When Berry Hair Studio opened its doors in Abbotsford, it wasn’t just about creating a space for good hair, it was about rethinking how care, comfort, and community could exist within a salon setting. After more than 20 years in the industry, founder Amanda Berry set out to build something that reflected her values: a place that feels human, considered, and welcoming.
Amanda Berry, founder of Berry Hair Studio
In this conversation, we spoke to Berry about her story behind the salon’s beginnings, the importance of taking a trauma-informed approach to hairdressing, and how a desire to give back led to the launch of Pay It Forward Haircuts — an initiative that offers free appointments to refugee women and girls. It’s an honest, thoughtful reflection on rebuilding, reconnecting, and how something as everyday as a haircut can hold much more meaning than we often realise.
What inspired you to open Berry Hair Studio?
I’ve been hairdressing across Melbourne for over 20 years, building a beautiful, loyal and supportive clientele along the way. In 2017, I opened my first salon – a huge step that became a real learning experience. It taught me so much about what I was capable of, both creatively and as a business owner, and laid the foundation for everything that’s come since.
In 2020 – right in the middle of the pandemic and with a newborn in my arms – I stepped away from that business partnership, which in hindsight, had never truly aligned with my values. I was left feeling pretty fragile. However, I knew I wasn’t done with salon ownership. It just took some time to rebuild my confidence.
I spent the next few years working in other salons, nurturing my long-standing clientele and slowly finding my feet again. In 2023 I found a small 48sqm space close to home in Abbotsford and began shaping it into something that felt completely my own. I envisioned a space unlike anywhere I’d worked before – something warm, intimate, and familiar. Kind of like a friend’s kitchen – somewhere people could relax, feel welcomed, and be genuinely taken care of. The space is petite, but it’s filled with art, furniture and ceramics from local artists and makers, it feels warm, like a little sanctuary – and I am incredibly proud of it.
Berry Hair Studio takes a human-first approach to hair. What does that look like in practice?
It’s all about the little things. At Berry, we take a trauma-informed approach to hairdressing, which means we prioritise safety, consent, and comfort at every step. From the moment someone books with us, we’re thinking about their experience – not just their hair.
Every new client receives an intake form that invites them to not only share what their hair goals and dreams are; but also how they’d like their appointment to feel. Do they want a chatty, social vibe? Or would they prefer quiet time to read or work? These small insights help us tailor each visit to the individual.
We also make it a point to always ask before touching a client’s hair and before launching into a scalp massage. As hairdressers, we’re used to being tactile, but not everyone is comfortable with someone jumping straight in – especially if they’ve had past experiences where that boundary wasn’t respected. You’d be surprised how many people thank us for simply asking.
As well as doing our best to ensure a lovely experience, our team is experienced in cutting all types of hair. We honour hair of all textures and the unique person underneath. Our focus is on feel-good hair: dry cuts that look just as good at home as they do in the chair and colours that are low-maintenance, timeless, and built to last – so clients leave not only looking good, but feeling like the best version of themself.
Like I said, it’s the little things – but they make a big difference.
Can you tell us about the Pay It Forward Haircuts initiative and how it came to life?
From the beginning, I knew I wanted to use the business for good – I just wasn’t sure exactly how. That changed when the crisis in Gaza escalated. A client of ours was raising funds to help a friend and his family escape to Egypt, and I felt compelled to contribute. I organised an auction, calling on our community to donate items and services, and was genuinely humbled by the outpouring of support. Together, we raised $4,278 – the largest single donation – which helped contribute to the staggering $100,000 cost for the family to cross the border.
That experience planted the seed for what would become our Pay It Forward Haircuts initiative. It made me think: how else could we show up for displaced people in our community? I reached out to PARA and the ASRC to offer complimentary haircuts to recently arrived Palestinian asylum seeking women. The idea quickly grew, and was well received and we’ve since expanded the program to include all refugee women and girls.
While it may seem like “just a haircut,” it’s so much more. It’s a moment of care, dignity, and connection – something often denied to the refugee community here in Naarm. It’s our way of saying: we see you, we haven’t forgotten you.
To sustain the initiative, we introduced a Pay It Forward option for clients who wish to donate. These special days are held bi-monthly, with our team volunteering their time. We close the salon to ensure privacy for hijab wearers, and each woman is treated to a haircut, wash, and blow-dry – plus a gift of beautiful Davines products to care for their hair at home. This not only helps us sustain the business and cover the cost of the products but gives our community a way to give back.
What impact has the initiative had so far?
Since launching the initiative, we’ve raised $3416 worth of Pay It Forward donations and given $3957 worth of haircuts, colours, and products to refugee women. Some of the women we met early on have continued to visit us regularly, coming back for fresh cuts and colours – which has been incredibly special. Over time, we’ve built real connections not just with them, but with their families too. They’ve come to know Berry as a safe, welcoming space.
More recently, we created Berry jumpers, with 100% of profits going directly to support a Palestinian family. So far, the pre-sale has raised around $2,000 – another beautiful example of our community coming together in meaningful ways.
But truly, it’s the little moments that stay with us – like seeing the smile on a woman’s face after what’s often her first professional haircut in years – it’s what makes all of this worthwhile.
Why is this initiative so meaningful to you and your team?
The world feels pretty grim right now – and like many people, we’ve often felt helpless in the face of it all. This initiative, though small in scale, has a real and immediate impact on the individual. It reminds us that even small acts of care can carry so much meaning.
We all know how the difference between a good day and a tough one can come down to something as simple as a good hair day or a kind chat with a stranger. That’s something we’re in a unique position to offer.
What makes these days especially powerful is getting to know the women who come through our doors. Hearing their stories – of resilience, and of starting over. It deeply affects us. It puts so much into perspective and makes us incredibly grateful for the comfort and safety we often take for granted in our own lives.
I always say that small ripples have the power to create waves. This initiative is our way, both as a salon and as a community, of creating those ripples and making a tangible difference in someone’s life.
What’s next for Pay It Forward Haircuts?
As our team grows, so does our capacity – which means we’ll be able to offer more Pay It Forward days and extend ongoing support to refugee women throughout the year. The goal is to move beyond one-off appointments and make regular haircare an accessible, dignified part of their lives.
Looking to the future, I hold a bigger vision, one that’s totally a pipe-dream at this stage, but one I can’t help imagining. I’d love to one day open a larger space where we can offer more than just haircuts. A space where we could run skills training or creative workshops –particularly in hair and beauty – so these women not only feel cared for, but also have opportunities to build confidence, learn new skills, and work toward financial independence. Since starting the initiative, I’ve learnt that our governments do very little to support refugees so smaller organisations do all the heavy lifting in that space.
I don’t know if I have the know-how, but everything we have created so far has definitely planted the seed for more activism and I am hopeful that I can make more change in the future.
Read more of our Inspiring Profiles here.
