The art of organised creativity

The buzz of Buoy

It’s a quiet Sunday in Wellington but inside Buoy Salon & Spa, the space is alive with purpose. The styling floor has been cleared and reimagined as a full editorial set. Bright studio lights flood the room, cameras are positioned, and the air hums with the soft rush of blow dryers and quick conversations. Top stylists finesse the final details as a model waits patiently.

Sustainably sourced wigs sit prepped and ready, blank canvases for the Buoy team to transform. Colours were perfected that morning, each one carefully tuned to push contemporary style boundaries. The energy is focused but electric, the kind of creative atmosphere that only comes from a team working at the edge of their craft.

Two decades of vision

For owner Sam, this energy is the heartbeat of Buoy. As the salon celebrates 38 years, she reflects on the journey from ambitious start-up to industry powerhouse.

“From the beginning, Buoy was created to be a place where people felt supported to do their best work”

– Sam

“Whether you’re chasing editorial recognition or building client relationships, your path is valued.”

That duality, artistry and everyday craft have defined Buoy’s culture. “Awards are wonderful, but the real measure is team growth and client loyalty,” Sam adds. “That we’re still evolving after 38 years, and growing is something I’m incredibly proud of.”

The art of organised creativity

Creative Director Mathias is calm, deliberate, quietly steering the process. “As creatives, we can be spontaneous,” he admits. “Having Kitomba to make things more organised allows me to find time to be creative.”

This isn’t art versus order. At Buoy Salon & Spa, operational excellence is the hidden framework that makes artistry possible. It turns a closed salon into a production set, allowing Mathias to move from colouring wigs to directing stylists, makeup artists and photographers.

Multi-platform creativity in action

Mathias knows modern creative work stretches beyond the salon chair. As an official L’Oréal Artistic Pro, he trains stylists across New Zealand and Australia. Soon, he’ll represent New Zealand at Paris Fashion Week, carrying Buoy’s vision to the world’s fashion capital.

This mindset carries through Buoy’s collaboration with Kitomba. The editorial concept — “everything happening all at once” — reflects today’s reality. Stylists juggle bookings on iPads, check targets between clients, manage operations from laptops. The shoot captured authentic moments of how creative teams actually work.

The secret sauce: collective excellence

When asked about Buoy’s success formula, Mathias deflects from a single secret. Instead, it’s about creating an environment where different talent thrives, from those chasing international acclaim to those perfecting everyday craft.

“Some thrive in editorial, others on the salon floor, both are vital.” – Sam

Sam echoes this: “It’s never been about one person. We celebrate individuality while recognising success comes from collective excellence. Some thrive in editorial, others on the salon floor, both are vital.”

The support system

Behind the buzz of photoshoots and the glow of industry recognition lies an invisible infrastructure of support. “When I’m off doing whatever, someone’s got to be in the salon supporting that,” Mathias acknowledges. His role as ambassador, trainer and creative director depends on a team that can keep Buoy’s day-to-day humming.
Sam nods to the same principle. “The salon floor has always been the backbone,” she says. “Editorials are exciting, but it’s the everyday care, the people answering phones and the stylists perfecting cuts and the level of client care that keep Buoy thriving.”

The future of creative collaboration

As the first in a series of collaborative editorials, Buoy’s partnership with Kitomba Salon and Spa Software points to something bigger, the evolution of how creative businesses tell their stories. By focusing on authentic, behind-the-scenes moments rather than staged perfection, Mathias and the Buoy team have created something that resonates beyond hairdressing and into the wider creative industry.

Looking ahead, Sam is clear-eyed about the future. “The industry has changed and will keep changing, we will evolve with it and we’ll keep adapting,” she says. “Our role is to give our team the tools and the environment to grow and be the best stylists they can be. Whether that’s editorial, education, or the salon floor. That’s how we’ll keep thriving for the next 20 years.

“You’ve gotta have the passion and the drive and the want to get there.”

– Mathias

Mathias concludes as the cameras capture another look. “You’ve gotta have the passion and the drive and the want to get there.”

Sometimes innovation isn’t about reinventing the wheel, but about perfecting the fundamentals that let creativity flourish. For Buoy, that means blending systems with artistry, support with ambition, and always chasing the next vision. Whether it’s in the salon, on set, or on the runways of Paris.