The Curl Alchemist

💚 A little update and a big thank you 💚

Firstly, thank you so much for all the beautiful messages, check-ins and support. It really does mean more than you know.

After months of being sick and now a stay in hospital, I’m finally stable enough to start a new infusion to help manage my new autoimmune disease. There’s still a bit of a journey ahead, but we’re taking things one step at a time. 💚

A particularly big thank you to all my incredible clients who have had appointments moved around. I’m so grateful for your patience, understanding and kindness. I hate having to disrupt your plans, and I appreciate you giving me the time and space to focus on getting well.

The Curl Alchemist means the world to me, and I can’t wait to get back to doing what I love next week.

Thank you for being such a wonderful community, both inside and outside the salon. 🌀💚

Dear curly hair rulebook,

It’s not me. It’s you. 😂🌿

There are a few things I refuse to do as a curl artist, and I’m sharing 12 of them.

Because I’m interested in what actually works for your hair, not just what’s trending, what everyone else is doing, or what a curl chart says you should be doing.

Swipe through. Let’s rethink a few things together. 👀

Which one would you add to the list?

What does being a Digital Hair Awards finalist actually mean to me?

Honestly? More than I can put into one post.

When DHA tagged me, I genuinely thought I’d missed out. I’d forgotten I’d entered Ella’s hair, so I thought they were basically saying, “Thanks for entering!” 😂

Then I realised…

I was a 2026 Digital Hair Awards finalist.

I woke my sick husband up and was so excited I couldn’t even eat my dinner. 😂

I’ve been behind the chair for 22 years, and for the last 7 I’ve poured my heart into curly and textured hair.

Early on, I realised I didn’t just want to do curly hair. I wanted to understand it.

Why it behaves the way it does. Why every head is different. What’s happening inside the hair and at the scalp. The science behind it all.

That curiosity became The Curl Alchemist.

So being recognised globally, in a category specifically celebrating textured hair, means something pretty damn huge to me.

Because despite everything I’ve built, I have imposter syndrome too.

Am I good enough? Do I really belong here?

Being selected after a month of international judging has given me something tangible to answer with:

Yep. I belong here.

Not because an award determines my worth, but because something outside my own head has said:

We see you.

And what I’m proudest of isn’t actually the title.

It’s changing lives. The confidence, the easier mornings, the moment someone finally understands their curls and becomes proud to wear the hair they’ve grown.

That is why I do this.

I want to keep pushing deeper into the science of hair and scalp, while continuing to educate, support and empower women to be their authentic selves.

The Top 5 and winners are announced 8 November.

Do I want to make the Top 5?

F**k yes. 😂

But whatever happens, I’m already bloody proud.

A global finalist.
The Curl Alchemist.
From Dunedin, New Zealand, to the world. 🌎

Maybe that little voice telling me I don’t belong doesn’t get to be quite so loud anymore.

Now… let’s see what happens next. 🖤

A little change to my consultation bookings 🌿

I’ve been reluctant to make this change, but the number of no-shows has unfortunately pushed me to it.

From now on, 15-minute curl & colour consultations are $25, payable on booking and non-refundable.

It’s a small change, but it means I can protect the time I set aside for every person who books with me. 💚

Please read the full details on the slide before booking.

Thanks for understanding 🫶

🌎✂️ DUNEDIN. TO. THE. WORLD.

Well… this happened. 👀

I’m officially a Digital Hair Awards FINALIST in Textured Hair Cuts.

Worldwide. 🌎
From a little curl-exclusive salon in Dunedin, New Zealand. 🇳🇿

And honestly? I’m bloody proud of this one 💁‍♀️

Because textured hair isn’t just something I do.

It’s my craft.
It’s my obsession.
It’s the reason The Curl Alchemist exists.

Years of cutting, learning, experimenting, problem-solving and getting seriously nerdy about how textured hair actually behaves… and now that work is being recognised on an international stage.

So yeah…

Dunedin has entered the chat. 👋🏼🌎

Bring on the finals. 🏆✂️💚