Not just a Hairdresser | Presented by Ally from The Beauty Grail

What happens when you stop shrinking your work down to “just hair” and start owning everything you really are?
In this very first episode of Not Just a Hairdresser, Ally sits down with Kaine and Ayden Vakai, the co-founders behind House of Vakai, for a raw, funny, emotional, and deeply honest conversation about what it actually takes to build a career and a business in the hair industry.
Kaine takes us all the way back to growing up in a hairdressing family, starting his apprenticeship at 14, hustling weekends, doubting himself, and eventually backing himself to buy a salon at just 22. Ayden shares his very different path, from butchery floors and McDonald’s shifts to hotels, banking, finance, and then unexpectedly finding himself behind the chair, mixing tint and falling in love with the industry.
Together, they talk about:
Why being “just a hairdresser” is the biggest lie the industry has ever been sold
The fear, self-doubt, and money stress that comes with opening a salon young
What really happens when team dynamics fall apart and how that moment nearly broke them
Mental health, burnout, anxiety, and the pressure of always having to show up
Why success doesn’t feel the way you think it will and how that messes with your head
The mindset shift that changed how they see work, growth, and ambition
How education became the heart of House of Vakai and why access matters
The truth about extensions, business myths, and why education is everything
Taking risks before you feel ready and backing yourself anyway
If you’ve ever:
Felt underestimated in this industry
Questioned whether you’re “good enough” to take the next step
Struggled silently while trying to lead others
Wondered if the hustle is actually worth it

This conversation is for you. You hear what it sounds like when people stop pretending they’ve got it all figured out and just tell the truth. Kaine and Ayden don’t sugarcoat the journey, but they also remind you why it’s worth staying in it, growing through it, and redefining what success looks like on your own terms
Links and Resources Mentioned:
Beauty Grail website: https://www.beautygrail.co
The Business Series by Kaine and Ayden Vakai: https://www.beautygrail.co/educators/kaine-and-ayden-vakai-d0f1429a
Jadore Hair Supplies: https://trade.jadorehairsupplies.com.au
Alex Loves Colour (pop-up hair foils & colouring tools): https://alexlovescolour.com.au
Natalie Anne Haircare (official haircare range): https://natalieanne.com/
Fone King (creator tools & MagSafe SnapStand accessories): https://foneking.com.au use code BEAUTY15
Haus Of Vakai Community page: https://www.instagram.com/hausofvakai_community

You’re not “just” a hairdresser and this industry is anything but small.

Not Just a Hairdresser is a podcast about leadership, entrepreneurship, and resilience in the hair and beauty industry, an industry that’s been overlooked, underestimated, and blazing a trail for decades.

Hosted by Ally, founder of The Beauty Grail, the podcast features bold hair and beauty leaders who are building real careers and businesses from the ground up.
Through raw conversations and real world experience, Ally uncovers what it actually takes to grow, scale, and succeed in an industry that doesn’t follow traditional rules.

If you’re ready to challenge the narrative, back yourself, and build something bigger than the chair, this podcast is for you.