Serendipity Hair At Lilydale

Best blonde color in Melbourne. Jo really takes the time to understand what you're after and she manages a perfect shiny natural looking ash blonde every time. Great products (that aren't pushed on you to purschase). A little local gem out East.

Approximate cost: $140

I went here to get my ears pierced for a second time. I've had my ears pierced for years but wanted a second hole. The friendly hairdresser told me she could fit me in after her current client and to wait 15 minutes. I came back and she took me straight into the little room behind the desk. After fumbling around looking for the gun and the correct attachments for what seemed like ages, the young lady finally found the right parts. I started getting nervous after she started mishmashing different parts to fit on the gun. Then she gave me a really ordinary bunch of mismatched studs to choose from. I was hoping for some simple silver studs, but could only get the really obvious red or brownish ones. I went for the least garish and she grabbed a thick red texta and marked my ears. She quickly showed me where she intended to put the holes. They looked really close to my other holes, but I figured she knew what she was doing. Then one, two, three, and presto...a hole in both lobes. My ears hurt for a little while, but not as much as when I got home and test my red studs with my usual earrings. As I'd suspected, the holes were way too close and I couldn't fit even my smallest studs next to the new ones. Freaking out, because I had holes in my ears that weren't right, I began the torturous task of ripping the fresh studs from my ears to try and heal the holes up as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, as they were brand new, they were sticking to the flesh in my lobes and I ended up dry wretching over the sink. I finally got the guts to pull them both up and within a few days my ears were healed without obvious holes. It wasn't an experience I wish to repeat and needless to say I'm sticking with one hole for each ear. I won't be going through that again.

Approximate cost: $18+