Throughout Tracey Ryder’s enduring battle with bowel cancer, one simple pleasure has provided her with an escape from the endless medical appointments – a fortnightly visit to the hairdresser.
Ms Ryder's town of Tieri, in Queensland's Central Highlands, had been without a permanent hairdresser for about 12 months until sisters Jamie-Lee O'Reilly and Lisa Franco arrived last year.
"My hair is one thing that I've kept," Ms Ryder said.
"It grows really quickly from one of the [treatment] drugs. Usually hair falls out, but not this time for me.
"Every two weeks I need a haircut, so it's been wonderful to actually be able to just pop into our local patrons. The girls have been great."
The sisters had been living in regional New South Wales when Ms O'Reilly decided to move her family to Tieri for her husband to explore other work endeavours.
Ms O'Reilly saw an opportunity to start a hairdressing and beauty salon with Ms Franco, who had also decided on a tree change.
Welcomed by locals 'with open arms'
The sisters' venture meant the end of a two-hour round trip for locals to get a haircut – and it wasn't long before business was booming.
"The salon just went running, it really took off … and we love every minute of it," Ms O'Reilly said.
"I really thought we would be out and about chasing people, but they have just welcomed us with open arms and been so supportive, so welcoming, so lovely.
"It really took me by surprise. Coming from a small coastal town, I thought we would have had to put a lot of work in, but they trust us and it's amazing."
Having a hairdresser nearby also means a new opportunity for locals like Cherie Harvey to socialise.
"We definitely need that because it is isolating … living in such a small little town," she said.
"Because a lot of people leave their families to come and live out here, so you don't have that sort of support.
"You really rely on the friendships that like you form out here. That's super important."
Lisa Franco covers the beauty services of the business. She was "stoked" to be able to provide a space for friendship in the tiny mining town.
"It's just been the best thing that's ever happened," Ms Franco said.
"It's just like a different world here."
More hairdressers go regional
According to Jobs and Skills Australia, almost half of the country's hairdressers live and work outside of capital cities.
The Australian Hairdressing Council (AHC) said it could be due to the draw of a regional lifestyle.
"It's much easier to live in a regional area, whether it's the parking, whether it's even rent, or there are less barriers for getting into business," said AHC chief executive Sandy Chong.
She said after the pandemic, more hairdressers were looking at moving out of the city.
"Over the years, there's been a lot of changes in how we view a regional business as compared to a CBD business," Ms Chong said.
"We used to think years ago that the CBD was the place to go, but I think digitalisation has certainly changed how we look at businesses now.
"Regional salons are certainly fantastic, [especially] when we look at how they introduce themselves to their communities via social media."
But Ms Chong said there were some downsides to working in and owning regional businesses, such as delays in the supply chain.
"Even for my own salon [in Newcastle] it takes a good four days for me to get my stock," she said.
"If we look at the training package, it doesn't always cater for our regional areas.
"It needs to be more flexible because if you're in Far North Queensland, it's very different to if you are in Launceston."
But no matter what challenges are ahead for Ms O'Reilly, she and her sister are set on staying in Tieri and supporting the town's residents.
"I'm here for them …. you know, it's that's what I want to do," she said.
