If you’ve ever postponed a hair appointment because you “just don’t have time”, this one’s for you.
Tucked into West End’s creative backstreets is Rokstar Salon — a Brisbane hair salon designed specifically for people who don’t want to put their workday on pause just to get their hair done. Think less traditional salon, more co-working space with exceptional hair.
The concept is simple but genuinely game-changing: a salon set up so you can work while your hair is being cut, coloured or styled. Bench-style desks replace cramped side tables, power points and USB ports are built directly into the stations, the Wi-Fi is fast and reliable, and there’s enough space to comfortably open a laptop without feeling like you’re about to knock over a coffee, a foil tray, or both. Add refreshments, a calm-but-buzzy atmosphere, and a team that understands you might be on deadline — and suddenly, getting your hair done no longer feels like a luxury you need to schedule weeks around.
“I wanted to create a salon like no other — a place that redefined what life as a hairdresser could look like,” Rokstar founder and Creative Director Brodie Lee Tsiknaris says. “My goal was to build a brand known for elite, world-class hairdressing while completely flipping traditional industry methods on their head.
“Over time, that’s evolved into creating a better way of life for my team — introducing things like a four-day work week, closing Saturdays, and designing a space that’s as much about wellbeing as it is about beauty, streamlining our client experience with a work from rokstar option, the salon fitted out with practical benches and USB charges and power points to fit todays busy way of life.”
Rokstar was designed with modern life in mind — particularly for people whose days are stacked with meetings, emails and to-do lists that don’t magically disappear just because there’s a balayage involved. It’s for freelancers, creatives, business owners, editors, founders, remote workers — anyone who needs to be productive but still wants great hair.
Naturally, I decided to put the concept to the test.
I booked in with every intention of working, but secretly assumed it would be one of those “in theory” situations. You know the kind — good idea, impractical execution. Instead, I found myself genuinely productive. Laptop open, story filing for Embrace, emails sent, notes edited, all while my hair was being coloured and styled. No balancing my computer on my knees. No awkward stretching to find a power point. No apologising for typing. It felt… oddly efficient.
The salon hums without being hectic — more focused energy than frenetic chatter — and the setup makes it easy to slip into work mode without feeling antisocial. The team is intuitive about when to chat and when to let you concentrate, which is arguably the most underrated luxury of all.
What makes Rokstar different isn’t just the physical setup — it’s the understanding that time is the most valuable thing clients have. This isn’t about rushing appointments or compromising on quality; it’s about removing the friction that makes people put self-care last. You’re not choosing between work and your hair. You’re doing both.
By the time I closed my laptop, my story was filed, my inbox was under control, and my hair was done — properly done. Not “I’ll fix it later” done. And I walked out feeling like I’d somehow gained time rather than spent it.
In a city where great hair salons are plentiful, Rokstar stands out for thinking differently about how we actually live and work now. For anyone who’s time-poor but refuses to compromise on their hair — or their deadlines — this might just be Brisbane’s smartest salon.
Rokstar Salon, Shop 2/57 Vulture Street, West End
In her spare time, she likes long walks down the makeup aisle and performing in Brisbane theatre. You can follow her adventures on Instagram and TikTok @thebeautypalate.
