The Stylist Series
Samantha Krupie from Pearl Rock Hair Extensions
We’ve been dreaming of this for so long…
Welcome to the first edition of The Stylist Series! Our monthly feature where we share inspiring stories from our incredible students and Trade Partners who have taken the leap into the world of hair extensions and transformed their businesses.
We’re so excited to start this series with Samantha Krupie, the founder of Pearl Rock Hair Extensions.
Samantha’s journey from owning a boutique to becoming an award-winning hair extension artist is nothing short of inspiring. From her closing down her dream clothing boutique due to the Covid pandemic and starting a whole new career, to winning Samantha Harrison’s Rising Star award at THE Awards 2025, her story is a testament to passion, and the power of reinvention at any time.
Join us as we Chat with Samantha about her business transformation and how Pearl Rock Hair Extensions has become a flourishing business, touching the lives of countless clients.
The Stylist Series:
Q&A with Samantha Krupie
What inspired you to take the leap and join the SH Masterclass?
"After making the heartbreaking decision to close down my dream clothing boutique, Pearl Rock Boutique, following almost two whole years of Covid lockdowns in Melbourne, I decided to go back to my corporate career. I was totally unfulfilled but had a reliable income again. During the pandemic, I had noticed that each time a lockdown ended, all my regular customers were rushing to get their hair and nails done, but not to buy new clothes.
Over 20 years of having worn extensions, I had had a few girls who did my hair, who were either self-taught or not trained hairdressers, and I thought to myself, “If they can do it, so can I.” I never acted on it, but the thought was always at the back of my mind.
One day, I saw Sam Harrison comment on a Facebook group post, about how you didn’t have to be a hairdresser to do extensions and my interest was piqued. I quickly headed over to Instagram to follow her and spent the next few months watching all of her posts, dreaming about being self-employed again and deliberating over whether I could afford to invest in an online masterclass and be disciplined enough to complete it… and then, Sam announced that she would be hosting her first ever, in-person training in Melbourne. Without hesitation. I signed up and the rest is history…"
Where were you at in your career before the course and what made you ready for a change?
"I had spent my career alternating between completely subordinate roles, as a C-suite executive assistant, and being self-employed. The contrast was extreme but having had a taste of being my own boss, I knew that I had to work on a long-term goal to reinstate myself as a business owner. I was ready for my next business the moment I closed the door to my boutique but I had to be patient. All good things take time!"
What were you hoping to get out of the SH Masterclass, and did it live up to the hype?
"I was hoping to learn a new skill which could open up a new door for me. I knew I had the potential to be a great hair extension technician but I strongly believed that it was important to complete formal education before anything else. I didn’t want to just fumble my way through, working on people’s hair without any form of proper training.
It absolutely lived up to the hype! I got to learn from one of, if not the most, respected hair extension educator in Australia and I have literally turned, what started out as an idea, into my full time career."
How has your confidence or business changed since?
"Oh my goodness! I remember my first ever weft install on a real client. I was trembling and it took me around four hours to complete two rows. I had impostor syndrome so badly and faced some criticism from hairdressers, because I wasn’t a hairdresser. A hairdresser friend whom I had known for number of years even unfollowed me when I announced I had started my hair extension business!
My partner encouraged me to persevere and keep trying to gain new clients. I started out with a handful of clients who put their trust in me and over the next two and a half years, I became fully booked for weeks in advance. A large proportion of my clients have come from word-of-mouth referrals and knowing that my clients have been so happy with my work has really been a huge confidence boost."
Biggest win or pinch-me moment since launching Pearl Rock?
"It goes without saying that winning Samantha Harrison’s Rising Star award at The Awards is the absolute highlight of my whole career, not just since starting PRHE. I still find it absolutely surreal that I won that award and having that sort of recognition means so much to me, because I have truly poured my heart and soul into my business and live and breathe hair extensions.
The second pinch-me moment, was when I tendered my resignation to my employer, once I had decided that I was ready to take my hair extension business from part time to full time. For years, I had listened to stories of how others had grown their businesses to the point where they could take them on full time and now, that was finally me! The feeling of shutting down my laptop on my last day of work was so satisfying."
