For Crissy Dennis , hairdressing isn’t just about styling—it’s about creating a safe, uplifting space for women. From overcoming personal adversity to building a business rooted in connection and confidence, she’s on a mission to inspire and empower. In this Q&A, Crissy shares her journey, the challenges she’s faced, and why lifting women up is at the heart of everything she does.

Is there a woman in your life you admire or are inspired by? and why?
I feel blessed because I have so many women who I admire, every day I work, I meet women who have gone through life’s challenges, are amazing entrepreneurs, who make a difference in their world, battle cancer, raise children. I like to take these positive interactions to be more inspired & be better in my own life.

How do you positively influence the women around you?
I just be my authentic self, so that women understand that we are all human, we don’t have to be what social media portrays us to be, we all make mistakes, some days we are killing it & we have our s*** together, other days we don’t even brush our hair & serve noodles for dinner & that’s ok, because at the end of the day women are amazing exactly as we are.

What inspired you to start your business or pursue this career path?
Growing up in the country I didn’t have a lot of options for career, especially as a girl! Thankfully, I was creative & a people pleaser, so hairdressing seemed like the best option. My passion grew, along with my experience & drive to own my own business. After getting out of a DV relationship & learning about the cycles of abuse, I felt like I wanted to create space for women, where we could feel safe, unjudged & learn & heal together.

Was there a defining moment when you knew this was the right direction for you?
Every week I am reminded that this is the right direction, to see the smile on someone’s face because you have made them feel confident again or being thanked because you let them get whatever it was off their chest without judgement.

How did you navigate challenges early in your career?
With a positive mindset, nothing is ever a mistake, just a learning curve. All you need to do if you fall down, is get back up, dust off your knee & straighten your crown

What failure or setback are you most grateful for, and how did it shape who you are today? I had a major setback in 2022, when the salon was broken into 3 times over the course of 2 ½ weeks, this made a huge impact on the business financially & we are still recovering from this, however in this moment of despair, the community came together & showed us the most incredibly support, we had complete strangers offering help & messages that gave us hope, it was in this instant that I recognised that what we do has a positive impact & what you put out into the universe you will get back.

“I felt like I wanted to create space for women, where we could feel safe, unjudged & learn & heal together”

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
International Women’s Day is a celebration of women’s achievements, resilience, and strength. It’s a day to honour the progress made toward gender equality while recognizing the challenges that still exist. For me, it’s about community, empowerment, and lifting each other up—values that are at the heart of everything I do. It’s a reminder to celebrate women’s voices, support their dreams, and continue advocating for a world where every woman feels valued, heard, and empowered.