ELEANOR Douglas-Meyers
People often say don’t mix family and business. The team behind Serenity Hair sees it differently.
For Marlene Adams and her daughter Kelly Milborrow, working together has meant figuring things out in real time, learning where their strengths are, and understanding how to move between being family and being business partners. It is not something they overcomplicate, but it is something they have had to become intentional about over time.
Serenity Hair started in 2018 and has grown steadily, moving through different phases before settling into its current space in Newton Park in 2025. Away from the salon, Marlene works as a hairdressing lecturer and trade test moderator, while Kelly works in digital media, and those roles naturally carry into how the business functions. One is rooted in technical skill and consistency, the other in visibility and how the business is presented to the outside world.
From William Moffat to Newton Park
The move from William Moffat to Newton Park marked a shift for the business, not just in location, but in how they approached the space itself. It was not a case of stepping into something fully formed. Instead, it meant building again, often with limited resources.
“When we moved, we didn’t have the budget,” Kelly says. “Everything you see, we did ourselves.”
That process unfolded over time, with family stepping in where needed and decisions being made as they went. The result is a space that reflects what they wanted it to be, rather than something shaped by outside input.
“That place is literally what it is now because that was our vision. It makes me proud that we can say we built it from scratch.”
Two Roles, One Business
Within the business, their roles are clearly understood, even if they look very different.
“My mother is the one with the skill. The business would literally not be able to run without her.”
Marlene focuses on the technical side of the salon, something that requires consistency and experience, while Kelly focuses on how the business is positioned and seen.
“I’m always thinking about what should we post, how can we make people interested in us. I’m chronically online.”
That awareness has become part of how Serenity Hair operates, allowing it to exist not just as a physical space, but as something people engage with beyond the salon itself.
The Team Behind It
Although the business is family-run, they are quick to point out that it does not function without the people around them. The team plays a role across multiple areas of the salon, often stepping in where needed.
“Our team is a very important part of the business. We wouldn’t be able to do our clients without them.”
From assisting with treatments to helping manage the front of house, their contribution is constant.
“They help with treatments, they help run the front, sometimes they even take photos for our social media. You are really nothing without your team.”
Working Together as Family
Working together as mother and daughter brings its own dynamic, one that is not always straightforward. The overlap between personal and professional is unavoidable, and at times, that shows up in how they interact.
“We fight often,” Kelly says.
Over time, they have learnt that keeping the relationship intact requires a level of separation between the two roles, even if it is not always easy to maintain.
“You have to remember to put the business aside and still have the mother relationship. At the end of the day, the business is the business and your family is your family.”
At the same time, that relationship brings a level of support that is built in.
“You always have someone to lean on. You don’t have to go outside for advice. You have each other.”
Stepping Into Visibility
Part of the business has also shifted in how visible it is, particularly when it comes to Marlene’s presence online.
“She never really wanted to be out there like that before, but now she’s coming out of her shell.”
That change has influenced how clients connect with the salon, adding a more personal element to the experience.
“People love to see my mother on the page.”
Learning From Each Other
Working together has meant learning from each other in different ways. While Kelly brings a focus on growth and change, she also speaks about gaining a deeper understanding of the industry itself.
“I’ve learnt to see the vision in the business and to take risks when we need to, to make changes when they’re needed.”
At the same time, there is an acknowledgment of what comes from experience.
“I’ve learnt so much from my mother about the actual industry and the technical side of things.”
Growth Never Really Ends
For Kelly, growth is not something that has a clear endpoint. It is something that continues, even after reaching certain milestones.
“Growth never really ends,” she says. “You reach a milestone and then there’s another challenge.”
That way of thinking shapes how they approach the business, with an understanding that change is constant.
“A successful business is one that’s able to adapt. It’s always open to growth.”
More Than Just a Salon
At its core, Serenity Hair continues to develop through a combination of experience, adaptability and the people involved in building it.
“You always have someone to lean on. That’s the biggest thing”
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