Newsfeed
It’s not often you’re able to pinpoint your passion when you’re just a teenager, let alone creating that into a fully-fledged career, but for Jennie Davies it’s a dream that became a reality.
From her early days sweeping floors at a local hair salon in the UK to styling celebrities and royalty in Dubai, Jennie now runs one of the most successful salons in the emirate, The NEST Dubai, and has built an inspiring career rooted in creativity, grit, and a genuine love for making people feel their best.
After globe-trotting, she found her home in the UAE in 2009, and now credits it for shaping her success and nurturing her entrepreneurial spirit. Today, as the founder of one of Dubai’s most beloved boutique salons, she wears many hats: hairstylist, mentor, businesswoman, and visionary.
In this edition of the GRAZIA Career Edit, she details her leap from stylist to salon owner, and the highs and hurdles along the way.
My current role is…
Salon owner, manager & hair stylist.
When I was younger, I wanted to be…
I always wanted to be a hair stylist.
My favourite subject at school was…
Art.
My first job was…
In a hair salon, I worked part-time in a salon some evenings and weekends from 14, then I started working full-time in a salon at 16 years old.
My career path so far has been…
Starting out in England as an apprentice at 16 years old, after qualifying, I left the UK to work in spas on luxury cruise ships that travelled the world for several years. Eventually, settling on land for a while in the Cayman Islands, running the salon at the Ritz-Carlton. After that, I moved to Bermuda, and then New Zealand, and finally moved to Dubai in 2009, working in various leading high-end salons and managing two salons prior to opening The Nest Salon.
The role the UAE has played in my career is…
The UAE has been incredible for my career, and I’m truly grateful to call it my home. The opportunities here are amazing, offering a dynamic environment where careers can flourish rapidly. I always said yes to every opportunity that would come my way. I’ve had the privilege of working on prestigious fashion shows, photo shoots, being featured in magazines, and having the opportunity to do hair for celebrities and royalty. Beyond that, with a lot of hard work, I’ve built a thriving business with a loyal and supportive clientele, all of which wouldn’t have been possible without the vibrant industry in the UAE.
The story of The NEST Salon is…
I met my business partner and friend, Inger, in the Cayman Islands, where we worked together in our 20s. After convincing her to also move to Dubai, we remained here and in 2022 decided to open our first private hair studio together, consisting of 3 chairs. We were thinking of a name, I suggested The Nest as the space was so cosy and small and surrounded by the sound of birds outside. Inger went home that evening and discovered a bird had made a nest on her balcony tree at home, so it was a sign, to name it that. And as we moved to our new and bigger location, the Nest Salon name stuck with us.
I was inspired to enter the beauty space because…
There was never any question of doing anything else. I was always a very girly girl growing up and loved all things hair and beauty from a young age. It was my passion, I loved being creative and making people feel good through hair and beauty.
My daily routine consists of…
Im an early bird and often wake up at 5am, its when I have my best ideas, My day starts with a walk with my dog, followed by mandatory coffee and get ready for work, my working days are usually very hectic and busy with clients, any spare moment not doing hair is focused on the business side of things and our team, after work im very chilled, I love nothing more being at home chilling with my pets, cooking, or going out trying new spots dinner and seeing friends.
My role as Founder entails…
As the founder of The Nest Salon, my role extends far beyond hairstyling. I am responsible for overseeing the overall vision, growth, and success of the business. This includes managing all the day-to-day operations, building a talented team, and ensuring we provide exceptional services to our clients that align with our brand’s standards. I also focus on business development, marketing, and client experience, constantly finding ways to innovate and elevate our services and experience. Additionally, growing a strong team and culture, mentoring the team, and maintaining our reputation as a leading salon in Dubai’s beauty industry. Ultimately, our goal is to create a happy space where both clients and our staff members feel valued, inspired, and empowered.
The biggest hurdle I have experienced in my career…
The biggest hurdle I’ve faced as a hairstylist turned salon owner has been learning the business side of the industry. As hairstylists, we are trained in the art of hair, focusing on creativity and our passion, but running a business is an entirely different challenge. No one teaches you how to manage finances, marketing, operations, or leadership; it’s something I’ve had to learn along the way. Finding the right balance between my passion for hairstyling and the demands of business management has been a journey of growth and adaptation.
The biggest milestone I have achieved is…
Opening a salon, and so proud watching it grow and our team flourish and achieve their goals.
A quote I live by is…
What’s meant to be will always find a way, often even better than you ever imagined
What I hope for 2025 is…
New opportunities, more success and expansion and happiness.
