Jess Longhurst
Our Creative Director
Jess, the Creative Director and driving force behind The Studio Upstairs, is a proud Gold Coast local. With a passion for the beauty industry that ignited at a young age, Jess envisioned a new approach to the traditional salon model. In 2018, her vision took shape with the creation of The Studio, a dynamic and inspiring space where creativity could flourish and artists could thrive on their own terms.
With 17 years of industry experience, Jess has infused The Studio with a unique vibe and core values built on her own professional journey. She designed the space to reflect her ideal work life—one where individuals are empowered to carve their own paths, collaborate freely, and explore their creative passions. It’s this vision that set the foundation for a studio that feels less like a workplace and more like a community of like-minded creatives.
Today, Jess balances her thriving career with life on her farm, where she enjoys motherhood and finds peace alongside her horses. Despite the tranquility of farm life, she continues to manage The Studio with a quiet yet powerful presence. Her career highlights include presenting at Australian Fashion Weeks, hosting educational events, and being named a finalist for Queensland Hairdresser of the Year.
Rhiannon
Specialises in: Blonde, Bronde and Balayage.
We’re so excited to welcome Rhi to the team! With 17 years of experience in the industry and a true passion for all things hair, she’s bringing a wealth of knowledge, creativity, and positive energy to the salon.
Originally from Sydney, She has just made the move to the sunny Gold Coast for a fresh change and settle in with her bestie and partner. Her specialties? Blonde, Bronde, and Balayage — she lives for creating natural, glowing, lived-in colour.
Hairdressing has been in her heart since she was a kid:
“I used to go to the salon with my mum and I remember thinking how glamorous and fabulous all the women were. They were always laughing, telling stories, and making people feel amazing. I knew from that moment I never wanted to do anything else.”
When she’s not behind the chair, you’ll find her reading at the beach, curled up with her cat, sneaking in a nap, or hitting a Pilates class. Her go-to drink? Gin and soda with cucumber, of course.
Ellie
Specialises in: Lived in blonde, expensive brunette and all aspects of cutting.
Originally from England, Ellie’s making the move from Sydney to the Gold Coast with her husband and beautiful little boy — and we’re so excited to have her join the studio!
With 14 years of industry experience, Ellie brings a deep passion for her craft and an exceptional level of skill to every client she works with. Known for her meticulous attention to detail, Ellie creates seamless, soft blends and personalised colour work that grows out naturally and beautifully. She’s highly trained across all aspects of blondes, brunettes, and balayage, with a strong focus on placement, tone selection, and designing colours that enhance each client’s unique features.
Ellie believes great hair is a combination of artistry and connection. She takes the time to truly listen, understand her clients’ lifestyles and goals, and tailor each service with intention and care. Her warm, personable nature creates an environment where clients feel relaxed, heard, and confident — and it’s this combination of technical expertise and genuine connection that makes her so highly valued behind the chair.
When she’s not in the salon, you’ll find her at the beach or running after her little one at the park or kicking back with a Tommy’s marg or a French rosé in hand.
Maddy
With seven years in the hair industry, Maddy has expertly honed her craft, building a strong reputation for creating striking, high-impact blondes and effortlessly lived-in styles that beautifully accentuate her clients' natural colour and features. A true perfectionist when it comes to styling, she’s also renowned for delivering the ultimate big, bouncy blowdry that leaves every client feeling fabulous.
Known for her kind and bubbly nature, Maddy makes every salon visit a warm and welcoming experience, ensuring that her clients always feel comfortable and cared for.
Outside the salon, Maddy enjoys long beach walks, soaking up the sun and embracing the coastal lifestyle she’s come to love. Originally from the UK, she moved to Australia with her family to fully embrace the ultimate beachside life. And when it comes to unwinding? An Amaretto Sour is her drink of choice, of course!
Maddy now has her own booking link. you can book directly online below.
Charlotte
Specialises in: Blondes, Sun-kissed balayage and Brunettes
With 14 years of experience in the industry, she started her hair journey in the UK and has spent the last 9 years styling in Australia. Now calling the Gold Coast home after relocating from Sydney, we’re so excited to welcome her to the salon!
From cutting her own hair at age 5 (despite Mum’s best efforts to hide the scissors!) to becoming a master of bright lived-in blondes, sun-kissed balayage, and sparkly brunettes — she brings passion, creativity, and genuine connection to every appointment.
She’s all about creating effortless, low-maintenance colour that enhances her clients’ natural beauty and fits seamlessly into their lifestyle. Think rich, radiant tones with a soft, luxurious finish that grows out beautifully.
When she’s not in the salon, this Pisces babe loves nothing more than a walk or swim at the beach and winding down with a classic Tommy’s Margarita in hand. Creative, intuitive, and always chasing the good vibes.
