Coco Parlé hair salon is an institution in its own right bringing a unique vibe to the heart of Gosford city.
Giving our locks some proper professional love is the haircare we all deserve after a crazy couple of years. Whether it’s rocking a new do or simply freshening up the current coiffure, Corine Faulkner from Coco Parlé is the queen of executing creativity with style.
She adores curls and is confident tackling any look with the scissors for men and women – with no gender-based pricing – as a hair specialist of 18 years. “We do all clientele from the 5-year-old who wants her side shaved to the 80-year-old who’s sick of their plain bob and everyone in between,” Corine told Coasties. “I want my clients to feel comfortable, the way they come, whoever they are and just relax. They’re not going to be judged if they want to go super classic or super eccentric.”
As a self-labelled quirky individual, Corine, who is affectionately known as Coco, prioritises customer service just as much as people’s hair.
Hailing from the shores of Normandy, the French-born Coastie owns and operates the boutique hair gallery Coco Parlé out of the former School of Arts building on Mann Street.
Funnily enough, the young mother-of-two never wanted to become a hairdresser. She left school and was eager to fulfil her dreams of working in fashion and design. But realising the true costs and sacrifices of the industry, she decided to pursue a career in hairdressing.
“Hairdressing is something that you’ll always have a job in. You can’t replace us,” she said light-heartedly.
“In times of crisis, people always need a haircut. It’s also linked to fashion to some degree.”
After four years of shadowing her mentors and learning different styling, perming, and colouring techniques, she achieved her qualifications and headed Down Under to enrich her craft.
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Coco Parlé Gosford Hair Salon
That was 12 years ago. Now, Corine lives with her husband, whom she met during her five-year stint in Sydney, raising two daughters in East Gosford. “I love being near the water, as in France I grew up near the coast. I also love the village vibe at East Gosford. It’s got culture,” Corine said.
“I worked in a couple of salons around here, which was great for experience, but I struggled to find my vibe. I have a creative and quirky mind.
“I believe Gosford is coming out of its shell and it’s very central and convenient. I just wanted a space where it was a bit more ‘me’.”
The idea of Coco Parlé finally came to fruition in October last year after months of planning. Corine confesses it was her love for old buildings and architecture that drew her toward the heritage-listed building. It offered the optimal blank canvas to house her unique charm where natural light bounces off bright pops of colour alongside local, contemporary art. Minimalist but bold, the salon sports a mixed throwback to the 80s and 90s with accented neon-inspired colour palettes and eccentric furnishings. It is a studio that exudes authenticity and character, humbly matched with the eccentricity of Corine and her tight-knit team.
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Safe to say, Coco Parlé is reinvigorating the cultural milieu of Gosford by bridging art and beauty in an all-inclusive, welcoming space.
“My mantra has always been I work to live. I don’t live to work. I am so passionate about my job, and I love what I do,” Corine said.
“We also really want to focus on education. It’s so important to invest in apprentices.”
Visit Coco Parlé at 1/38 Mann St, Gosford NSW 2250
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