After 23 years in hairdressing and 18 years building Mayko Hair, Melissa Niblock-Bell knows success isn’t measured by trophies alone.
This year, her journey has been recognised nationally, with Mayko Hair receiving a Commendation for Excellence in Business from the Victorian Minister for Small and Family Business, alongside being named Australia’s Medium Hair Salon of the Year at the Australian Trades Small Business Champion Awards.
The recognition followed an extensive independent judging process that looked beyond beautiful hair, evaluating leadership, systems, team culture, education and long-term sustainability.
For Melissa, that’s what makes the achievement.
“It’s wonderful to be recognised, but these awards belong to our entire team and our loyal clients. They represent years of investing in people, creating opportunities and building a workplace where everyone is encouraged to grow, keep learning and believe in what’s possible.”
That philosophy has shaped Mayko Hair from the beginning. While clients see the creativity behind the chair, Melissa has spent nearly two decades building a business that champions people first. Education, leadership and career pathways have become the foundation of the salon, empowering women to build confidence, develop their skills and create careers they are proud of.
She believes women in business need something now more than ever: courage.
“Running a business has never been easy, but right now it’s asking even more of people. As women, we often carry so much: our businesses, our teams, our families and our communities. That’s why I believe we need to stop seeing each other as competitors and start collaborating more. When women support women, incredible things happen.”
That belief has become the driving force behind Melissa’s next chapter.
Alongside leading the award-winning Mayko Hair and continuing to educate within the hair industry, she’s launching Mel Bell Mentoring, a passion project born from years of experience, resilience and a desire to help women back themselves, lead with confidence and build businesses and careers they love.
For Melissa, these awards aren’t the finish line. They’re a reminder that success isn’t built overnight. It’s built through courage, consistency, investing in people and daring to keep moving forward.
