Barber Wānaka or a salon cut? Where to get a men's haircut

Updated November 2026. Service prices are from our live price list and are confirmed at your consultation.

Type "barber Wānaka" into Google and you get barbershops and salons mixed together, us included. So to be straight up front: UKIYO is a hair salon. We cut men's hair, including skin fades, but there's no beard trim or shave on our menu, and we're not set up as a barbershop.

Both are good options. They're just built for different things, and it helps to know which one you're after before you book.

What's the difference between a barber and a salon in Wānaka?

A barbershop is built around clippers. Short back and sides, fades, beard work and shaves, done quickly and often without much notice. If you like your hair the same every two or three weeks, that rhythm suits a barber well.

A salon cut starts with a consultation: how you wear it, how fast it grows, where it sticks up, what you put in it in the morning. Then it's scissors and clippers as needed, and a styled finish. It takes longer, it's booked in advance, and colour and curl work are under the same roof.

Price-wise, a salon cut usually costs more than a quick clipper cut, because you're paying for the time. Whether that's worth it depends on your hair. A number-two all over doesn't need 45 minutes. A textured crop that has to sit right on day five might.

What's included in a men's haircut at UKIYO?

A men's cut & style is 45 minutes: consultation, cut and a styled finish. We do skin fades, from a soft taper to a 0-skin, classic short back and sides, and longer crops. Bring a reference photo if you have one.

A men's restyle is an hour. That's for a real change of shape or length, or growing out into something new, with extra consultation time to plan it.

If your hair is curly, book a curl cut with Jack instead. It's cut to how the curl sits dry, which a standard cut isn't. More on that on our curly hair page.

Men's, kids' and teens' haircut prices

Prices are "from" and confirmed at your consultation.

The rest of the menu is on our cut and style page and the price list.

Who should book a barber, and who should book a salon cut?

A barbershop is probably the better call if you want a beard trim or shave, you want a clipper cut every couple of weeks, or you'd rather drop in than book.

Book a salon cut if you're growing your hair out, want a textured or longer crop that sits right without much effort, have curly or wavy hair, or want to understand how to style it yourself. It's also handy if the kids need a cut at the same visit.

Products come in two ways, depending on budget. Sebastian is where most of our men's styling sits: Matte Putty ($49.24) for a soft, matte hold, Craft Clay ($43.08) for flexible texture, and Texture Maker ($49.24) spray for fine hair that falls flat. The SEB MAN Multitasker 3-in-1 ($50.12) does hair, beard and body.

If your hair's getting thinner or weaker, Kérastase Genesis Homme is the step up: Bain de Masse Épaississant ($57.12), a thickening shampoo, and Cire d'Épaisseur Texturisante ($57.12) to style.

What it costs, how long it takes and how to book

• Men's cut & style: from $85, 45 minutes, every 4 to 6 weeks.
• Men's restyle: from $110, 1 hour.
• Kids and teens: from $55, 30 to 45 minutes.

Albert Town, Luggate and Lake Hāwea are all under 20 minutes away, and Cromwell is about 50 minutes down SH6. Booking ahead is the reliable way to get a time that suits.

Book online at apps.kitomba.com/bookings/ukiyosalon or call 03 443 1040. More on how we cut men's hair is on our men's haircuts in Wānaka page.

Aftercare: what we'd send you home with

The men's products we'd usually suggest, Sebastian first and Kérastase Genesis Homme for thinning hair.

• Sebastian Professional Matte Putty Soft Touch Styling Paste, $49.24
• Sebastian Professional Craft Clay Texturizing & Flexible Styling Clay, $43.08
• Sebastian Professional Texture Maker Matte Finish Texture Spray, $49.24
• Sebastian Professional SEBMAN Multitasker 3-in-1 Hair, Beard & Body Shampoo, $50.12
• Sebastian Professional SEBMAN Groom Hair & Beard Oil, $43.08
• Kérastase Genesis Homme Bain de Masse Epaississant 250ml, $57.12
• Kérastase Genesis Homme Cire d'Epaisseur Texturisante 75ml, $57.12

Why book and buy with UKIYO

We're working stylists at 28 Helwick Street, Wānaka, and the haircare we sell is genuine salon stock bought direct from the brands' New Zealand distributors. UKIYO is Wella New Zealand's No.1 Sebastian Professional retailer. Free NZ shipping on orders over $75, or pick up in salon. Book online any time, or call 03 443 1040.

Frequently asked questions

Is UKIYO a barbershop?

No, we're a hair salon at 28 Helwick Street. We do men's cuts, restyles and skin fades, but there's no beard trim or shave on our menu. If that's what you're after, a barbershop is the better fit, and we'd say so if you rang us.

Do you do skin fades?

Yes, from a soft taper to a 0-skin, as part of a men's cut & style from $85. Tell us what you want when you book, or bring a reference photo. A fade grows out quickly, so most people rebook every 4 to 6 weeks.

How much is a men's haircut in Wānaka?

At UKIYO, a men's cut & style is from $85 and takes about 45 minutes. A restyle, for a real change of shape, is from $110 and takes an hour. Boys' cuts start at $55. Prices are confirmed at your consultation.

Can I walk in for a haircut?

Booking ahead is the reliable way to get a time, online at any hour. If you're passing and want to try your luck, call 03 443 1040 and we'll tell you straight away whether anyone's free.

How often should men get a haircut?

For short cuts and fades, every 4 to 6 weeks keeps the shape. Longer styles can stretch further. If you're growing it out, book a cut along the way anyway, so it grows into a shape rather than just getting longer.

Do you cut kids' hair?

Yes. Children 0 to 5 and boys 5 to 11 are from $55, boys 12 to 16 from $65, girls 5 to 11 from $70 and girls 12 to 16 from $85. Appointments are 30 to 45 minutes, so you can book kids alongside your own cut.

I've got curly hair. Should I book a normal men's cut?

Book a curl cut with Jack instead. He cuts curls to how they sit when dry, often cutting the hair dry. It's from $160 for a first curl cut (1 hr 15 min) and from $140 after that, every 10 to 12 weeks.

Keep reading

• Curly haircut in Wānaka: what a curl cut with a specialist involves
• How Often Should You Cut Your Hair? A Stylist's Honest Answer
• How to Care for Curly Hair: Routine, Curl Cream and Products (NZ)
• Men's Haircuts in Wānaka — UKIYO Salon