What’s it like being part of the SH Trade Partner fam?
"I love being part of the SH Trade Partner fam! Knowing that I’m giving my clients the highest-quality hair, knowing I am supporting a wonderful, independent businesswoman and being involved in Sam’s growing empire is an awesome feeling. Having access to a local supplier who has carefully designed a range of colours best-suited to the Australian market, which can be delivered within a week, is so good."
Has it made a difference to your growth?
"Absolutely! I have learned so much from some amazing women around me. There are so many wonderful people in the hair industry and I’m not only learning about that, but about mindset, alignment and this time around, I’m doing things with so much more discipline and mindfulness than I did when I had my boutique. It’s like a second chance at business."
What’s one of your biggest lessons or ‘aha’ moments from this whole journey so far?
"One of the biggest takeaways I have had from this journey is that “when you teach others, you learn yourself”. It’s something Sam said to me and something that a very wise CFO that I worked for also said to me – he was a wonderful mentor. I love sharing my knowledge or experience with others and really believe that when you share that with someone who admires you, you glean so much. Since winning Sam’s Rising Star award, several newer hair extension techs have introduced themselves to me and this week, I am hosting my first shadow day in my salon for one of those girls. It’s such an honour and I can’t wait to share the day with her."
What’s next for you and Pearl Rock? Any exciting plans in the pipeline?
"The last six months have seen such a lot of growth and my big goal of quitting my day job was something I was able to achieve at the end of the financial year and it took me two and a half years to achieve. It’s been so incredibly busy behind the chair, I am still catching my breath and trying to find the time for future goal setting. At the top of my list, is refining my processes and policies, a salon refresh and facelift for my website. I have bigger goals for the long-term, but ticking off these smaller goals are my priority in the short-term."
Your go-to advice for anyone thinking about getting into extensions?
"DO IT, GIRL (OR BOY)!! It is the most fulfilling, rewarding and incredible career (and I have had a diverse array of roles in my 20+ year career).
Picture this: you get to give your clients absolutely FABULOUS hair every day; you get to play an integral part in boosting their confidence; you become a confidante and friend to dozens of beautiful women and you get to choose your own hours, choose your own salary, choose your own location… need I say more?"
Favourite SH product or colour to work with?
"I don’t even have to think about this one! Signature range mini wefts in colour #5-60. It works so well on so many clients and everyone loves it! I absolutely love this colour!"
Anything you want to share with the SH community?
"Practise, persistence and patience would be my three keys when starting out.
Practise your craft until you become confident, until you can increase your speed and improve your technique. And don’t stop practising. Work on refining your techniques and making your installs the best that you can.
Be persistent. Put your name out there every chance you can, post to the local Facebook groups so people know who you are, consume as much valuable information as you can from hair and beauty coaches (there is so much useful information available on so many platforms, especially on podcasts and YouTube), keep searching for your next client and never give up.
Patience is key. You won’t get fully booked for a long time, especially if you’re brand new to hair… but, in time, you will be, you just need to be patient. You client base will build and if you are consistently practising and doing your best work, they’ll refer their friends, sisters, mums and daughters and before you know it, you’ll be fully booked!
The other thing I want to say is, always, always work as though the next person who is going to be looking underneath your client’s hair is another hairdresser, not you. Make sure that when her hairdresser goes to do her foils or her shampoo, she is asking her, “who does your extensions? They’re amazing!” There is no better reassurance to your client that she is using the right hair extension technician, than the compliments from another hairdresser."
And lastly…Complete this sentence: “The best part about being a hair extension artist is…”
"Being able to completely transform someone’s look and confidence with a couple of packs of hair! It’s the absolute best feeling in the world. I have a lot of clients who are first time hair extension wearers, and their reaction when I flick their new hair forward is priceless – from smiles, to gasps, to tears (happy ones, of course)! Someone should bottle that feeling!"
What a women! We’re beyond inspired by Samatha's story and so incredibly proud to have her as apart of our hair community. We can't wait to see her journey continue to unfold. We hope her experience encourages you to take the leap into the hair extension industry, or to follow those big bold dreams you just can't stop thinking about!
Thank you for sharing Sam!
