Creating a Sensory-Friendly Salon Experience for Every Child at StarKids – An Interview with Founder Nisha Ambwani
Nisha Ambwani is on a mission to redefine the children's wellness industry through StarKids, a revolutionary salon and spa designed to create joyful, inclusive, and confidence-boosting experiences for children. Founded in Melbourne in 2021, StarKids was born from Nisha's deep passion for nurturing emotional and physical well-being, a vision that has now expanded globally with the launch of its first international branch in Dubai. Committed to sustainability, sensory-friendly services, and chemical-free products, StarKids is more than a salon—it's a sanctuary where every child feels valued and celebrated.
Beyond business, Nisha is dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs by launching a global franchise model, offering them the opportunity to be part of a movement that combines purpose and profitability. Recognized among Australia's Top 50 Small Business Leaders and a finalist for the 2024 Ausmumpreneur Rising Star of the Year, she continues to inspire with her relentless pursuit of excellence and inclusivity. In this interview, Nisha shares her journey, the driving force behind StarKids, and her vision for the future of children's wellness worldwide. What inspired you to start StarKids, and what was the journey like in transitioning from your initial idea to establishing a fully operational salon for children?
StarKids was founded based on my childhood experiences, particularly after losing my father to a brain tumor at a young age. This shaped my belief in the importance of positive childhood experiences for building confidence and security. With a background in child psychology, education, and teaching, I saw a gap in the market for a salon catering specifically to children's needs.
In 2021, I launched the first StarKids salon in Melbourne, Australia, and later expanded internationally to Dubai, where we opened our first branch last year. We are now preparing to launch another branch soon and plan to offer franchise opportunities in the future. The journey has been incredibly exciting and a dream come true.
StarKids goes beyond being just a regular salon—we create a tailored, stress-free experience for children with autism, sensory sensitivities, disabilities, anxiety, and haircut-related phobias. We offer extended appointment times and work closely with parents to understand each child's needs. Our specially trained hairdressers use this information to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable visit, making every haircut a positive experience through collaboration and care.
To make the experience as relaxing as possible, we offer personalized accommodations, such as playing the child's favorite music or shows on iPads, providing fidget toys, and offering books to keep them engaged. Whether it's extra time, additional attention, or a calming approach, we do everything we can to help the child feel at ease during their appointment.
Our staff undergoes regular specialized training, covering child behavior management, communication techniques, and effective ways to interact with children. Through these training sessions, we emphasize the importance of using positive reinforcement to bring out not just the child's outer beauty but also their confidence and inner beauty.
For example, if a hairdresser is giving a child a haircut, she might say, "You look amazing! You're like a little princess!" This combination of skill and encouraging communication helps create a joyful and reassuring experience.
Hiring the right team is crucial, as working with children requires patience, energy, and the ability to create a warm, inviting atmosphere. Fortunately, I feel incredibly blessed to work with a team that is not only talented and skilled but also compassionate, kind, and generous. I am very proud of them and grateful to have such dedicated professionals by my side.
The hair donation initiative is very close to my heart. In Australia, we are associated with Hair with Heart , a charity that creates wigs for children with cancer and alopecia. These conditions can deeply affect children, as losing their hair at a young age can significantly impact their self-confidence.
When a young client comes in for a big chop, we encourage them to consider donating their hair to a child in need. As a token of appreciation, we provide a hair donation certificate as a thank-you for their generosity. Through this initiative, we aim to instill values of kindness and compassion in children, ensuring these virtues continue to thrive in future generations. What are the key procurement challenges in sourcing non-toxic products for StarKids, and how do you evaluate suppliers to ensure both safety and cost-effectiveness?
As a mother of two, I found it incredibly challenging to find the right, high-quality products for my kids, and I believe this is a struggle for many parents. At StarKids, we conduct thorough research on products and collaborate with suppliers and distributors who share our values and mission of prioritizing children's wellness. If a brand's core purpose aligns with this, we know we are on the same page.
