Collective Program

What first drew you to NAK, and what has kept you with the brand? 

What first drew me to NAK was actually during my apprenticeship—the salon I worked in used NAK, so it was the brand I learned with. That gave me a strong sense of confidence and familiarity early on. 

As my career progressed, I went on to do some colour tech work with NAK, which deepened that confidence even further. It gave me a real understanding of the colour system and so much knowledge that I could bring back into my own business. 

What’s kept me with the brand is that same reliability. It just works. The results are consistent, the colours are beautiful, and it doesn’t overcomplicate things for the team. It supports us behind the chair and our clients at home—it’s a brand we genuinely trust and use every day.  

What does being a NAK salon partner mean to your business today? 

Being a NAK partner means we’re aligned with a brand that reflects how we like to work—professional, down-to-earth, and focused on real results. It supports the way we run our salon, from the services we deliver to the home care we recommend. It’s not just about having great products on the shelf, it’s about having confidence in everything we use behind the chair.  

How has NAK supported your salon beyond just products? 

NAK has supported us through education, consistency, and making our day-to-day easier. The education is practical and relevant, which helps our team feel confident and continue growing. It also supports our retail conversations—our clients trust what we recommend because we genuinely believe in it. That flow-on effect helps both the client experience and the business.  

What does this 23-year milestone mean to you as a long-standing partner? 

It’s something to be really proud of. In an industry that’s always evolving, to have a brand still going strong after 23 years says a lot. As a long-standing partner, it feels like we’ve grown alongside NAK. There’s a sense of loyalty there, but also excitement to keep evolving together into the future. 

What keeps talented stylists committed to your salon? 

I’m a firm believer that having a really great team culture makes a huge difference to why staff stay in my salon. 

Family comes first for us. A lot of my team members are mums, so we understand what it’s like to juggle home and work. I aim to create a healthy work-life balance, recognising that this looks different for every individual. 

Most importantly, I want my staff to feel valued and part of a team. We spend so much time at work, so I want the salon to be a fun place where everyone genuinely wants to come each day and enjoys being around their team. 

How do you create growth pathways that motivate your team? 

We have regular one-on-one meetings with the team, both with myself and Chelsea, as well as regular education sessions in the salon. 

I also bring in people from outside the salon, and sometimes even outside the hairdressing industry, to run sessions and bring a fresh perspective. 

We do plenty of team bonding, while our apprentices work through a mentoring program with me and we also have a salon mentor. 

The key is to customise development around each individual’s strengths, interests and confidence. Everyone has different goals, so we work out what pathway is right for them. 

What early warning signs tell you when a staff member is disengaging? 

It usually starts with a change in behaviour and performance. They may become disengaged from the team, stop having conversations or lose their enthusiasm. 

Their work can start to feel transactional rather than a genuine service and relationship with the client. 

When I notice those signs, I try to address them early with an honest conversation. I’ll ask, “What’s going on? Is there something I can help you with? Is it something happening inside or outside of work? Where do we need to go from here?” 

What’s one business hack you swear by behind the chair? 

I’ve realised that working more hours behind the chair isn’t necessarily the key to success. I need to be working on the business as well as in the business. 

It’s important to step back and look at your salon from the outside in. You need to give yourself time to work on the business if you want to see it improve and grow. 

What do you love about working with NAK and being part of the Collective program? 

I love that I feel like I’m part of the NAK family. I feel like they’re incredibly supportive of both my business and my staff. 

There are always education opportunities for my team and for me, and the products are innovative, while the education is always fresh and exciting. 

Being part of the Collective is also a great opportunity to be in a room with like-minded salon owners — inspiring and motivating each other. I always get so much out of the Collective events and look forward to them every year. 

What’s one small change you’ve made recently that has had a big impact on your business? 

The biggest change for me has been implementing more systems and structure. 

I’ve introduced more structure around meetings, one-on-ones and what my days look like in the salon. With a large team, I obviously can’t be on the floor full-time, so I’ve worked out what I need to be most effective. 

I now spend two days in the salon off the floor, focusing on the behind-the-scenes work that keeps everything running smoothly. That has made a really big difference for me this year. 

Thanks, NAK, for having me. It’s a pleasure to work with you, and we love your products. 

