When Holly Walker graduated high school, she was working full time at a local retail store and wondering if there was something more out there for her.
She had always been interested in beauty, but she was doubtful.
“I thought, ‘Everyone else has their own beauty business so why should I start one? There is already enough out there,’” she said.
Holly chose not to listen to those thoughts. At 18, she enrolled in a beauty course and within the first month knew she had found her calling. Within a month she knew she wanted to create a workspace of her own.
Her early days as a beauty therapist were spent learning the patience and precision required for her work.
Specialising in eyelash extensions, a full set could take up to four hours to complete.
“It was hard to ensure myself and my client were comfortable at all times,” she said. “I reminded myself the end result is worth it and with practice you get quicker.”
Over time her skills improved and so did her confidence.
A clear turning point came when she had to reduce her hours at the local retail store to keep up with the number of bookings coming in. For the first time she was welcoming strangers into her salon space rather than just friends or acquaintances.
Running her business from home brought both freedom and challenges. She said it allowed her to grow without the pressure of fitting into a traditional salon environment, but also made it harder to step away from work at the end of the day.
“Finishing a day of appointments and then spending another hour or two replying to messages and creating content can be a handful,” she said. “I have now found the perfect balance and learnt when to switch the phone off.”
Holly credits her parents with giving her the space and support she needed. She began working from her bedroom before moving into a separate space in the backyard. “They put their trust in me and my clients visiting every day,” she said.
She noted the experience has changed her as a person. Once shy, she now enjoys meeting new people and having conversations with clients she has come to know well. “I have gained so many amazing clients and friends over the years who I look forward to seeing every day,” she said.
Looking ahead, Holly hopes to one day build a home salon from scratch and create it exactly as she imagines, and perhaps share her knowledge with others interested in starting out.
