Absolom Tamar

My friend Zeb Waihape and his uber-funky Hair salon ‘Absolom Tamar’ in Hastings, Hawke’s Bay is OPEN for business. Anyone who knows him, knows he’s incredibly talented and creative on many levels. In his new premises located opposite Dunkerley’s Chemist down the Stortford Lodge end of town Zeb Waihape is doing it for himself.

If you’re anything like me, you notice people before you notice your surrounds. Zeb (short for Zebulun) is my hairstylist. He’s warmly hilarious, funny and cheeky and animated and colourful. If he was a colour he’d be ‘Raumati’ the Maori word for Summer. There’s a saying, ‘Te tātarakihi, te pihareinga; ko ngā manu ēnā o Rēhua’ l the locust and the cricket are Rehua’s song birds because these creatures sing when the heat of summer has arrived.

That’s Zeb. AND you know he’s arrived. His personality envelopes you like a warm summer day. I love it, it’s BIG, it’s open and it’s genuine. A friend is passing by the shop and in a flurry of greetings he says “here, meet my aunties.” It’s the Maori way, EVERYONE is your aunty! We’re all friends. He became my friend through our family friend. NOW, I’m his aunty. Chur!

In the staff room just off the main salon is his dog Onyx. Onyx is part Shapei part bull terrier I think though he has all the lookings of a boxer. His cross breed means he doesn’t have as many rolls as a pure breed Shapei. Onyx is bi-lingual but predominantly his first language is Maori. When I asked him how he was, “Kei te pēhea koe?” He looked at me with those huge brown eyes and sent me a thought bubble that said, “Kei te pai” Good! I think that’s priceless!

Don’t be put off by his youth, his upbringing embraces all generations. He laughs a lot while he’s ‘styling. It’s a great energy. Oh and about THAT name! Absolom had great hair and his sister Tamar was beautiful ergo Hair and Beauty. I wouldn’t have got it myself but you know, a quick quiz on the bottomline and the book’s all full up. In my opinion’s that’s what matters!

The address of the Salon is 1102 Heretaunga St W, Stortford Lodge, Hastings. To make an appointment: Call them on (06) 878-7665.

Their opening times are:

Tues/Wed/Friday : 9am – 5pm
Thursday: 9am – 9pm
Saturday: 9am – 2pm