Why did you choose to partner with NAK Hair? 

When choosing a salon partner, I wanted more than just a great product — I wanted a complete brand that could support my salon and my team. 

Education was one of the most important factors for me, and NAK’s strong focus on education really stood out. Having access to quality education and ongoing learning is something I value highly as a salon owner. 

I was also drawn to NAK’s vegan products and, of course, the Liquid Glosses, which had me hooked from day one. 

For me, it was the combination of education, vegan products and incredible Liquid Glosses that made NAK the perfect fit. 

Why do you love being part of the Collective Program? 

The Collective is incredibly important for salon owners, particularly when you’re leading a large team. As they say, “it’s lonely at the top,” so having a community of like-minded people makes a real difference. 

The Collective creates opportunities for salon owners and their teams to connect with inspiring hairdressers, salon owners and industry partners, share experiences and learn from one another. 

It’s a genuinely collaborative and educational environment where everyone can thrive, share ideas and grow together. That’s what makes The Collective so valuable. 

What is your go-to NAK Hair product? 

My favourite product is the Hydrate Tangle Mist because it’s an all-in-one product that’s perfect for everyday use. 

It works as a detangler, moisturiser and protein treatment, all without needing to be rinsed out. It makes haircare simple, easy and effective — which is why I think everyone should have one. 

Why do you think its so important for your hair salon to have a social media presence? 

Having a strong social media presence is incredibly important for helping people find your salon and understand who you are. 

We recently moved from the front of the High Street to a location further back, so social media has become an even more important way for clients to discover us. 

It gives potential clients the opportunity to see our brand, values, team and salon experience before they even walk through the door. By the time they visit, they already have a sense of who we are, what we stand for and what they can expect from their experience with us. 

What are your 4 top tips for building a strong social media presence? 

1. Show yourself and your team Make sure you and your team are visible on social media. People want to connect with the people behind the salon and get to know your team before they visit. 

2. Create a polished-looking grid Your social media grid should feel cohesive and visually appealing. Take advantage of features like custom cover images to create a more professional and consistent look. 

3. Elevate your imagery Quality images are essential for showcasing your work and your brand. Don’t just post any photo — make sure your hair photography is polished, considered and reflects the quality of your salon. 

4. Get your team involved in creating content You don’t have to create all the content yourself. Encourage your team to have their own social media presence and create content within the salon’s guidelines. You can then collaborate on posts, helping keep your salon’s grid active while giving your team a platform to showcase their work.  

What most excites you about partnering with NAK Hair into the future? 

The future with NAK is incredibly exciting. I wanted to partner with a brand that was growing, evolving and constantly moving forward, rather than one that felt stagnant. 

What excites me most is being part of a growing community of passionate salon owners and industry professionals through initiatives like The Collective in Sydney and Brisbane. I want to be part of a tribe of people who are ambitious, inspired and excited about the future of the industry. 

NAK has also created opportunities for me that I wouldn’t have had otherwise, including sponsoring my podcast. These opportunities have allowed me to continue growing, developing and elevating my own brand alongside NAK. 

For me, that’s what makes the partnership so exciting — being part of something that is continually growing, creating new opportunities and moving the industry forward. 

Why did you decide to partner with NAK Hair? 

Hi, I’m Sarah from Misk Hair, with salons in Melbourne and Brisbane. We’ve been partnered with NAK for the past 12 months, and the level of brand support has been a standout for us. 

From day one, NAK has backed us every step of the way. Being part of the NAK community also gives us access to new product launches, including sneak peeks and opportunities to trial and experience products before they hit the market. 

We’ve also loved being invited to events like The Collective Forum, which gives us the opportunity to connect with other salon owners who understand where we are in our business journey. 

The level of support has been unmatched. It’s not just the support we receive from the NAK team, but the community of salons and like-minded business owners we’ve been able to connect with along the way. 

The reason why we've chosen to use NAK in the salon is not only because their packaging is amazing, their products are amazing and they're absolutely wonderful, but they're also vegan, they're cruelty free and they're endorsed by the One Tree Planted program. Also, NAK have been around since 2003, they're Australian-owned, Australian-made and they're local to the salon.