poco a poco — Attraction in Waitematā

I went to Masa for several years before leaving Auckland. I serendipitously found his salon walking along K'Rd one night after dinner (his old spot) and googled what poco a poco was. I was a sad soul for many years when I started taking my hairstyle seriously, moving from one expensive and overrated hairdresser to another around Auckland, because of inconsistent service or just attitude / bad time management, and I was stretching out the time between cuts to save money. Then I found one guy along High St for several months who could cut flat straight asian hair at a good price but without much innovation and he disappeared (was fired and I couldnt get his number 😭). But the I-ching says change brings good things, then I recalled poco a poco and tried it out and Masa became my holy grail hairdresser!

Masa's prices were very reasonable. He jazzed up my angled bob cut using unique subtle techniques to create volume at the back and gentle curvature, I hadn't come across even from high end hairdressers. He also puts a personal touch in his salon by designing the interiors and makes his own line of products, truly dedicated to his craft! I also recommended a colleague who got a colour and cut that she was blown away by and she got better results than even big name places that charged her...

Really good experience. I'm in NZ for 6 weeks and needed to get a quick fix. It was my first time going to Poco a Poco. Kumi cut my hair. She was thoughtful and checked that I was okay with each step. I was happy with all of her decisions and the end product.

I would add that coming from a bigger city like London, where things can be quite hectic, the approach here is much more relaxed. Our appointment started a bit late. Even then, I was glad that Kumi took the time to cut my hair, it didn't feel like she was rushing through it. The staffs here always pick up the phone call, though this occasionally meant that they had to pause the haircut to talk to customers on the phone. I didn't mind at all as it indicated good customer service. I think they might have been busier than usual, as they just returned from the Christmas/New year break.

I would come back if I am in the country a bit longer. Would recommend this place to both...

For over ten years, this has been our family's exclusive hair salon, and we genuinely couldn't be happier. The moment you walk in, the atmosphere is warm and welcoming, with every staff member ensuring you feel completely at ease. The consistent brilliance is led by Masa-san. I always consult him on both style and color, and he unfailingly offers the best suggestions. He not only listens carefully but delivers results that consistently exceed expectations. This is true for me and especially for my daughters, whose hairstyle visions he brings to life even better than they imagined. My husband is just as impressed with his regular service and the excellent results. While we've tried other Japanese salons, this one truly stands out. It's become our trusted, go-to place, and we simply wouldn't go...