Beth
Specialises in: Lived In, Bright Blonde, Weft, Colour & Extensions
Meet Beth! The sweet and bubbly Beth has been in the industry for 10 years, known for her effortless beachy blondes, her signature wefts extensions and her love of animals. This kind a gentle creative soul will leave you feeling confident, inspired and in love with your dream hair. When she’s not in the salon you’ll find her in her natural habitat, surfing, spending time with loved ones or outdoors with her trusty Frank Green water bottle by her side.
We’re so thrilled to have her as part of The Studio Upstairs family and we know you’ll just love her too.
Emma
Specialises in: Beautiful Blondes and Rich Brunettes
Originally from the sun-soaked shores of Noosa, Em is a fresh face on the Gold Coast hair scene, bringing with her an undeniable talent and a refined, intuitive approach to hair.
Em specialises in luminous blondes and rich, dimensional brunettes—creating hair that feels effortlessly elevated, softly lived-in, and designed to last well beyond your appointment. Her work is all about movement, flow, and seamless dimension… the kind of hair that looks just as beautiful weeks later as it does on day one.
There’s an ease to the way Em works—calm, attentive, and genuinely focused on getting it just right for you. Nothing feels rushed, and every appointment is tailored to suit your hair and your lifestyle.
Outside of the salon, you’ll find her on the basketball court—driven, energetic, and always moving. That same passion and dedication carries through into everything she creates behind the chair.
We’ve truly fallen in love with Em’s work, and we couldn’t be more excited to have her as part of our space.
Jo Webb
A very warm introduction to The Studio’s Manager and all things finance whizz, Jo aka ‘Mumma Jo’ or ‘JoJo’. The glue that holds The Studio together and the true embodiment of all the good qualities The Studio represents, Jo is truly a special soul.
Just to set the scene, picture the early 90s when ‘big hair’ was the ‘in’ thing. This was when Jo was starting out her hairdressing apprenticeship. Working at a small salon in her hometown in The Snowy Mountains, Jo acquired her diploma after 4 years of hairdressing. With her ambitious mindset, she then set off to travel the world.
Dabbling in a few different industries along the way, Jo moved to the Gold Coast 24 years ago. Finding her way back into the hair industry through Payroll duties, Jo met Jess (our Creative Director) through a previous company they both worked for. It has now been 6 years of Jo being a part of the TSU family and it’s evident she is the heart of our salon.
Meet the team
WHO WE ARE
Our leading Burleigh hair salon prides itself on its freelance and sustainable movement within the hair industry. We draw from the coastal community we are set in to be conscious of reducing our footprint while providing outstanding stylists. The studio was made to provide a creative space for like-minded individuals to expand their own personal businesses and to have a better working life.
Our beautiful hair studio is the home of extremely talented & passionate stylists who are dedicated to connecting with their guests to make for the most comfortable & rewarding experience. Boasting their own creative specialities, with over 50+ years experience amongst all of them, the rarity of their experience, honesty and talent is something that sets us apart here at The Studio Upstairs.
It was vital when creating the space that our freelancers were able to be flexible in their own path. With a great sense of work-life balance, it set the trend of how the way the studio could be used within the community - collaborative working space for all to feel free to be creative in how they see fit. We believe that the modern way of working is heading into a more collaborative direction and we are proud to be setting that intention for all our visitors here.
We are very proudly environmentally conscious and aware of all that we do. We are part of the Sustainable Salon movement, having up to 95% of our waste taken away to be recycled and repurposed.
At The Studio Upstairs, every product we use is thoughtfully chosen for its professional performance and exceptional quality. From industry leaders like Redken colour, K18 bonding systems, and Virtue Labs professional and retail ranges—every detail is selected with intention.
We hand-pick only the very best for our stylists to work with, and the results speak for themselves: healthy, luminous hair you’ll love long after you leave the salon.
At the heart of everything we do is you. We're dedicated to creating a space where you feel seen, celebrated, and completely at ease—from the first hello to the final mirror moment. We can’t wait to welcome you into The Studio Upstairs and share our passion, creativity, and care with you.
OUR TEAM
Our beautiful hair studio is the home of extremely talented & passionate stylists who are dedicated to connecting with their guests to make for the most comfortable & rewarding experience. Boasting their own creative specialities, with over 50+ years experience amongst all of them, the rarity of their experience, honesty and talent is something that sets us apart here at The Studio Upstairs.
This beautiful group of humans have taken the leap in their careers to come to The Studio Upstairs and become their own bosses, to live a better work-life balance and create a life and career they have dreamed of. We feel so blessed that they call our humble space home.
We are passionate about creating opportunities that help our freelancers grow, whether it be Australian Fashion weeks, Photoshoots or better financial opportunities we are all for it! Be sure to get to know your stylist and their hairstyle via their Instagram.
