The Sleek Boutique wins Mackay’s best hair colourist competition 2024

As voted by the public, Mackay’s best hair colourist said her boutique was “set up to support mums and families” who might struggle to bring their kids to other salons.

As voted by the public, Mackay’s best hair colourist said her boutique was “set up to support mums and families” who might struggle to bring their kids to other salons.

We asked Mackay to tell us who your favourite hair colourist was, and you answered.

The Sleek Boutique rose to the top of the ranks and owner-operator Sarah-Jane Treston said it was “definitely a surprise” to win Mackay’s Best Hair Colourist 2024.

“You never think that people would do that, so it’s nice to know I’m a valued salon owner,” Ms Treston said.

“I’m a little bit shocked because there are so many talents in Mackay.”

Sarah-Jane Treston of The Sleek Boutique won Mackay's Best Hair Colourist 2024. Photo: Contributed

She said her own experience inspired her to design the business to support mothers struggling to get time to themselves amid a childcare shortage.

Having started her career in hair at age 13 at her aunt’s Melbourne salon and run the Mount Pleasant Stefans salon for five years, Ms Treston started The Sleek Boutique in West Mackay after finding it difficult to return to her office job following her second child.

“I couldn’t even return to work myself, so I had to establish a way to work but give back to the mums that still can’t do that,” Ms Treston said.

“I saw a post with a well known hairdresser saying dogs are welcome but don’t bring your dirty kids — like, unfollow.

The Sleek Boutique’s child- friendly set up.

“A lot of salons say no kids and it really frustrates me because you’re totally cutting out that whole group of mothers who don’t have someone else to look after their kids.”

The Sleek Boutique now offers a “child-friendly salon” complete with toys, Netflix, or even babycinos to distract kids and allow their mums to relax.

Now a mum of three, Ms Treston said given the struggles families face as the cost of living rises, she was surprised other salons weren’t catering to mums as a target market.

With an estimated 80 per cent of her clients being mothers, Ms Treston said taking “one client at a time” to “give them the best service” possible was key.