Tom Cole breaks silence on feud with Joh Bailey and Mariah Rota

The man at the centre of Double Bay’s hair stylist saga Tom Cole has opened up on his high-profile feud with former boss Joh Bailey and ex-wife Mariah Rota. He also revealed a new love.

High profile hair stylist Tom Cole says “there’s more than enough clients to go around” in the wake of the dramatic blow up which saw Sydney’s ‘it crowd’ divided between three warring salons in blue ribbon Double Bay.

Mr Cole, 31, formerly worked as a stylist at celebrity hairdresser Joh Bailey’s salon along with his then-girlfriend Mariah Rota.

However after drama soon unfolded with Mr Bailey at the couple’s lavish destination wedding in Bali with reports the celebrity stylist behaved rudely, was asked to leave and fired the newlyweds.

Mr Cole and Ms Rota subsequently set up a competing salon, Cole Hair Studio, just around the corner.

Tom Cole styles a client in his fabulous new salon.Picture: Justin Lloyd.

The salon is in a prime location on Cross Street. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

The marriage was short lived.

Ms Rota received Cole Hair Studio in the divorce settlement and so a year ago, Mr Cole opened a third rival salon in Double Bay – Tom Hair Studios.

After their break up, Mr Cole was spotted with Kristin Fisher, who is also a prominent figure on the Double Bay scene.

Mr Cole told the Wentworth Courier he had moved on and was now in a stable relationship with a gorgeous new partner, paralegal Courtney Best.

With new love paralegal Courtney Best.

And ex-wife Mariah Rota. Picture: Christian Gilles

With the business going from strength to strength he said he wanted to put the saga behind him once and for all.

“The last few years have been very rocky,” Mr Cole said.

“I was quite ignorant for a period of my life, my late 20s. I hurt a lot of people, didn’t realise what I was doing at the time.

“I took a year off, took a step back and really focused on myself

“I think it’s the best thing I’ve ever done, having that year off. Just working on myself, working on what makes me happy again, working on building myself up. I think that really gets translated, transferred back into the new business.”

When asked if he had anything to say to the others involved in the drama, Mr Cole revealed he no longer held any grudges.

“I wish everyone all the best,” he said.

“I’m a lot more humbled, grounded, down to earth – sort of happier overall.

“It’s good. I’m not as crazy as I used to be. I think I’m in a really good spot in my life. I’m very happy and in a great happy, healthy relationship.”

Celebrity hair dresser Joh Bailey. Picture: John Appleyard

Mr Cole revealed he met Ms Best, 22, at Ravesis in Bondi in September 2020 and started dating her that Christmas.

The loved up pair share a home in Potts Point and a cavalier puppy named Hugo.

The couple unintentionally spent six weeks in Thailand over the summer after a Covid diagnosis for Ms Best left them stranded.

Despite proximity to his former rivals – Joh Bailey is on Knox Street, Cole Hair Studio on New South Head Road and Tom Hair Studios on Cross Street – Mr Cole said he has no regrets with his team of seven usually fully booked with many high profile clients.

Bachelor star Abbie Chatfield, actor Jodi Gordon, Australia’s Got Talent winner Jack Vidgen and influencers Ella Cervetto and Ashleigh Menin are among the salon’s many fans.

“It (Double Bay) was always the place I was going to open a shop,” Mr Cole said.

“Everyone said I was stupid to do it, no one said it was the right decision, but I just knew deep down it was.

“It’s worked fantastically and there’s more than enough clients to go around for everyone.”