Two years ago, we took the keys to a space many Hobart locals will remember as I Do Hair and asked ourselves a simple question:
What if a hair salon could feel like an apothecary for hair and instead of I Do Hair- We make it a collective - Eye Am Hair experience.
A place that was equal parts sanctuary, curiosity shop, art gallery, and community living room.
Admittedly, the path to getting there involved some fairly ambitious ideas, a lot of creative problem-solving, and more than a few moments where I'd enthusiastically pitch something that sounded completely impossible.
Thankfully, I wasn't doing it alone.
Our incredible team threw themselves into the renovation, turning it into one giant team-building adventure. Together we painted, sanded, built, hauled furniture, made countless trips to Marketplace, and somehow transformed the space into what it is today. A huge thank you also goes to Bek Breen, who helped wrangle my wonderfully chaotic ideas into a design that felt cohesive while never losing the magic.
The inspiration was Art Nouveau, flowing lines, nature, craftsmanship, curves, and the belief that everyday spaces should be beautiful.
But the true heart of the salon is the mural, painted by my dad, Geoff De Main, it became the centrepiece that informed everything else. The colour palette, the feeling of the rooms, and the overall theme all grew from his artwork. It's impossible to separate the upstairs space from the mural itself, and we're so proud of it that we'll be sharing a dedicated feature on its story and creation very soon.
But the true heart of the salon is the mural
One of the things we love most about the salon is that it wasn't simply bought from a catalogue. So much of the furniture, décor, and little treasures have been lovingly foraged from Marketplace and second-hand finds. Sustainability has always been part of who we are, but there's also something special about giving beautiful old things a second life.
And honestly? The space still isn't finished.
That's one of our favourite parts.
We're constantly tweaking, collecting, restoring, and adding new foraged pieces to build on the vision. Little by little, we're creating an even more luxurious hair emporium, an apothecary-inspired space filled with beautiful objects, curiosities, plants, books, art, and thoughtful details that make every visit feel like an experience rather than just an appointment.
Like any good collection, it's evolving.
From the outside, Eye Am Hair proudly wears a rainbow. Upstairs, every room takes its own place within that spectrum. It's a reflection of our values and our commitment to creating an LGBTQIA+ friendly space where everyone is welcome to show up exactly as they are.
And while we're usually passionate about reducing our environmental footprint, June calls for one small exception.
As Hobart embraces the darkness of winter and the spirit of Dark Mofo, we'll be keeping the upstairs lights glowing into the evening so the mural can be enjoyed from the street below. It feels like the perfect time to share a little colour with the city, a warm invitation to look up, pause for a moment, and perhaps discover something unexpected.
Two years on, this upstairs space has become so much more than a renovation.
It's a labour of love built by family, friends, and an incredible team. It's recycled treasures and impossible ideas. It's art, colour, conversation, and community. It's a space that's still growing and changing, just like the people who fill it.
And perhaps that's exactly the point. Eye Am Hair was never meant to be finished. It was always meant to be collected, curated, and lived in, a little magical, a little eccentric, and a reminder that the most beautiful things are often the ones that evolve over time.
