Meet the salon owner: Self Love Salon in St Helens

The shop opened five years ago under the direction of Claire Jones on Baldwin Street in St Helens and has gone from strength to strength offering a variety of therapies and treatments to its customers.

Here 40-year-old Claire tells us why she wanted to start her own business, what was the inspiration behind Self Love Salon and what plans she has for the future.

If you would like to appear in our Meet The Salon feature, email heidi.summerfield@newsquest.co.uk

All the colors of the rainbow

What is the name of the salon/shop?

Self Love Salon

What is the address?

23a Baldwin Street, St Helens

Are you the owner/manager?

I am the owner of the salon.

How many employees do you have?

I have one employee and three others who are self-employed.

When did you open the salon?

I opened in May five years ago.

The Self Love Salon opened on Baldwin Street in St Helens five years ago

are you from the area did you grow up here

Yes

Tell me about your salon/business

We are a holistic hair salon and we believe in nurturing inner beauty as much as outer beauty. The salon grew out of my own struggles with mental health and learning to love and value myself more through the use of holistic elements such as aromatherapy, reiki and crystals. These elements are incorporated into the salon to introduce clients to different therapies. We pride ourselves on being a sustainable salon.

CONTINUE READING:

The traditional barbershop that treats men like gentlemen

Gorgeous shiny waves

How are you? What services do you offer?

We offer all hair services such as cutting and coloring as well as bridal appointments. We also offer beauty treatments as well as massage, reflexology and reiki. We can offer special skin treatments such as dermaplaning.

Why did you decide to open your own salon?

I not only wanted to provide a great service, but also a beautiful experience that might help encourage someone to be open to the importance of self-love and healing.

What is your hair and beauty background?

I have been in the hairdressing industry since graduating from college at the age of 18. I am a qualified Assessor and Tutor and have won multiple awards including Best Client Experience two years in a row, Most Sustainable Salon three years in a row and Colorist of the Year twice.

Visitors to the salon are always welcome

Why this kind of business?

It has always been my passion and dream since I was six years old and I am happy that I found a way to combine all passions – hairdressing, nature and self-love – in my career.

CONTINUE READING:

St Helens salon owner boosts confidence with new hairstyles and wigs

How has the Covid-19 pandemic affected your business?

We opened about a year and a half before the outbreak of Covid-19. It had a tremendous impact on the business, but I spent time renovating the premises and working on my continued professional development. That way, when it reopens, clients could return to an even better salon with highly skilled professionals.

Claire and her team specialize in bridal hairstyles

What makes your company different from others in the same field/area? What distinguishes your company from your competitors?

I believe that every salon in our industry has its own style and niche, so I don’t feel competitive with others. I’ve made some great friends at other local salons – there’s a place for everyone. However, what makes us unique is the value we place on people’s emotions, comfort and mental health. Of course, not only is the value of a great haircut important, we encourage and promote well-being and sustainability while providing a great service.

Why do loyal customers return to your company?

We get many compliments on the atmosphere of our salon and how relaxing it is, and we are also very thorough with every client consultation – we really listen and understand each client’s needs. We also cater to vegans where possible and use cruelty-free products that are kinder to us, our customers and the planet.

What’s next? What do the next few months hold in store for you and your salon?

We have applications for awards coming soon and hope to partner with local charities. Personally, I’m about to start my own educational program which is really exciting and we have the launch of our holistic hair service add-on treatment in the pipeline. There is much to do!

What a transformation!