From Trials to Triumph: The BORNPRETTY Journey
Every story has a beginning. Ours didn’t start with glitz and glamour. It started with pain, survival, and a deep longing for something better.
I walked out of an abusive relationship, a single mother of three boys, carrying wounds that ran deeper than most could see. In that moment of rebuilding, I knew I wanted to create more than just a salon. I wanted to build a sanctuary. A place where women could walk in carrying the weight of the world and leave a little lighter, a little stronger, and feeling a little more beautiful.......inside and out.
It started in my home, with two Kmart chairs, a DYI mirror installation, and a heart full of determination. I asked a friend of a friend to come and help sweep the floor, make teas and coffees, and keep me company while I poured everything I had into this dream.
Because BORNPRETTY wasn’t just about hair, it was about healing.
The Battles We Faced
But dreams don’t come without trials. The road has been rough.
When COVID came, it filled us with uncertainty, we were forced to close doors on numerous occasions, filling us with uncertainty. Then came break-ins that shattered our sense of safety and set us back financially as there were 3 break ins, in 2 and a half weeks, taking all of the stock and destroying the salon. Through out the journey there has been Dishonest staff who broke our trust. And the ongoing financial pressures of a struggling economy making every day a fight to keep the doors open.
Each time, I thought about giving up. Each time, the mountain seemed too high. Each time I didn't think I had the strength to keep ongoing, I was supported by Tiff (the friend of the friend) and I would see the women who walked into BORNPRETTY, the ones who shared their stories, who sat in my chair with courage in their eyes, and who reminded me that this was bigger than me.
Their strength gave me strength.
Healing Through Hair & Heart
Every woman who sat in our chair became part of my healing journey. As we touched their lives, they touched ours. The laughter, the tears, the conversations, it wasn’t just hairdressing, it was soul work.
Through BORNPRETTY, I began to stitch my own wounds closed. The very act of empowering women helped me reclaim my own power. It inspired me to do more, to step further into my purpose. That’s why I now volunteer with local not-for-profit organisations, supporting women on their own journeys out of domestic violence & help out at other community based centers. This is also why I’m studying to become a DV counselor, because I know firsthand the power of being seen, heard, and supported.
Our Greatest Honor
This year, something extraordinary happened. BORNPRETTY was named Outstanding Hairdresser of the Year at the Logan Local Business Awards.
When our name was called, I didn’t just see an award. I saw the women who have walked alongside me, the clients, the community, my friends. I saw every battle we fought through, every moment we wanted to give up but didn’t. I saw the proof that out of hardship can come beauty, strength, and hope.
This award isn’t just for us. It’s for every woman who has survived, every woman who has lifted another up, and every woman who walks through our doors with courage in her heart.
A Community That Saved Us
BORNPRETTY exists because of you, our community. Through your trust, your support, and your loyalty, you didn’t just help keep a business alive, you helped heal a woman, you helped raise three boys in love, and you helped create a space that empowers countless women every day.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you. You are the reason BORNPRETTY stands strong today.
And this is only the beginning. With you beside us, we will keep building, keep empowering, and keep proving that even from the darkest places, beauty and strength can grow.
With endless love & gratitude,
Crissy 💜