3. Dom Pelli: From the Barber Shop Floor to becoming one of Australia’s Most In-Demand Celebrity Stylists

Dom Pelli was born into hair. Not metaphorically. Literally. His grandfather opened a barbershop in Western Sydney after migrating from Italy. His father followed. So did the rest of the family. Hair wasn’t just a career path, it was the language spoken at the dinner table. At 16, after being told school wasn’t where his future lied, Dom left and stepped straight into an apprenticeship. But instead of entering the world of Celebrity Syling, his career started behind a barber chair. For five years. Precision cuts. Scissor-over-comb. Conversations about football he didn’t even watch. It built discipline. Technical excellence. Speed. Control. But it wasn’t the vision. Every time a woman sat in his chair, he saw something bigger. Softer. More expressive. More him. So he chased it. Slowly, strategically, he began building a female clientele. One client turned into two. Two turned into a niche. And that niche became a launchpad into bridal, brand campaigns, Influencer collaborations and red carpet styling. In this episode of Not Just a Hairdresser, Ally sits down with Dom Pelli, now one of Australia’s most in-demand celebrity stylists, to unpack what actually built his career. Not the highlight reel. The real story. From charging $50 for his first bride, to creating luxury-level content with no budget, to being noticed by Natalie Anne, Dom shares how he turned discipline into demand and opportunity into leverage. This is a conversation about hard work, determination, and the power of backing yourself before anyone else does. What We Get Into - Growing up in a multi-generational hair family where hair was more culture than career - Leaving school at 16 and entering the industry early - The unexpected foundation of spending five years in barbering - The pivot into women’s hair and building a bridal and events niche - Charging $50 for his first bride and redefining his value over time - Using “free work” strategically to build a premium, editorial portfolio - Creating high-end content with zero budget through collaborations and vision - The moment Natalie Anne discovered his work - Navigating mentorship, brand partnerships, and learning how to negotiate your worth - Investing in education and refining advanced styling techniques - The difference between doing hair and creating finished, camera-ready work - Why preparation is the real luxury behind every polished look Why This Episode Matters Because Dom’s story isn’t about overnight success. It’s about hard work. Timing. And the quiet, unglamorous years that build the foundation for everything that follows. It’s proof that where you start doesn’t define where you land, but how you position yourself along the way does. And for anyone in the industry trying to move from service provider to in-demand artist… This is your blueprint. Links & Resources The Beauty Grail: https://www.beautygrail.co Natalie Anne Haircare: https://natalieanne.com Jadore Hair Supplies: https://trade.jadorehairsupplies.com.au Alex Loves Colour: https://alexlovescolour.com.au Fone King (use code BEAUTY15): https://foneking.com.au Rogue Beauty: roguebeauty.com.au/thebeautygrail