with Redken at NZ Fashion Week and NZ Vodafone Music Awards
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Presented on stage in Australia at Hair Expo
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Assisted at Redken Tribe in Melbourne and The Collective in Auckland
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Redken Balayage Expert Certification
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Worked with Redken as an Artist facilitating education
MEET HALEY | Co Director
Tell us a bit about you as a stylist
I have been in the industry for over 26 years, I still love what I do and am learning everyday. I believe the client hairdresser relationship is a deeply personal and trust based relationship. I feel truly privileged to be able to this every day.
I am a very open and honest person and I wear my heart on my sleeve, I love having honest and sometimes even hard conversations with my people, I am not the quietest person in the room and I love a good laugh.
In salon I enjoy colouring the most, it so diverse and there is so much we can achieve with colour now, it’s come a long way from the days of cap highlights.
Favourite thing about your career?
There is a couple of favourites firstly it’s the people, I am lucky enough to have an amazing clientele of interesting, kind, funny and wise humans who I get to hang out with all day. We have created such an incredible community here at Zen filled with the most gorgeous people that is something to be proud of and excited about.
Secondly it would have to be watching our team grow into confident and knowledgeable stylists. Knowing that we have helped them become successful is incredibly rewarding!
Your hobbies outside the salon?
I love going to the gym. I go 5-6 times a week with my husband and it so good for my physical and mental health. I love pushing myself and seeing what I am capable of!
I also enjoy yin yoga, it’s such a beautiful stretch and is a nice time to reflect and be as still and quiet as I can be.
I walk everyday, my fur baby Dudley needs as much exercise as he can get so every morning I listen to a podcast and take him for a walk, I love love this time of the day it’s quiet and the sun is rising sometimes we stop and just take it all in.
I love spending time with my son since he has left home - I miss him a lot. So time with him is super precious and when we are together I focus 100% on him.
Best vacation you've been on and why?
My first holiday with my husband. We had only been together for 10 months and covid was still very a around so we hired a camper, packed our dog Pyper in there and travelled up the West Coast.
Our first night was a test in our relationship and how well we work together in stressful situations after the only camper key got snapped in a lock in the middle of nowhere with no cellphone reception. Then there was my terrible map reading skills which haven’t got any better but we have learnt to manage that now.
The West Coast is such an incredible part of our country, we were lucky enough to take a helicopter over the glaciers and land on a snow top mountain to be able to share this with my husband was magical.
But we are off on a very belated honeymoon in October to Mexico so ask me again then!
Something no one knows about you?
I did ballet for most of my childhood. Anyone who knows me is usually pretty shocked by this as I have heavy feet, clients know when I am coming up the stairs due to my very distinct thumping. I am also very spatially unaware and accident prone so dainty ballerina - I am not.
Worst style choice
There have been a few my I was a teenager in the 90s so that is when I probably made most of my faux pas. Petty coats over jeans, hair gel and enough glitter to be seen from space.
MEET ASHLEIGH | Emerging Stylist
Tell us a bit about you as a stylist
I’m Ashleigh! My parents call me Ash, so you can too!
I’ve been in the industry close to 4 years now, and I’m in my third year of my apprenticeship running amuck at Zen. I’ve been a creative person for many years, starting at art school in 2018 but like a lot of others finding study wasn’t for me! After a couple years I found Zen and I’ve never looked back, hairdressing is my passion. You can trust me with anything but I especially love anything bright and vibrant, do you want to look inspired by a beautiful peacock or a colourful rainbow? I’ve got you covered. BUT, if you like a more luxurious blonde or rich dark brown, I’m also your girl. Colour is my passion.
I also really love to compete in competitions, I made finals in March 2023 Hair and Barber NZ Long Hair Instagram competition and placed top 100 in the 2023 One Shot Hair Awards for Next Generation Stylist.
Favourite thing about your career?
There’s so many things to choose from, but at the top of the list would have to be being creative with hair and making people feel their best. I get really excited when someone wants to try something outside the box! There’s nothing quite like making a vision come to life and having clients leaving obsessed.
Your hobbies outside of the salon?
Honestly I really like my down time when I can just chill out and relax, but when I'm in the right mood I really love to cook. Living in a small student flat doesn’t provide exactly the right space but leave it to me to make it work, nothing beats a home cooked meal.
Best vacation you've been on and why?
In April 2024 I was gone for the whole month in Scotland! It was never a place I thought I would go nor would it have been a first choice, but I can say with full confidence after spending time there I would go a million times over! That place is covered in castles and history filled, I met so much family and learnt so much about my heritage. Definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity! My nana wasn’t very well, Scotland is where she was born and she wanted to make one last trip back over before she couldn’t travel anymore. Long story short she needed a companion and that was to be me, it was the most amazing trip and spending that time with my Nana was so, so special. Better yet she is doing great as ever now and I hope to be able to go on more trips with her in the future
Something no one knows about you?
I’m actually deathly scared of chickens. Shhh, don’t tell anyone!
Worst style choice?
Oh it would definitely have to be back in school, it was like if jay jays and hunting and fishing had a baby!
OUR SPACE
