Elvi The Salon — Edge Hill
hair salon · 5.0★ across 65 reviews
Elvi The Salon brings 16 years of industry expertise to Edge Hill, having evolved from Hair By Darna-Lee in early 2021. Strong on colour specialist, kids, bridal.
Cairns · Queensland
Best Hairdressers in Cairns (2026)
Cairns is the highest-humidity hair market in Australia, and the local stylists know it cold. Every senior Cairns stylist has a tested keratin-treatment protocol, a preferred smoothing product line, and an opinion about which colour formulas hold under year-round 70%+ humidity. The Esplanade and Shields Street/Lake Street precinct host the established CBD studios. Edge Hill and Cairns North lean boutique. Smithfield, Trinity Beach, Palm Cove and the northern beaches run more resort-luxury — strong destination-wedding bridal work, premium balayage on coloured hair. The tourist economy means most CBD operators speak some Japanese, Mandarin and Korean; multilingual front-of-house is unusually common. Pricing: $70-110 women's cut, $30-50 barber. Wet-season bookings (Dec-Apr) tighten up — bridal work dominates and tourist demand spikes. Dry-season walk-in availability is solid.
Hair Salon
Elvi The Salon
Edge Hill, QLD 4870
5.0(65)
Closed todayElvi The Salon brings 16 years of industry expertise to Edge Hill, having evolved from Hair By Darna-Lee in early 2021…
Colour SpecialistKids
Unisex
ManCove
Palm Cove, QLD 4879
5.0(53)
Open todayManCove brings professional barbering to the relaxed beachside setting of Palm Cove, where skilled barber Patrice has created something special in this tropical…
BarberMens Cuts
Hair Salon
Effigy Hair
Westcourt, QLD 4870
5.0(52)
Open todayEffigy Hair brings 25 years of award-winning expertise to Westcourt, where Master Stylist and Salon Director Yvette Thompson has built Cairns' leading premium h…
Curly HairColour Specialist
Hair Salon
Savvy Hair & Make-Up
Parramatta Park, QLD 4870
5.0(48)
Open todaySavvy Hair & Make-Up brings over two decades of expertise to Parramatta Park, establishing itself as one of Cairns' most respected salons through a commitment t…
Colour Specialist
Hair Salon
Salon Therapy
Manunda, QLD 4870
5.0(40)
Open todaySalon Therapy brings a refreshingly warm and welcoming approach to hair care in Manunda…
Curly HairColour Specialist
Hair Salon
ICONIQ
Westcourt, QLD 4870
5.0(25)
Open todayICONIQ in Westcourt brings over two decades of hairdressing expertise to Cairns, with founder Norman leading a passionate team dedicated to sculptural precision…
Colour Specialist
Barber
Globalcutz Barbershop Cairns
Manunda, QLD 4870
5.0(24)
Open todayGlobalcutz Barbershop brings serious cutting skills to Cairns' Raintrees Shopping Centre…
BarberKidsWalk-ins welcome
Hair Salon
CK Hair & Makeup
Edge Hill, QLD 4870
5.0(19)
CK Hair & Makeup brings personalised hair and makeup artistry to Edge Hill and surrounding Cairns areas, with stylist Chelsey offering both in-salon and mobile …
Colour SpecialistBridal Hair
Hair Salon
BASK Salon
Manunda, QLD 4870
5.0(18)
Open todayBASK Salon in Manunda redefines the traditional salon experience as a curated community where independent hairdressers and their clients connect…
BalayageColour Specialist
Unisex
Berry Lane Hair Pty Ltd
Manunda, QLD 4870
4.9(394)
Open todayBerry Lane Hair has been Cairns' go-to destination for personalised hair care since 2012, where their philosophy of "beautiful hair meets self-care" transforms …
BalayageColour Specialist
Hair Salon
Beachfront Hair
Palm Cove, QLD 4879
4.9(168)
Open todayBeachfront Hair brings professional hair care to the heart of Palm Cove's tropical paradise…
Unisex
Razorbacks Mens Cuts
Westcourt, QLD 4870
4.9(120)
Open todayRazorbacks Mens Cuts brings a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere to Westcourt's haircutting scene…
BarberKids
Hair Salon
Blondelicious
Palm Cove, QLD 4879
4.9(98)
