What to Expect at Your First Visit to KOHORT
KOHORT at 234 Bridge Road, Richmond is a co-working hair studio, not a traditional salon. Seven independent stylists run their own books under one roof. You pick your stylist based on their specialty, book directly with them, and build a relationship with that person. This guide walks through exactly what that means for a first-timer: how to choose, what the consult covers, and what to expect when you walk in.
I'm Billie, the founder of KOHORT. Every week I get a variation of the same message from someone who has found us online: "I've never been to a co-working salon before, how does it actually work?" It's a fair question. The model is different from a traditional salon and if you don't understand it going in, it can feel confusing. So this is the honest, practical explainer I wish I could send everyone before their first visit.
What is a co-working hair salon?
In a traditional salon, you book the salon. The business assigns you a stylist, or you request someone by name, but the business manages the relationship, the pricing, and the schedule. Your stylist works for the salon.
At KOHORT, the structure is different. Each of the seven stylists here is independent. They run their own schedule, set their own prices, manage their own bookings, and develop their own client relationships. KOHORT provides the space at 234 Bridge Road: the chairs, the basins, the equipment, the address. The stylists bring their specialties and their clients.
What that means for you is that you are not booking a salon. You are booking a specific person. And that person, once you find the right one, is entirely yours as a client. There is no risk of being switched to a junior when the senior is full, because you are booking the individual directly. The relationship is more direct, and in my experience, that produces better results over time.
How to pick the right stylist for your first visit
This is the most important step and the one most people overthink. The easiest way to approach it: identify what you actually want done, then find the KOHORT stylist whose stated specialty matches that service.
We have a proper breakdown of this in the stylist matching guide, but the short version is:
- Blonde work, highlights, or foils: Grace, Sheridan, or Taylah.
- Brunette or bronde colour: Taylah.
- Lived-in colour or blended blonde: Sheridan.
- Glass hair or nanoplasty: Elodie.
- Keratin smoothing, vivids, or natural blonde: Grace.
- Shags, bobs, or soft layering: Zoe.
- Pixie cuts, short hair, or colour correction: Sheree.
- Short hair, editorial colour, or men's cuts: me.
If you are genuinely unsure, the Meet the Team page has each stylist's full specialty listed with links to their individual pages and booking.
How does booking actually work?
Because each stylist manages their own schedule, there is no single KOHORT booking system. You go to the stylist's page and book through their individual link. Each stylist manages their own availability, so the booking process and platform may vary slightly between them.
If you are not sure which stylist to book, start on the Meet the Team page. Read through the specialties, have a look at the individual pages, and then book with the person whose work matches what you want. This upfront step is worth taking time on. A five-minute read before booking is a lot easier than rebooting a service because the first stylist was not right for your hair goal.
First-time clients sometimes ask whether they should book a consult before a full appointment. For significant colour changes, transformations, or anything involving a correction, yes, a consult first is worth it. For a refresh of a service you have had before on healthy hair, you can often book straight into the appointment. If you are unsure, message the stylist directly before booking.
What happens at the consult
The consult is a conversation, not a form. The stylist wants to understand three things: where your hair is now, where you want it to go, and what is realistic given the gap between those two points.
Be honest about your hair history. Tell them about any box dye, previous bleach, smoothing treatments, or home toning you have done. It is not embarrassing information. It is the information that determines how the appointment runs. A colourist who knows your full history can plan properly. One who does not can run into surprises mid-appointment that change what is achievable.
A good consult at KOHORT will also give you a realistic price range, a time estimate for the appointment, and an honest picture of what is achievable in one session versus what might take two. If the answer is "this will take two visits to do properly," that is not a brush-off. It is the right answer, and a stylist who gives it to you is protecting your hair and your money.
What to bring to your appointment
A few practical things that make a first appointment run better:
- Inspiration photos. Even rough ones. They give your stylist a faster read on the aesthetic you have in mind than any description. Bring two or three, not twenty.
