the_salon_dr
Sonia Tomas | Hair Salon, Aesthetic Clinic + Beauty Business Coach & Mentor
If I could sit beside this little girl, I’d tell her: “You’re going to find your voice. And one day, you’ll use it to help others find theirs.” 🤍
She couldn’t have known the life ahead of her. The salons she would own. The domestic violence she would leave behind. The courage it would take to rebuild and begin again.
Looking at her now, I wish I could tell her she never has to earn her worth. That she deserves to feel safe, loved and heard.
My journey has taken me from the salon floor into sales, business and back to the industry where it all began—this time as The Salon Dr.
Today, I get to help salon owners back themselves, build stronger businesses and see possibilities they may have stopped believing were available to them.
That work means so much to me because I know what it takes to start over.
I’m proud of what I’ve built. I’m also proud of the woman who kept going when she couldn’t yet see how it would all come together.
And that little girl? She’s still part of every step.
If you’re rebuilding something right now—a business, your confidence or your life—give yourself credit for how far you’ve already come. There is still so much ahead of you. 🤍
07/10/2026
We regret to inform you… Sonia Tomas has been caught.
The evidence is stacking up.
Inside The Accelerator Program, we tackle the gaps in consultations, retail and treatment recommendations, team communication and daily systems that could be costing your salon.
Five hours. In your salon. With your team.
Practical training, clear targets and recommendations your team can feel confident making. Plus a 30-day accountability session to review progress and keep those new habits moving.
Your shelves have had enough time to sell the products themselves. Let’s give your team the tools to help.
DM “ACCELERATOR” to talk about your salon.
06/10/2026
Behind every standout salon is a team making it happen. 🤍
The Salon Dr is proud to sponsor VIC Salon Business of the Year at the 2026 AHIA Business Awards.
This is about celebrating the leadership, commitment and business vision behind exceptional salons. The work that happens beyond the chair. The standards, the culture and the dedication to keep growing.
Congratulations to all the finalists. You deserve to be recognised for what you’ve built.
Supporting salon businesses and the people behind them is at the heart of The Salon Dr.
Here’s to celebrating our industry together. ✨
MochaHair / AHIA Sonia Tomas | Retail Sales Coach
05/10/2026
“Just part of the job.” How often did we hear that or say it ourselves?
The missed lunches. The pressure to squeeze one more client in. The expectation that being good at hair meant we’d somehow know how to lead a team and run a business too.
I’ve been a salon owner and led teams. I know how overwhelming it can feel when people look to you for answers while you’re still figuring things out yourself.
There’s so much to love about our industry. There are also things we can stop passing down as “normal”.
Taking a break. Asking for help. Admitting you’re struggling. There should be room for all of that in a career you love.
What’s something you accepted early in your career that you see differently now?
Tell me below or send me a DM if you’d prefer a private conversation. I’d love to hear your story.
SALON OWNERS, THIS IS YOUR WAKE-UP CALL.
“The economy is tough.”
“Clients can’t afford it.”
“They’ll just buy it online.”
But are we letting those assumptions stop us from having the conversation?
In my article for mocha media, I unpack the 6.93% retail figure shared at the AHC in June—and why we need to look closely at how we communicate value.
Your client deserves to understand what their hair needs, why you recommend it and how to maintain their results at home.
When we hold back, we take away their opportunity to decide.
Confident recommendations start with education, belief and a repeatable system your whole team can use.
Read “Wake Up Call! The 6.93% Truth the Hair Industry Can’t Ignore” in mocha media.
What’s the biggest barrier to retail in your salon—confidence, consistency or knowing what to say? Tell me below. 👇
23/09/2026
It’s here! 💗 The new Salon Dr website is live.
I’ve created a place for salon owners who are ready to feel more confident with their numbers, grow their team and make more profit from the salon they’ve worked so hard to build.
Have a look around, explore how we can work together, and book a free discovery call if you’re ready to talk about what’s next for your business.
Visit www.thesalondr.com.au — and tell me what you think! 👇
Love,
Sonia x
SALON OWNERS: CASH OR PRICE INCREASE?
From 1 October 2026, businesses will no longer be able to add a surcharge for eftpos, Visa or Mastercard payments. Salons may still have card processing costs to cover. I’m seeing a lot of salons going CASH or PAYID
So what’s your move? Will you encourage cash payments, review your prices, or absorb the cost?
👇 Comment what you’re choosing to do and WHY. I want to hear how salon owners are thinking this through.
Couldn’t keep you guessing any longer 🫣🤣 If this made you laugh give it a like 🙌🏻❤️
They’re officially in transit! ✈️📫
The Salon Dr’s 30-Day Consultation Cards are on their way and I cannot wait to finally get them into the hands of salon owners and teams.
These cards have been created to help you elevate your confidence, strengthen your consultations and create a more meaningful client experience one conversation and one daily focus at a time.
Think of it as having a little piece of The Salon Dr in your back room, helping your team stay focused, start valuable conversations and bring greater intention into every consultation.
Want to be among the first to access them?
Comment **CARDS** below and I’ll send you the link to join the First Access list. Once the cards arrive and ordering officially opens, you’ll receive the ordering link directly by email. 💌
They’re getting closer and First Access starts now! ✨
15/09/2026
I’m incredibly proud and emotional to share that I am a finalist for Best Business Coach at the 2026 ANZ Hair Industry Awards.
This recognition means far more to me than simply being named a finalist.
My journey to this moment has been shaped by adversity, hardship and surviving domestic violence, seeing both my parents passing and getting through dark days that felt like they were never going away.
I started The Salon Dr with a vision I believed in and a determination to create a different future for myself.
Starting a business on your own is bloody hard.
There were people who doubted me, times when I doubted myself and plenty of moments when the challenges felt bigger than I was. When you are building something from the ground up, there is no manual and no safety net. You have to keep backing yourself, especially on the days when it feels like nobody else does.
But I kept going.
I worked bloody hard. I stayed connected to my purpose and continued believing that my knowledge, experience and passion could make a genuine difference to salon owners and their teams.
After 38 years in the hair industry, from working behind the chair and owning salons to corporate sales, education, mentoring and creating The Salon Dr, every chapter has brought me here.
Being recognised as one of the top business coaches across Australia and New Zealand is something I will never take for granted.
To every client who trusted me, every salon team that welcomed me and every person who believed in me, thank you. Your transformations, courage and results are at the heart of everything I do.
Thank you to MochaHair / AHIA and the AHIA Awards for this incredible recognition, and to those in our industry who have given me unwavering support words can’t describe my gratitude.
Whatever happens on 18 October, this moment already feels like a win.
It is proof that your past does not have to define your future. You can begin with nothing, rebuild yourself and create something meaningful.
And I am only just getting started.
Sonia Tomas
The Salon Dr
HairIndustryAustralia
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