There’s something undeniably nostalgic about a photobooth – the curtain drawn, the countdown beginning, the flash capturing a moment in time. Over the weekend, that familiar ritual was reimagined with a high-gloss finish, as Kérastase brought its Gloss Studio pop-up to Auckland’s waterfront, inviting visitors to step inside a world of shine in celebration of its newest haircare innovation: the Gloss Absolu range, designed to deliver that glass-like finish usually reserved for a just-left-the-salon blow wave.

Tucked into the Commercial Bay Precinct Courtyard, the custom pink Kérastase installation featured a dual photobooth and a sleek vending machine moment, dispensing hero products from the range, including the Bain Crème Hydra-Glaze Shampoo, Insta Glaze Rinse-Out Conditioner, Masque Crème Hydra-Glaze and Glaze Drops.

Bathed in sunshine across the weekend, the activation drew a steady stream of visitors, with queues winding through Commercial Bay as passersby paused to see what the buzz was about. There was a palpable sense of excitement in the air, as groups of friends, families and beauty enthusiasts alike eagerly waited their turn, phones in hand before stepping behind the curtain and emerging with printed keepsakes — and, in many cases, noticeably glossier hair to match.