C'ba Hair year of growth after triple tragedy
A bayside hairdresser has relived the heartbreaking moment she was told her salon was ablaze, and the trio of tragedies that confronted her within days.
Redlands Coast
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A bayside hairdresser has spoken about a heartbreaking series of events which ended with her salon going up in flames.
Owner of C’ba Hair Emma Hayes was caring for a friend’s daughter at Ronald McDonald House as the little girl battled cancer when she received a horrific call from her accountant.
“My local accountant was driving past at the time and he was there first when it lit up,” Ms Hayes said.
“He had tried calling me so many times.
“He said, ‘Emma your salon is on fire’.
“I went into shock, it was so awful.”
Moree bad luck arrived just one day before the 12-monoth anniversary of the fire when her new salon was broken into.
The door was broken down and cash from the salon and a donation box taken.
“I’m not money driven, I’m heart driven, I probably would’ve given (the thief) the $300 (they took).”
A woman was later sentenced for offences relating to the incident.
Ms Hayes said she had struggled keep her business afloat in the aftermath of the fire.
“You can imagine the stress it put on me,” she said.
“I had to pay the girls as well for three months while the salon was shut.”
However, a year later, and the launch of a new salon, Ms Hayes said she wouldn’t be where she is today without her team.
“I feel like we all stuck together,” she said.
“Through fire, through Covid, the girls had our backs as much as we had theirs.
“They are my why.”
She said the Redlands community has come together in support of the business after it was forced to close for the three months.
“The community have been really supportive of us and our clients have been amazing.”
Ms Hayes and her team was recently named finalists in two categories in the biggest hair awards in Australia.
“These awards are like the light of the end of the tunnel,” Ms Hayes said.
“To be in a room (with) some of idols and most respective hair industry icons, to win it would be unbelievable.”
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