Hair Till Dead’s Nikki Bishop named Ipswich’s best hairdresser for 2022

The votes are in and The Queensland Times can now reveal the best hairdresser in Ipswich as voted by readers. The talented stylist has built a loyal clientele over 16 years and found a unique niche, which is paying dividends.

Nikki Bishop always knew she wanted to be a hairdresser — now, she has more than 250 clients on an eight-week schedule and has been voted by The Queensland Times as Ipswich’s very best.

Her infatuation with the profession began when she was little, as she looked to the stylists in her life with wide-eyed admiration.

“They were always just so cool ... a whole other level of person,” Ms Bishop said.

“It’s the coolest job in the whole world. You can make people feel a million bucks. That’s pretty powerful.”

Hair Till Dead’s Nikki Bishop has been named Ipswich’s best hairdresser for 2022. Picture: Supplied

She undertook a hairdressing apprenticeship straight out of school, some 16 years ago, and went on to work in a number of salons across Ipswich; including as a senior stylist at three.

Hairdressing was like “second nature” to her and she loved meeting and getting to know her many clients.

“Everyone’s so interesting and has a different story,” she said.

By the time the Covid-19 pandemic arrived in Australia, Ms Bishop had acquired a loyal base of customers and found her niche in bright colour work.

She made the decision to open an at-home salon, Hair Till Dead — named, fittingly, because hairdressing is all she wants to do until she dies, which turned out to be the “best thing” she ever did for herself and her business.

“It was a mixture of Covid-19 and I just wanted more creative freedom,” she said.

“Being your own boss, you can do whatever you want.”

The mum-of-one said she loved the relaxed feel of her salon — which her clients would also appreciate, being with her for between eight and nine hours at a time — as well as the flexible lifestyle it offered.

Hair Till Dead’s Nikki Bishop has been named Ipswich’s best hairdresser for 2022. Picture: Supplied

Ms Bishop now spends her days dying people’s hair “every colour of the rainbow”, sometimes all at once.

“(My clients) are the most supportive, trusting people you’ve ever met. They’re just the best,” Ms Bishop said.

“(Hairdressing) is literally the highlight of my life.”

The Ipswich mum has plans to expand her spooky-vibe studio in the coming months and grow it from two to four chairs.

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” she said in a message to her clients.

You can find Ms Bishop on Instagram at @hair_till_dead.