- Clean, dry hair unless the stylist has told you otherwise. Some services require clean hair; for others, second-day hair is fine. When in doubt, ask before you come in.
- Your hair history. Any products you use regularly, any treatments you have had, any known sensitivities.
- Realistic time. Colour services, particularly longer ones, take time. Do not book a two-hour appointment and then have a hard deadline at ninety minutes. Let the stylist know if you have a time constraint before you sit down.
What the studio looks and feels like
KOHORT is at 234 Bridge Road, Richmond. It is a shared workspace rather than a traditional salon environment, so the feel is more studio than shopfront. Each stylist has their station. The space is shared but the relationship is individual.
Clients often comment that it feels calmer than a large salon. There is no front-of-house reception managing a queue, no upselling from staff who do not know your hair, and no noise from twenty other services happening at the same volume. You are there for your stylist and they are there for you. That is the practical outcome of the co-working model in a room.
It is on Bridge Road's main strip, accessible by tram along the road and a short walk from both Richmond Station and East Richmond Station. Full details on getting here are in the Bridge Road guide.
What about payments?
KOHORT accepts cash, card, EFTPOS, and Afterpay. Because each stylist is independent, payment goes directly to them rather than to a central desk. Check with your stylist if you have a specific payment question before your appointment.
After your first appointment
A good first appointment ends with a clear picture of what you just had done, what home care will keep it looking good, and when to come back. Ask your stylist for a product recommendation if you want it, but do not feel obligated to buy anything. The most useful thing you can leave with is a maintenance plan: when your colour will need refreshing, what shampoo suits the service, and what to avoid.
If the service involved colour, ask about a take-home toner or a purple shampoo if brassiness is a concern. If it was a smoothing treatment, ask about the sulphate-free wash routine. Most stylists will walk you through this at the end of the appointment. If they do not, ask.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to book a specific stylist at KOHORT or can I just book the salon?
You book a specific stylist. KOHORT is a co-working studio where each of the seven stylists manages their own schedule independently. There is no central salon booking. Go to the Meet the Team page to find the stylist whose specialty matches your service, then book through their individual page.
How do I know which KOHORT stylist is right for me?
Match your service to the stylist's stated specialty. Brunette and bronde go to Taylah, lived-in blonde to Sheridan, glass hair and nanoplasty to Elodie, short cuts and editorial to Billie, and so on. The full breakdown is on the Meet the Team page and in the stylist matching guide.
Should I get a consultation before my first colour appointment at KOHORT?
For significant changes, corrections, or any transformation on previously coloured hair, yes. A consult means the stylist can assess your hair properly, give you a realistic price and timeline, and flag anything that might need more than one session. For simple refreshes on healthy hair, you can often book straight in.
What should I bring to my first appointment at KOHORT?
Two or three inspiration photos, clean dry hair (unless your stylist has said otherwise), and an honest summary of your hair history including any box dye, bleach, or treatments. Arrive with enough time so you are not rushing the appointment.
Where is KOHORT and how do I get there?
234 Bridge Road, Richmond VIC 3121. There is tram access along Bridge Road and the studio is a short walk from both Richmond Station and East Richmond Station. On-street parking is available along Bridge Road with timed limits. Full details are in the Bridge Road guide.
Does KOHORT take Afterpay?
Yes. KOHORT accepts cash, card, EFTPOS, and Afterpay. Payment goes directly to your stylist. Check with them directly if you have a specific payment question before your appointment.
What if I am unhappy with the result?
Talk to your stylist directly. Because each stylist at KOHORT manages their own client relationships, they are the right person to address any concerns. A good stylist will want to know if something did not land right and will work with you to fix it. This is one of the advantages of the independent model: there is no "management" layer between you and the person who did your hair.
Can I switch stylists at KOHORT if I want a different service next time?
Yes. Because each stylist is independent, you can book with any of them for any service. If your regular stylist does lived-in blonde and you want to try a glass hair treatment next time, you would book Elodie for that. It is not complicated. You are just picking the right person for the service at the time.