Salon in the Spotlight: A Dash Of Beauty, Balcombe
By Callie Iley | 07 September 2023 | Feature, Salon & Spas
Gaining her NVQ level 2 and 3 in beauty therapy in 2013 at Nescot College in Epsom, Surrey, Lisa Wathen went on to work in a range of spas, training with Elemis and ESPA Skincare, before continuing her education with HD Brows, The GelBottle Inc, and a local independent trainer close to her in Horsham.
Making the decision to open her own salon following being made redundant in 2020 from her full-time job, Lisa found a commercial unit along a busy road to base her business from.
Lisa Wathen
“The premises were run by an office company beforehand, so it used to be a very different business,” Lisa says. “Once I moved in, it only took me a month to complete the decor ready to open, as it was mostly white walls and blue flooring, so it was an easy initial set-up.
“I wanted to keep the salon simple, so I’ve followed a rose gold and grey theme throughout to reflect my business logo. I wanted to create a relaxing, spa-like atmosphere so I kept my colours calm to reflect this.”
Offering a host of nail and beauty services including gel polish, builder gel overlays, gel extensions and nail art, Lisa notes that builder gel in a bottle is her most requested treatment at A Dash Of Beauty, with many of her clientele seeking the added durability due to work.
Lisa works alongside two employees to offer a full treatment menu to clients, including massages, lash extensions and aesthetic treatments including filler, Botox and B12 injections.
Based in a rural location, Lisa sought inspiration from her surroundings for her decor choices, making use of her background working in spas to create a calming, spa-like atmosphere without the luxury price tag.
“I really wanted to create a sense of calm and tranquility – I didn’t want the space to be a busy, hectic salon with a system of one client in, one client out. Affordability is the key for me and I believe the spa experience should be available to everyone.”
“My favourite aspect of the salon is my treatment room,” Lisa says. “It brings me a sense of calm, giving me a place I can escape to and make clients feel good.
“Seeing clients leave happy after treatments is the biggest achievement for me. I love being my own boss and challenging myself to push my business further. Further down the line, I’d love to open my own spa with more employees to continue this.”
www.adashofbeauty.co.uk
