Last Updated: May 2026
Mitty came to life in 2014, six years before the Fitzroy salon opened. What first drew you to nails as a craft, and what pushed you toward starting something of your own?
Mitty actually started after my kidney transplant. At the time, I became very conscious about what I was putting in and on my body, and I realised there were very limited vegan and lower-toxicity nail products available. I still loved nails and self-expression, but I didn’t want that to come with ethical or medical concerns.
What started as a personal need slowly became a business. I wanted to create a range where people could have fun, creative nails without having to compromise on their values or worry about ingredients. Looking back now, I think the biggest thing I’ve learned is that if you’re genuinely passionate about something, you eventually find your community.
You launched the product side of Mitty in 2014 and opened the Mitty salon in 2020. What did each of those stages teach you, and how do the salon and the brand fuel each other today?
The product side taught me resilience and adaptability very quickly. You learn to solve problems constantly when you’re building something from scratch. Opening the salon was completely different because suddenly it became about people, hospitality, team culture and creating an experience, not just a service.
Today, they really support each other. The salon allows clients to come in and relax without having to worry about checking ingredients or whether products are vegan or lower-toxicity or whether the practices are hygienic or the tech has been trained fully. Everything has already been considered for them.
At the same time, the salon gives us real insight into what people actually want. We see trends as they happen, hear what clients are asking for, and can move quite quickly to create options for people who still want beautiful nails but maybe can’t make it into the salon regularly.
Mitty has grown into a multi-award-winning national brand with a full product range, a training arm and customers around the world. What’s been the most interesting part of scaling the business, and how have you grown in the role along the way?
The most interesting part has probably been realising that problem solving becomes creative when you have a very clear vision and values you won’t compromise on. Sometimes limitations actually force you to think differently and build something better.
Personally, I’ve learned to trust myself a lot more. I’ve also learned to trust other people more, delegate more, ask for help more and take bigger risks. I think earlier on I was terrified of failure, whereas now I’m very comfortable being uncomfortable. That mindset has probably changed both the business and me the most.
You’re now running a salon, a product line and a training business, three quite different areas under one roof. How do you decide where to put your energy, and is there one of the three you find yourself most drawn to?
One unexpected side effect of my medication is insomnia, so I joke that I simply have more hours in the day than most people. But realistically, organisation has become incredibly important. I try to spread my workload across the week and make sure priorities are handled before smaller tasks.
I’ve also become much better at delegating and leaning on the team. Earlier on I felt like I had to do everything myself, but now I understand that great businesses are built collaboratively.
I honestly love different parts of all three areas for different reasons. The salon is where I feel most connected to people and creativity in real time, while products and education allow us to reach people much more broadly.
Mitty is vegan, cruelty-free and inclusive. Why was drawing that line in the sand so important to you from the start, and what does it look like in practice day to day?
To be honest, I think the better question is why non-vegan beauty and fashion products still exist at all. Even before becoming vegetarian and then vegan, the choice felt quite simple to me.
We live in a time where information is so accessible and it’s easier than ever to educate ourselves about the suffering animals endure within beauty and fashion industries. Once you understand that, it becomes very hard to ignore.
For us, it’s not just a marketing point, it influences everyday decisions, from the products we formulate to the brands we stock, the conversations we have with clients and the kind of environment we want Mitty to be. Inclusivity works the same way. People should feel safe, respected and comfortable the moment they walk through the door.
Nail art at Mitty has a real signature look, playful, technically sharp, never cookie-cutter. How would you describe the Mitty aesthetic and where do you find inspiration?
I think the Mitty aesthetic sits somewhere between clean, elevated beauty and a little bit of chaos in the best possible way. We love nails that feel polished and technically precise, but still have personality and individuality.
A lot of our inspiration comes from fashion, art, internet culture, music, street style and honestly just everyday conversations with clients. Fitzroy itself is hugely inspiring because people here are expressive and creative and not afraid to experiment.
We never want nails to feel mass-produced or overly trend-chasing. The goal is always for clients to leave feeling like themselves, just slightly more confident and a little more put together.
Mitty’s treatments are designed to look after the health of your nails. For someone who’s only ever had regular polish, what would you most want them to know?
There’s a lot of misinformation around nails and gel products online. Gel itself, when properly formulated and applied correctly, isn’t automatically “bad” or damaging. Most nail damage actually comes from poor technique, improper removal or lack of training.
At Mitty, we’re very conscious about the products we use, ensuring they’re lower-toxicity, vegan and compliant with regulations, but equally important is the training behind them. Our team is constantly educating themselves and refining technique.
I also really encourage clients to ask questions. Knowledge is power, and choosing the right salon matters. We try to make information as accessible as possible, whether that’s through conversations in salon, DMs, blogs or phone calls.
