LOCAL BUSINESS AWARDS FINALIST!

In July 2024, VALHALLA HAIR was nominated for “Outstanding New Business” in the prestigious Local Business Awards.

Thanks to your votes, I became the FIRST dreadlock business to become a finalist in these Awards.

Thank you, Warriors!

Dreadlocks are a very niche hair style, so being given the opportunity to set and promote a professional standard for something misunderstood and even considered taboo or “dirty”, as well as represent all dreadheads & dread lovers at a “mainstream” event, was an absolute honour!

The Central Coast Local Business Awards Night on the 4th of September at Mingara Recreation Centre was like stepping into a grand hall of professionals, and truth be told, I wasn’t eager to enter the fray. My past in the corporate world meant I had weathered many of these battles - presentation evenings & awards nights, all filled with the sharp-eyed gaze of these professionals. As a dreadlocked, tattooed, and pierced shieldmaiden, my appearance has always been judged as “unprofessional,” and these gatherings of the polished and proper always felt like enemy territory. But this time, I had a mission. My clients and followers had cast their votes, and they stood proud of VALHALLA HAIR’s meteoric rise, especially in this past year. I could not let my tribe down!

I took this as a chance to march into the heart of those who often misunderstand or judge alternative appearances. So, I scrimped, saved, and fought tooth and nail to afford the $500+ golden tickets—my passage to this battlefield.

The journey began with my dear friend Dani from Valhalla Hair and Beauty, a true sorceress of the hair arts.
She wove her magic, transforming my mane into a glorious curly crown that even Freya herself would envy.

I added some curly dread extensions that I made, and a Valkyrie Wing Feather Clip.

I felt as fierce as a shieldmaiden and as graceful as a Valkyrie!

Viking Cam and I donned our armor in black and gold, matching not just the colors of my new Studio, but the very theme of the awards night itself.
The fates had aligned!

As I strode into the hall, I was the lone warrior with dreadlocks, my sparkly dress catching the flashing lights like a beacon drawing all eyes upon me. Though I’m no stranger to battle, I am unaccustomed to such attention - like a mighty Yule tree ablaze with lights, I found myself swarmed by a horde of kind souls offering compliments. Some even likened my outfit to “gladiator armor”, and hailed me as “a blonde Xena Warrior Princess.”

The “so what do you do” conversations flowed as freely as the champagne, and I found myself in deep discussions with strangers about the art of dreadlocks. Even the hair stylists took an interest, intrigued by the uniqueness of “what I had done with my hair”.

With every sip, I felt the confidence of a shieldmaiden swell within me. I then realized that this was not just an awards night, but the first true “date night” for Cam and me in over three years- a chance to revel and rejoice!
The feast was bountiful, the entertainment electrifying, and our tablemates, from wedding celebrants to building inspectors, IT techs to real estate agents, were as varied as the warriors of a great mead hall.

In the great contest of “Outstanding New Business,” I stood among giants.
My category was fierce, filled with a multitude of businesses from across the Central Coast, home to 350,000 souls.
Most victors were large teams, and as Cam reminded me, I stood there as a lone warrior who built this entire business from the ground up, all by myself.

Reflecting on that, I felt a surge of pride- just being there was a victory of its own.

Though I did not claim the prize, witnessing the joy and gratitude of the winners was a special kind of triumph. We are all warriors in our own right, fighting daily battles to grow and thrive.
To share that spirit with hundreds of other professionals was an honor.
Congratulations to all the finalists and winners!

And as the night came to a close, I knew that my presence had made a mark.

Perhaps one soul left with a different view of dreadlocks, a seed of understanding planted. That was the true victory I sought.

Skål to the journey, and to every warrior forging their path!