Not just a Hairdresser | Presented by Ally from The Beauty Grail

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 lookWhy This Episode MattersBecause 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 & ResourcesThe Beauty Grail: https://www.beautygrail.coNatalie Anne Haircare: https://natalieanne.comJadore Hair Supplies: https://trade.jadorehairsupplies.com.auAlex Loves Colour: https://alexlovescolour.com.auFone King (use code BEAUTY15): https://foneking.com.auRogue Beauty: roguebeauty.com.au/thebeautygrail

Three generations of hairdressers shaped Natalie Anne’s path. Weekends in her mum's salon. The smell of perm solution. The gossip. The glam. Hair chose her long before she chose it.She took the long road. An apprenticeship at Toni & Guy. Early assisting. Mentorship under strong, no-nonsense industry women. Then, like many ambitious 19-year-olds, she left too soon, started her own thing, and fell flat on her face. More than once.The reset came in her mum’s garage. That’s where she rebuilt her clientele. That’s where social media entered the picture. Long before it was common, she became one of the first digital creators in the Australian hair space, navigating brand deals that didn’t have rulebooks, contracts that didn’t exist yet, trolls, and backlash from the top echelon of the hairdressing industry who weren’t ready for creators.In this episode, Ally sits down with Natalie Anne, founder of Natalie Anne Haircare, to unpack what it really takes to build longevity in this industry.In This Episode, We Cover:- Growing up in a family of hairdressers and why hair “chose” her- Leaving a major salon at 19 and the lessons that followed- Rebuilding from her mum’s garage- Becoming a first-to-market digital creator in the industry- Launching a product brand that wasn’t built in a boardroom- Why she doesn’t believe in “balance” as a Mum- What she looks for in future ambassadors- Expanding into Europe and the real cost of compliance- Competition, awards, and being unapologetically competitiveNatalie Anne Haircare wasn’t built in a boardroom.It was built:On the salon floorThrough constant client testingAt family dinner tables with fragrance samplesThrough packaging mistakes and reformulationsWith no bank loanEarly launches were beautiful but not always practical. Labels were expensive. Stability issues surfaced. Fragrances were tweaked again and again.Today, the brand is preparing for European expansion, which means compliance changes, packaging updates, and ingredient reviews.Five new products are in development. New brushes and combs are launching. The brand is evolving, but the standard remains the same.If her name is on it, it has to perform.Links and Resources Mentioned:Beauty Grail website: https://www.beautygrail.coNatalie Anne Haircare (official haircare range): https://natalieanne.com/Kain Vakai 7cm Tape Weft Extensions - Jadore Hair Supplies: https://trade.jadorehairsupplies.com.auAlex Loves Colour (pop-up hair foils & colouring tools): https://alexlovescolour.com.auFone King (creator tools & MagSafe SnapStand accessories): https://foneking.com.au use code BEAUTY15Rogue Beauty: roguebeauty.com.au/thebeautygrail

What happens when you stop shrinking your work down to “just hair” and start owning everything you really are?In this very first episode of Not Just a Hairdresser, Ally sits down with Kaine and Ayden Vakai, the co-founders behind House of Vakai, for a raw, funny, emotional, and deeply honest conversation about what it actually takes to build a career and a business in the hair industry.Kaine takes us all the way back to growing up in a hairdressing family, starting his apprenticeship at 14, hustling weekends, doubting himself, and eventually backing himself to buy a salon at just 22. Ayden shares his very different path, from butchery floors and McDonald’s shifts to hotels, banking, finance, and then unexpectedly finding himself behind the chair, mixing tint and falling in love with the industry.Together, they talk about:Why being “just a hairdresser” is the biggest lie the industry has ever been soldThe fear, self-doubt, and money stress that comes with opening a salon youngWhat really happens when team dynamics fall apart and how that moment nearly broke themMental health, burnout, anxiety, and the pressure of always having to show upWhy success doesn’t feel the way you think it will and how that messes with your headThe mindset shift that changed how they see work, growth, and ambitionHow education became the heart of House of Vakai and why access mattersThe truth about extensions, business myths, and why education is everythingTaking risks before you feel ready and backing yourself anywayIf you’ve ever:Felt underestimated in this industryQuestioned whether you’re “good enough” to take the next stepStruggled silently while trying to lead othersWondered if the hustle is actually worth itThis conversation is for you. You hear what it sounds like when people stop pretending they’ve got it all figured out and just tell the truth. Kaine and Ayden don’t sugarcoat the journey, but they also remind you why it’s worth staying in it, growing through it, and redefining what success looks like on your own termsLinks and Resources Mentioned:Beauty Grail website: https://www.beautygrail.coThe Business Series by Kaine and Ayden Vakai: https://www.beautygrail.co/educators/kaine-and-ayden-vakai-d0f1429aJadore Hair Supplies: https://trade.jadorehairsupplies.com.auAlex Loves Colour (pop-up hair foils & colouring tools): https://alexlovescolour.com.auNatalie Anne Haircare (official haircare range): https://natalieanne.com/Fone King (creator tools & MagSafe SnapStand accessories): https://foneking.com.au use code BEAUTY15Haus Of Vakai Community page: https://www.instagram.com/hausofvakai_community

You’re not “just” a hairdresser and this industry is anything but small.Not Just a Hairdresser is a podcast about leadership, entrepreneurship, and resilience in the hair and beauty industry, an industry that’s been overlooked, underestimated, and blazing a trail for decades.Hosted by Ally, founder of The Beauty Grail, the podcast features bold hair and beauty leaders who are building real careers and businesses from the ground up.Through raw conversations and real world experience, Ally uncovers what it actually takes to grow, scale, and succeed in an industry that doesn’t follow traditional rules.If you’re ready to challenge the narrative, back yourself, and build something bigger than the chair, this podcast is for you.