BELLA DONNA: STRENGTH, SOUL & SALON MASTERY

The story of Kala Duffy and her powerhouse collective in Bundaberg.

By Louise May

Kala Duffy never planned on being a hairdresser. Like many, she grew up with the idea that hairdressing was what you did if you weren’t bright enough to do something else. But life, as it often does, had a different plan.

As a teenager, Kala was already cutting boys’ hair across the road from school and doing up styles for discos, for a fee, of course. When her grandparents and a friend’s sister approached her with the idea of opening a salon and offering her an apprenticeship, she was a little lost and unsure of her path. She said yes. That moment would quietly shape everything that followed.

In May 2003, Bella Donna Hair Salon opened its doors in Bundaberg, a tiny 20m² space with three chairs, two basins, and a whole lot of second-hand furniture. Kala began her apprenticeship on opening day. By February 2007, at just 21, she had completed her training and bought the salon outright.

A Clearer Vision

At the time, Kala didn’t think she had a vision. But looking back, she can see it was always there. “I wanted to be known for doing quality hair, not just being the affordable option,” she says. “I wanted a clean, beautiful space where people could feel comfortable, and where I felt good showing up every day.”

That clarity has only grown stronger with time. Today, Bella Donna has a defined vision, mission statement, policies, procedures, and proudly holds Gold Accreditation with the Australian Hairdressing Council.

“I used to be embarrassed to say I was a hairdresser. I wanted to build something I could be proud of—something that would change the stigma.”

Bigger Space, Bigger Impact

In 2008, Kala moved Bella Donna into a larger space with seven chairs, finally creating the atmosphere and experience she had imagined. Fast forward to today and the salon has just undergone a full renovation—gutted and transformed to accommodate 11 stations, four basins, and the biggest team Kala has ever had: four seniors, three apprentices, and one rent-achair stylist.

Adaptability has always been a strength. “We evolve as times change. I’m open to feedback and never afraid of hard work,” she shares. That grit is part of Kala’s DNA. She moved out of home at 15. She worked six days a week for the first seven years, only closing at Christmas. “I wasn’t one of those kids you’d bet on to succeed,” she says. “But I’ve always liked proving to myself, and others, that I can do what people think I can’t.”

From day one, she ran Bella Donna like a business. She knew where every dollar went, only drew a wage, and never relied on backup plans. That mindset, along with her business acumen, meant the salon grew year on year.

Coaching, Mentorship & Self-Growth

By 2019, Kala knew she’d taken the business as far as she could on her own. She’d only ever worked in Bella Donna and was craving outside perspective. Enter business coach Faye Murray. “Faye helped me look at my business in a completely new way,” Kala says. “She supported my dream to shadow other salons, a dream I didn’t have the network to pursue, until she opened those doors.”

Since then, Kala has visited salons around Australia, learning, growing, and connecting with like-minded owners. She makes it a goal to do this twice a year.

She’s also grateful to have an accountant who acts as a mentor, constantly challenging her limiting beliefs and pushing her to grow further. These mentors have been instrumental not only in business but also in helping Kala find the confidence to step into her role as a leader.

The Heart Behind It All

There’s another layer to Kala’s story, one that speaks to her resilience and drive in a different way. She’s also a mum to an 11-year-old son with brain damage, uncontrolled epilepsy, and a severe intellectual impairment. Life is busy, often challenging, and certainly not simple.

But for Kala, it’s part of what fuels her.

“It’s not easy, but it shows my daughter what’s possible. That you can be a present mum and still build something strong. That anything is achievable.”

Building a Culture That Feels Like Home

Culture wasn’t easy in the beginning. “I always knew the kind of environment I wanted for myself and my team, but creating that, learning to manage people, personalities, and hold boundaries, all took time.”

Only in the last five years has Kala felt truly confident in that space.

Bella Donna now runs daily 30-minute team meetings, closes for one week every school holidays and two weeks at Christmas, and works hard on building a space where both clients and team members feel safe, supported and seen.

They work on gratitude, vulnerability, open communication, and mutual respect. “It’s about creating the kind of workplace I’d want to be part of,” Kala says.

And it’s working. Staff retention is the highest it’s ever been. The team describes the culture as inclusive, collaborative, ego-free, calm, and connected.

Team First, Always

Kala hires for fit. “No egos. That’s the first thing I look for.”

Instead of chasing seniors, the team focuses on growing their own. Apprentices are supported from day one. One just qualified after starting with Bella Donna as a school-based apprentice.

Kala also invests in each team member’s unique strengths. One stylist now manages their social media, having completed a 12-week course. Another, with 20+ years’ experience, is their in-house educator, off the floor for three hours a week, training apprentices, and certified in training and assessing.

When the team renovated last year, two local salons generously hosted them so they could keep trading, an experience that challenged everyone to step out of their comfort zones and grow.

Training That’s Personal, Purposeful & Ongoing

Education is central to Bella Donna’s ethos.

• Weekly three-hour apprentice sessions with the in-salon educator

• Second-year apprentices earn their scissor licences via Elite Hair Education (with three trips to Brisbane)

• In-salon team training every six weeks

• Two guest artists brought to Bundaberg each year—this year it’s Nathan Yip and Sara Briscoe

• Each team member chooses 2–4 development courses annually

• Soft skills training with L’Oréal every six weeks, focused on consultation, connection and communication

• Completed the Super Stylist program with Antony Whitaker, and doing it again this year

And it doesn’t stop there.

Every three months, the salon closes for a Wellness Day. These days are all about connection, awareness and fun. Past sessions include gratitude workshops, nutrition talks, meditation, ice baths, pole dancing, goal setting, and even physio sessions to talk about longevity in the trade. Coming up? A psychologist covering stress and anxiety, and a financial advisor teaching budgeting and superannuation.

Real, Raw & Respected

Bella Donna is known for being real. “We don’t cut corners. We don’t overpromise. We’re honest, welcoming, and genuine. That’s what sets us apart.”

Even other hairdressers book in. “They tell us it’s non-judgemental here. They love what we do.”

Kala has also started building a local network of like-minded salons called Connect and Elevate. They share guest artists, host networking mornings, and collaborate instead of competing. Past speakers include Sandy Chong and Faye Murray.

The team describes Bella Donna as consistent, professional, welcoming, and warm. “We build real relationships,” one says. “Clients feel it the second they walk in.”

What’s Next?

Two main focuses: deepening client connections and launching new education initiatives for the region, especially for apprentices. When the salon rebranded as Bella Donna The Hair Collective, it quietly hinted at something bigger on the horizon.

“We’ve got a project in the pipeline around foundational skills education. It’s still under wraps, but it’s big,” Kala says.

The team is also entering the AHIA Business Awards for the first time— something Kala calls “nerve-wracking but exciting.” By year’s end, they’ll have two more qualified apprentices.

Rising From Rock Bottom

After COVID, the salon lost half its team. Three weeks of uncertainty, rules changing daily, and team members leaving the industry or starting new careers. Then in mid-2021, they were hit again. Within three months, almost the entire team was gone.

Kala sent an email to clients saying she could no longer take on anyone new. “It was soul-destroying. I didn’t know if we’d survive.”

But a client said something that changed her: “If you can keep the doors open, it can only get better from here.”

That flicked a switch.

“I rebuilt from scratch, with intention. I found people who aligned with my values. It ended up being the best thing that ever happened to the business.”

Today, Bella Donna stands strong... shaped by resilience, fuelled by purpose, and led by a woman who never gave up

@belladonnathehaircollective