The salon has a Drinks Menu, a Nail Quiz, group bookings for parties and loyalty rewards. What is the experience you want to create when someone visits?
Mitty is really about self-care and taking a moment to pause. I wanted the salon to feel less transactional and more like somewhere you can genuinely recharge for an hour or two.
Some clients want to chat the entire appointment, others want a quiet appointment and a moment to themselves, and both are completely okay. We want people to leave not only loving their nails, but also feeling mentally lighter than when they arrived.
The little details, drinks, music, events, loyalty rewards, all come back to creating an experience people genuinely look forward to. I always say we want Mitty to become part of someone’s ritual, not just another errand in their week.
Mitty has picked up multiple awards over the years. Has there been one that felt especially meaningful to you, and why?
Winning the ethical and innovation awards meant a lot because those values sit at the centre of everything we do. But honestly, winning Best in Class three years in a row was probably the most surreal.
You work so hard behind the scenes that sometimes you don’t stop to realise what you’ve actually built until moments like that happen.
What’s the most useful thing you’ve learned about running a business that you wish someone had told you earlier? And what would you say to someone thinking about turning their craft into a brand?
The biggest thing I’ve learned is to believe in yourself and treat every challenge as a problem to solve rather than a sign to quit.
When I was leaving corporate to focus on Mitty, one of my managers told me, “A ship in the harbour is safe, but that’s not what ships are for.” That advice has stayed with me ever since.
I think fear of failure stops a lot of people from even trying, but failure is usually where the best learning happens. You can’t build something meaningful without taking risks.
Mitty has called Fitzroy home since 2020. How has being in this neighbourhood shaped the business?
Fitzroy has definitely shaped the personality of Mitty. There’s such a strong sense of individuality, creativity and community here, and I think that naturally flows into the salon.
I also love how walkable and ever-changing the area feels. You can walk down the same street ten times and still notice something new. The people here are expressive and open-minded, which gives us a lot of freedom creatively.
After a long day at the salon, where do you like to recharge around Fitzroy?
That’s honestly such a hard question because choosing one favourite spot in Fitzroy feels impossible. I genuinely love just walking around the neighbourhood and discovering little places tucked into side streets.
There’s something really calming about wandering without a plan here. Fitzroy has such a unique character and energy, and I feel very lucky to both live and work within this community.
When family or friends come to visit, where do you take them?
Definitely the side streets and laneways. I love the street art, the little bars, the independent stores and the overall atmosphere. Fitzroy feels creative in a very lived-in and authentic way, which is probably why so many people fall in love with it quickly.
Finally, would you like to share a little about what’s next for Mitty?
We’re working on a lot of exciting things this year, particularly around expanding the overall salon experience and education side of the business. We’ve been introducing new treatments and focusing heavily on long-term nail health and personalised services rather than rushed beauty appointments.
We’re also continuing to grow our DIY range because we know not everyone can always make it into the salon, but they still want quality products and good education at home.
More than anything, I’m excited to keep building a space and brand that feels creative, welcoming and genuinely community-focused.
📍Mitty Nails and Beauty: 439 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
🕑 Tue 12–7:30pm | Wed–Fri 12–8pm | Sat 9am–5pm | Closed Mon & Sun
📸 Images courtesy of Mitty Nails / @mittynailsfitzroy
FAQs About Mitty Nails Fitzroy
Where is Mitty Nails Fitzroy located, and how do I book? Mitty Nails is at 439 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy. Appointments can be booked online at mittynailsbeauty.com, and the salon also takes group bookings for parties and events.
Is Mitty Nails vegan and cruelty-free? Yes. Vegan, cruelty-free and lower-toxicity products have been central to Mitty’s philosophy since the brand launched in 2014. Every product used in the salon is carefully chosen, and the team only works with brands that meet those standards.
What makes Mitty different from other nail salons in Melbourne? Mitty combines a genuine focus on nail health with a considered salon experience: vegan and lower-toxicity products, a continuously trained team, a drinks menu and a warm, unhurried atmosphere. The salon has won Best in Class three years running.
What can I expect on my first visit? A relaxed appointment designed to feel more like a moment to recharge than a quick service. You can order from the drinks menu, take the Nail Quiz to find your ideal treatment, or simply settle in for a quiet hour to yourself.
More from Fitzroy Local
Fitzroy has no shortage of women who’ve turned a creative craft into something independently built and lasting. Read our conversations with Shelley Collins at The Galerie Fitzroy for original vintage posters and a career built around collecting, Claire Taylor at Atelier Claire Taylor for handcrafted jewellery shaped by two decades of craft, and Jodie Hayes at Scout for Vintage for beautifully sourced vintage denim and a considered approach to slow fashion.