Open todayBlondelicious brings a touch of tropical luxury to Palm Cove's hair scene, operating as a dedicated blonde specialist and extension expert…
ExtensionsMens Cuts
Hair Salon
Chiko's Hair
Smithfield, QLD 4878
4.9(33)
Open todayChiko's Hair brings personalised hairdressing expertise to Smithfield, where skilled craftsmanship meets genuine care…
Colour SpecialistKidsWalk-ins welcome
Hair Salon
Total Hair Studio-Blonde Colour Specialist
Manunda, QLD 4870
4.9(29)
Open todayTotal Hair Studio brings premium hairdressing expertise to suburban Manunda, with a particular passion for creating stunning blonde transformations…
BalayageColour Specialist
Hair Salon
Hair Boutique (Formerly Pulse Hair)
Edge Hill, QLD 4870
4.8(300)
Open todayHair Boutique brings together the best of two worlds in Edge Hill, having recently merged with the beloved Pulse Hair team to create an even stronger creative f…
BalayageColour Specialist
Notes from the field
Who we’d send a friend to in Cairns
Picks from the top of Cairns’s 20-strong list of hand-verified hair professionals on findme.hair. Listings are ranked by Google rating and review depth, never paid placement.
ManCove — Palm Cove
unisex salon · 5.0★ across 53 reviews
ManCove brings professional barbering to the relaxed beachside setting of Palm Cove, where skilled barber Patrice has created something special in this tropical Queensland location. Strong on barber, mens, mobile.
Effigy Hair — Westcourt
hair salon · 5.0★ across 52 reviews
Effigy Hair brings 25 years of award-winning expertise to Westcourt, where Master Stylist and Salon Director Yvette Thompson has built Cairns' leading premium hair studio since 1999. Strong on curly hair, colour specialist, mens.
Reds Hair & Co. — Edge Hill
hair salon · 5.0★ across 51 reviews
Reds Hair & Co. brings over 25 years of bespoke hairdressing expertise to Edge Hill, continuing the legacy established by founders Lee and Heather Cohen since 1995. This professional Cairns salon has carved out a reputat… Strong on colour specialist, kids, mobile.
Savvy Hair & Make-Up — Parramatta Park
hair salon · 5.0★ across 48 reviews
Savvy Hair & Make-Up brings over two decades of expertise to Parramatta Park, establishing itself as one of Cairns' most respected salons through a commitment to exceptional service and creativity. Strong on colour specialist.
How to find the best hairdresser in Cairns
Finding the right hairdresser in Cairnsstarts with knowing what you need. Whether you’re after a precision cut, balayage, keratin treatment, or a classic barber fade, Cairns has specialists in every category.
What to look for
- Google reviews — check recent reviews, not just the overall rating
- Specialisation — curly hair, colour correction, and extensions all require specialist skills
- Online booking — salons with online booking tend to be better organised
- Location — factor in parking, public transport, and opening hours
- Consultations — the best salons offer free consultations before major changes
Tools of the trade
One way to judge a salon’s quality is by looking at their tools. The best hairdressers in Cairns use professional-grade hairdressing scissors made from Japanese steel, and keep them professionally sharpened. Sharp, high-quality scissors reduce split ends and give cleaner, more precise results.
Cairns by the numbers
We currently list 20 top-rated salons and barbers across Cairns. 15 hair salons and 2 barber shops made our curated list based on verified reviews, consistency, and local reputation.
Popular suburbs for hair services
The most popular suburbs for hair salons in Cairns include Cairns, Cairns North, Edge Hill, Parramatta Park, Manunda. Each suburb has its own character — from boutique studios to high-volume salons.
Browse Cairns suburbs
Looking for a barber instead?
Our best barbers in Cairns guide covers traditional barbershops, fade specialists, and beard work in the same area.