Hairdressing found Chloe Zara early, and more than 20 years later it’s still the thread running through everything she does. She started behind the chair, then opened her own salon, where she heard the same complaints on repeat. Products too heavy. Routines too complicated. Nobody quite explaining the link between scalp and strand. So she built the fix herself: CZE Hair.
Now, as the founder and director of the brand, her days move between product development, campaigns, meetings, and mum life. She’s learned that balance isn’t about giving everything equal attention, it’s about being present wherever she is, and not compromising on the things that matter most: family, and a little time for herself.
In conversation with Chloe Zara
Let’s get up to speed. Please tell us a bit about you, your background and your career to date in a few sentences.
I’m a hairstylist and have spent more than 20 years working in the hair industry. I started behind the chair, eventually opening my own salon, and that hands-on experience ultimately led me to create CZE Hair. Today, I’m the Founder and Director of CZE, where I get to bring together everything I’ve learnt about hair, beauty and what women actually want from their products — while also being a mum to two boys.
What is your earliest memory of fashion?
I have always loved clothes and getting dressed. Even when I was young, I remember being very particular about what I wore. My earliest memories of fashion are the beautiful outfits my mum would make for my sister and I. She is incredibly talented behind the sewing machine. Mum would always dress us in matching outfits and beautiful pinafores. Once I grew a bit older, I went through more of a tomboy phase with fashion. Now, as an adult, I feel like I have a mix of both, which gives me an effortless sense of style.
How would you describe your personal style, and what influences it the most?
Effortless, polished and quite minimal. I love beautiful basics, tailoring and pieces I can wear over and over rather than anything too trend-driven. My lifestyle probably influences me the most, though — I need clothes that can take me from school drop-off to the CZE office, meetings and events without having to think too hard about it.
Take us back to the very beginning — what was the moment you decided to launch CZE?
CZE really came from years of creating effortlessly beautiful hair and listening to women talk about their hair. I kept seeing the same frustrations — products that felt too heavy, complicated routines and people struggling with their scalp or hair without really understanding the connection between the two. I wanted to create elevated, high-performance haircare that cared for the health of the hair from scalp to strand, but still left your hair looking and feeling like hair. What started as an idea to solve problems not only for my clients, but also based on my own personal preferences as a hairstylist and consumer, slowly became something much bigger.
You came to CZE from behind the chair — how does that hands-on salon experience shape how the formulas actually perform?
Massively. After more than 20 years of touching and working with hair, I’m incredibly particular about how a product feels and performs in real life — not just what it says it can do on the back of a bottle. I’m always thinking about things like: Is it good for the scalp and hair? Does it weigh the hair down? Can you layer it? Can you still run your hands through your hair? Will someone actually enjoy using this every day? I want CZE products to support the long-term health of the scalp and hair, but the immediate finish is just as important. Hair should still move, feel touchable and look effortless.
Looking back at your hairdressing days, is there a client relationship or salon memory that still shapes how you think about the brand?
More than one specific client, it’s the thousands of conversations I’ve had with clients in the salon that stay with me. Hair is incredibly personal. Women would talk to me about hair loss after having babies, changes in texture, ageing, confidence and simply not knowing what to use. Those conversations taught me to listen before trying to solve the problem. That’s something I still bring into CZE today. I never want to create a product just because there is a trend around it — I want it to solve a genuine need I’ve seen or heard from women.
You’re a mum of two boys — how do you juggle running CZE with day-to-day family life?
Routine! I’m a big routine person. Running a growing business and raising two boys means there is always something happening, so having structure keeps me grounded. I’ve also learnt that balance doesn’t necessarily mean giving everything equal attention every day. Some days CZE needs more from me and other days my family does. I try to be really present wherever I am rather than feeling guilty that I should be somewhere else.
What’s something you’ve had to let go of as a working mum, and something you’ve refused to compromise on?
I’ve had to let go of the idea that I can do everything perfectly. There are always going to be things left on the to-do list, and I’ve become much better at accepting that. What I won’t compromise on is time with my family and maintaining some structure around our life together. The business is incredibly important to me, but being a mum is such a huge part of who I am. I also try not to compromise on looking after myself — movement, taking care of my hair and skin, and those small daily rituals genuinely make me better in every other area of my life.
What does a typical day look like for you, from the moment you wake up?
I’m usually up early and love starting my day with movement — Pilates is a big part of my routine. Then it’s home, getting the boys organised, school drop-off, sometimes a quick walk, and then into work. No two CZE days are really the same. It could be product development, working with our team, content, retailer meetings, PR, reviewing campaigns or testing formulas. Then I switch back into mum mode later in the afternoon and evening. Once the boys are settled, I’ll often find myself checking emails, editing content or writing down ideas for the next day — founder brain is quite hard to switch off!
What’s a piece of advice you’d give your younger self, before kids and before CZE existed?
Back yourself more and stop waiting until you feel ready. Building CZE has pushed me so far outside my comfort zone, and I’ve realised that you rarely feel completely ready for the things that end up changing your life. You just have to start, keep showing up and be willing to learn as you go.
Quick-fire questions
The next item on my wardrobe wishlist is… A Beare Park V-neck tee in both black and white. I love an elevated basic.
The book currently on my bedside table is… Emma Grede’s Start With Yourself.
If you could only save one item in your wardrobe, what would it be? My Dior Mini Book Tote. It’s very sentimental — I bought it for my wedding weekend, so I’ll keep it forever.
My favourite place to dine… Inati in Christchurch. Whenever I’m back down south, it’s such a favourite for my husband and I!
Three beauty products I can’t live without… CZE Nourishing Perfume Oil — always. Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant and a good lip gloss. At the moment, I’m loving the Chanel Lip and Cheek Balm.
