For East Melbourne
The other end ofLonsdale Street.
Roi is not in East Melbourne. It is at the far end of the street you are already on, and it is the one trip on this list where walking beats working out the tram.
Mon to Sat, from 10am
Getting here from East Melbourne
Ten minutes along Lonsdale on foot.
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On foot
Straight down Lonsdale Street from the Albert Street end. Ten to fifteen minutes depending where you start, flat the whole way, and it finishes at number 300 without a single turn to remember.
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On the train
Parliament is one stop from Melbourne Central on the loop, so in weather you can cut the walk to a few minutes underground and come up the escalators into the centre.
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Once you are here
Ground floor, the Lonsdale Street side. Stay on the level you walk in on and look for the lit wordmark above a timber-framed door.
Who comes along from East Melbourne
This is the only suburb on the list where the honest answer is to walk. Lonsdale Street runs the whole way without a turn, and people arrive on foot with time rather than off a tram with none, which changes what the hour is spent on: a cut and a proper finish rather than the quickest thing that fits.
The other thing this end of town sends is hair that has to be up for something. The gardens, the ground and the hotels along the park are all within a walk of here, and an upstyle wants a held chair and an unhurried hour. Ring with the date rather than arriving on the day and hoping.
The salon
Roi opened on the ground floor of Melbourne Central in 1991 and has not moved since. Same floor, same door, same owner, while the rest of the building changed hands around it.
Walk-ins are most of the business rather than something squeezed in around bookings, which is the practical reason it suits anybody coming in from East Melbourne with an hour rather than a morning.
More about the salonWhat you would come in for
Colour, foils
and cutting.
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Colour and balayage Blondes, coppers, brunettes and full colour changes. Read about it -
Foils and highlights Face-framing pieces through to a full head. Read about it -
Cutting and styling Precision cutting, blow-dries and finishing, for women and men. Read about it
From 124 reviews on Google
Read them on Google“I was welcomed by the friendly staff as a walk-in and given a wash, cut and style that I absolutely adore.”
“The blow dry was honestly one of the best I’ve ever had. I felt completely at ease the entire time.”
“Been coming here for several years and service has always been consistent and super friendly. … Also very LGBTIQ+ friendly and have always felt safe here as a transgender woman.”
Questions
Coming in from
East Melbourne.
Anything not covered here, call 0499 927 027 and ask before you travel.
How do I get to Roi Hair from East Melbourne?
Walk down Lonsdale Street. It is ten to fifteen minutes on the flat with no turns, and it ends at number 300 on the ground floor of Melbourne Central. If the weather is against you, Parliament station is one stop from Melbourne Central and you come up inside the centre.
Is it an easy walk?
It is one straight street and no hills. The only thing worth knowing is that Lonsdale gets busier the further west you go, so allow fifteen minutes rather than ten if you are coming at lunchtime.
Can I come in before something at the ground or the gardens?
Yes, and ring ahead for it. Upstyles and occasion hair are held appointments rather than walk-ins, so call 0499 927 027 with the date and the time you have to be somewhere, and somebody will tell you what is realistic.
Visit the salon
Walk in, or
call ahead.
Ground floor, Melbourne Central, 300 Lonsdale Street. Mon to Sat, from 10am