I am incredibly proud to work with some of the top kids' brands globally, sourcing products from Australia, New Zealand, Europe, the USA, and the UK. Our suppliers and distributors are committed to children's well-being, and we ensure that every product meets high standards of safety, quality, and affordability. We carefully evaluate ingredients, test for quality, and ensure products are ethically sourced, eco-friendly, and non-toxic.
For parents, this means complete peace of mind—when they pick up a product at StarKids, they can trust that it is safe for their children. From a business perspective, maintaining a well-curated selection of high-quality products doesn't require a massive investment, as we retail a variety of best-selling and niche products. Ultimately, StarKids serves as a one-stop shop for parents looking for trusted, kid-friendly products from around the world. You were recognized among the Top 50 Small Business Leaders—what does this achievement mean to you and StarKids?
It's a tremendous honor and a humbling recognition for myself, my team, and the children we serve. It acknowledges the hard work we put in every day and the meaningful impact we are making in children's lives. This achievement has also reinforced my belief that entrepreneurship, when approached with social responsibility, can be a powerful tool for creating waves of positive change in any industry. What is the next big achievement that you want to be known for?
I envision growing StarKids into a franchise model, inviting like-minded women entrepreneurs who share a passion for children's wellness to join my mission. My goal is to build a strong community of women entrepreneurs, expanding the business while fostering empowerment. I truly believe in women supporting women, and I want to create opportunities for more women to step forward and be part of this journey. StarKids is positioned as a premium service. How do you make it accessible to children who may not typically have access to such experiences?
While StarKids is positioned as a premium service, accessibility remains a core priority. Our marketing team continuously offers promotional discounts and special deals to ensure children from all backgrounds can benefit from our services. A key example of this was in Australia after COVID-19 when we faced a major cost-of-living crisis. Following one of the world's longest lockdowns, as children returned to school, we partnered with local schools to provide discounted haircuts, ensuring that every child could access our services. Initiatives like these help us reach a wider community and make our offerings more inclusive. Have you explored partnerships with schools, therapy centers, or hospitals to extend StarKids' services to children who might benefit from a specialized grooming experience?
Absolutely! We are always seeking partnerships and collaborations with child-focused organizations, including schools, hospitals, therapy centers, and sports events. We actively participate in fundraising and sponsorships for sports and charitable initiatives, ensuring we reach as many children as possible. Since launching in Dubai in September 2024, we have been exploring more collaborations to expand our impact. We are currently in discussions with Al Jalila Hospital and hope to organize events with them soon. Our goal is to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children wherever we can. A visit to a salon is often a short experience—how do you create lasting memories and a meaningful impact on children?
StarKids goes beyond being just a regular salon. Even small milestones, like a child's first haircut, are turned into lasting memories with a first haircut certificate, a lock of hair in a keepsake box, and a Polaroid picture taken on the spot. We also offer dad-and-son haircut packages and mom-and-daughter mani-pedi sessions, as well as special birthday experiences. Giving a child a physical gift may bring momentary joy, but spending quality time together—like a mini manicure for their birthday—creates cherished memories that last a lifetime. At StarKids, we want every child to feel valued, celebrated, and special, and our team is dedicated to making that happen. Running a specialized salon like StarKids must come with unique challenges. What's something people would be surprised to learn about the realities of operating a business focused entirely on children?
From the outside, people might see a colorful, cheerful space and think, "What a fun business to run!" Many assume that managing a children's salon is just about business acumen, but that's only the tip of the iceberg. What truly lies beneath is the emotional aspect of running the business—it runs deep. You need a profound understanding of child psychology and behavior, coupled with compassion, kindness, and generosity. If you don't connect with parents, families, and children on an emotional level, you won't be able to make a meaningful impact on their lives. The depth of the emotional connection required is something that isn't immediately visible but is at the heart of everything we do. Also Read:
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