I had posted a review last year when I first went to Heading Out, but I mistakenly attached it to the Balwyn North store instead of GPO.

This is a really lush hairdressing salon.
The attention to detail is excellent, you're basically waited on whilst you are having your hair done, "More coffee? water?" And the massage chair is just sublime.

I personally have Giovanni as a stylist and Michelle as a colourist and couldn't rave more about them both. They listen to what I want, offer their professional opinion, and I've never been disappointed. Giovanni does my blow wave which I love, I hate it when you pay a fortune for a hair cut only to have some 15 year old step in and do the blow wave!

It is expensive, almost $300 for a cut (medium length hair), colour (bleach)and foils (more bleach!) with treatment and blow wave but I promise you my hair looks immaculate (thanks to complimentary fringe trim every couple of weeks) for well over the recommended 6 weeks. In fact, it's my re-growth that makes me return every 8 weeks (I've got dark brown hair died to very light blonde). My hair never actually 'needs' a cut when I return, that's how good it is. And in spite of all the bleaching my hair is still in really good condition, and I put that down to Michelle's colouring and maintenance advice. I've never felt obliged to buy products either, they'll mention this and that, and a couple of times I've asked what they're using cos it smells to good (I'm ruled by my nose!) but I haven't found them pushy at all.

They're just really nice people for a swanky salon. They don't turn their noses up at anyone, I could go in wearing my daggy gym clothes (which I have!) and they'll still treat me really well.

Approximate cost: $300

Melina was really lovely. The salon is clean and in spite of it being above a busy road I was thoroughly relaxed, I even started to drift off into a light sleep!
The deluxe facial was just great. I liked the way Melina asked me what I was concerned about, and she was really positive, she didn't listen and then say "WELL what you'll need is blah blah blah" she explained what she thought would be beneficial, but assured me that my skin wasn't as bad as what I thought!
The whole experience was fantastic and when I left there was no pressure to re-book, she suggested I see how my skin reacts to the facial and we can go from there which made me feel really comfortable, and for someone like me who hates feeling pressured, it means I'll return!
My skin feels really good. My hairdresser saw me immediately afterwards and even he commented on how fresh my skin looked, despite it being a bit red from the extractions and treatments. I've had many facials in the Melbourne city area over the years and Melina's was as good as the most expensive ones I've had, yet her price is very reasonable.
Just remember to enter the Hour Glass (watch shop) building- not the building next door (the Thai airways one)!

Approximate cost: $90

I wanted to treat myself to a real salon experience, having had my hair done in the last 18 months by a local woman who worked from home. I was expecting to pay for the indulgence, but it was so worth every cent! From the moment I walked in the staff were friendly and couldn't help me enough. The colourist, Natalie, consulted with me about what I wanted done, she listened, inspected my hair and then offered her opinion of what we could do. She offered me a quote on everything before we went ahead, which I thought was a wonderful service. No nasty surprises at the end! I was promptly given real coffee, a biscuit and water and seated at the colouring table which I personally think is a great idea. Instead of looking at yourself in the mirror as your colour gets done, you're seated at this huge dining room table with hundreds of magazines placed down the middle so there's no excuse to get bored. A woman seated near me was actually getting some work done, pen and paper in hand as her colour developed. The whole shampooing is an experience in itself! I felt as though the girl wasn't in a hurry at all, she massaged my hair, thoroughly rinsed, shampooed twice and then I had a treatment put in which I needed having bleached hair. She wrapped a warm towel on my head, the massage chair massaged my back as I watched the latest runway fashion show from Milan on the enormous television in front of me (sound down of course!). After this it was time for my new hair style to be cut! Giovanni listened to what I was after, then gave his suggestion, which I thought sounded really good (I wanted a bob, he thought it could be a bit severe for my face, so did a really sleek cut but a little softer than a bob) and went to work. All the while I was offered more coffee and biscuits, and my water kept getting replenished. Giovanni was friendly, but quiet (which I actually prefer in a hairdresser) and just got the job done. At the end I was so impressed with look, and it's something I can maintain at home, with or without a hairdryer which is important (I hate it when it looks shabby unless you blow wave it). I took some products home which bumped up the cost for me, but it was so long since I'd spent money on my hair I wasn't too worried. They didn't force me to take the products either, I felt as though everything was entirely up to me and they told me about this and that, then left it until the end and that's when I was asked if I wanted to take any products home. It wasn't assumed that I'd take everything. They also were very generous with the sample sized freebies. All in all, a really indulgent but wonderful experience and I'll be returning there for sure.
I had half head head of foils, and overall colour which meant I spent a lot more money correcting my hair colour than I will have to in the future. The stylist was pretty reasonable, around $80 and considering how long I was in the chair and the amazing job he did I feel that's quite standard. I also really liked the way the stylist blow dried my hair himself, I hate it at salons when you pay all this money for the cut, then they palm you off to some apprentice 15 year old to blow wave it and then see you at the end- none of that here. Their opening hours are really good too.