Tabatha Coffey

Tabatha Coffey – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Discover the life and career of Tabatha Coffey—Australian celebrity hairstylist, TV personality, author—and explore her inspiring journey, achievements, legacy, and most famous quotes.

Introduction

Tabatha Coffey is a name many recognize from reality television and the beauty industry. Born in Australia, she rose from hairstyling beginnings to global prominence as a TV personality, salon owner, coach, and author. Her bold, no-nonsense style and transformational approach have earned her both fans and respect across the world.

Coffey’s story is not just about hair—it’s about resilience, reinvention, leadership, and purpose. In this article, we’ll explore her life, her philosophy, her most impactful moments, and the lessons we can draw from her journey.

Early Life and Family

Tabatha Coffey was born on May 17, 1969 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Her family had ties to the hair and beauty world: her mother and brother were hairstylists, and she learned much about style, expression, and self-identity from them.

As a child, she struggled with weight issues and asthma, which made physical activity more difficult—but these early challenges also shaped her resilience.

Youth and Education

By age 14, Tabatha knew she wanted to work in hair. She began as an assistant in local salons in Surfers Paradise.

Not long after, she entered a four-year apprenticeship in Australia to formally develop her skills.

This international training and exposure helped broaden her vision beyond Australia.

Career and Achievements

Entry into the U.S. and Salon Ownership

After refining her craft, Coffey relocated to the United States. Industrie Hair Gurus, her own salon business. Warren-Tricomi salon in West Hollywood, expanding her reach.

She aligned herself with hair-care product companies, becoming a platform artist for Joico International, touring and educating stylists around the world 6–12 times a year.

Tabatha also worked behind the scenes in fashion shows (e.g., New York’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week) and as an editorial stylist for magazines like Marie Claire, Seventeen, and Mademoiselle.

Breakthrough via Television

Her breakout moment in the U.S. came through reality TV. In 2007 she auditioned for Shear Genius (on the Bravo network), perhaps out of curiosity, but won public attention for her intensity, skills, and frank evaluations. Fan Favorite and a $10,000 prize.

Bravo soon invited her to lead her own show. In 2008, Tabatha’s Salon Takeover debuted, later rebranded Tabatha Takes Over, in which she would step into failing salons (and later other businesses) and enact changes in just one week.

Over five seasons, she extended her “takeover” concept beyond salons to include bars, cafés, dog-daycare, and family businesses. 2008 to 2013.

In 2018, she launched a newer show, Relative Success with Tabatha, focusing on helping families reconcile and improve struggling small businesses.

Authorship and Other Ventures

Tabatha is also a published author. Her books include:

• It’s Not Really About the Hair: The Honest Truth About Life, Love, and the Business of Beauty (2011)

• Own It!: Be the Boss of Your Life—at Home and in the Workplace (2014)

Her experiences in business, coaching, and personal development led her to roles as a transformational coach, Master NLP practitioner, and membership in coaching boards (ICF, IAC, IACT).

Amid personal challenges later in life, she co-founded ThriveHive, an online community for personal growth, and hosts a podcast called Creative Thrive.

Historical Milestones & Context

• 2007: Appearance on Shear Genius launched her into U.S. public view.

• 2008: Premiere of Tabatha’s Salon Takeover on Bravo.

• 2011: Publication of her first book.

• 2013: End of Tabatha Takes Over run (Season 5).

• 2018: Launch of Relative Success with Tabatha, shifting focus to family/business integration.

• 2022: Her long-time partner Diane Keeler passed away after battling cancer; Coffey publicly reflected on the impact of loss.

Legacy and Influence

Tabatha Coffey’s influence spans multiple realms:

• Beauty & Salon Industry: She helped reshape how salons think about branding, customer experience, staffing, and turnaround strategies.

• Reality TV & Business Coaching: Her TV work bridged entertainment with practical business improvement, making entrepreneurial concepts accessible to a mass audience.

• Empowerment & Personal Growth: Through her books, speaking, coaching, and ThriveHive, she advocates for self-leadership, accountability, and transformation.

• LGBTQ+ Visibility: As an openly lesbian public figure, she has helped increase representation and conversation about identity, love, and acceptance.

Her models—of tough love, clarity, and reinvention—have inspired countless stylists, small business owners, and individuals striving to reshape their lives or careers.

Personality and Talents

Tabatha is known for her:

• Candor & Directness: She does not sugarcoat feedback. Her ability to speak truth plainly is central to her brand.

• Vision & Strategy: Beyond aesthetics, she sees systems, workflows, culture, and leadership.

• Resilience: From early health and weight struggles to personal loss, she’s continually demonstrated adaptability.

• Empathy: Though tough in business, she deeply cares about people’s growth, particularly those in challenging life circumstances.

• Creative Excellence: Her hair artistry is technically sharp, but always expressive—she tailors style to identity.

She embodies a blend of artist, CEO, coach, and storyteller.

Famous Quotes of Tabatha Coffey

While she is not as widely quoted as some literary figures, these statements reflect her mindset and approach:

1. “It’s not really about the hair.” — Emphasizes that personal transformation often goes deeper than outward appearance.

2. “Own it.” — A rallying call to take responsibility for one’s choices, life, and identity.

3. “No one cares for the caregiver.” — From her reflections after caring for her partner, underscoring the often-hidden struggle of caregivers.

4. “I don’t want to be the same woman.” — In discussing how grief changed her, she accepts transformation as part of growth.

These quotes capture her integration of business, personal development, identity, and vulnerability.

Lessons from Tabatha Coffey

From her journey, we can draw several powerful lessons:

• Master your craft first. Coffey’s deep technical grounding in hairstyling preceded her fame.

• Embrace discomfort. Taking over struggling salons required facing chaos head-on.

• Speak with clarity. Whether in salons or books, her blunt honesty is part of why people listen.

• Align purpose and business. Her work always bridges beauty with personal growth.

• Allow transformation. Loss, evolution, setbacks—they become chapters, not final acts.

• Lead with service. Her ethos is often about helping others rise—whether business owners, caregivers, or marginalized voices.

Conclusion

Tabatha Coffey’s life is a mosaic of artistry, entrepreneurship, authenticity, and evolution. From a young Australian stylist to a global personality and transformation catalyst, she has redefined what it means to wield influence with integrity. Her story invites us to look beyond surface, to invest in self-leadership, and to accept that we are forever becoming.

If you’re inspired, explore her books, listen to her podcast, or reflect on how her principles—“Own it,” “It’s not really about the hair”—can take root in your own life.