Salon in the Spotlight: Elle Belle’s Beauty Studio, Norfolk

By Carter Rogers | 15 June 2023 | Feature, Salon & Spas

Kay Willmott Elle Belles Salon In The Spotlight Header

Enrolling in her first of many beauty courses in 2010, Kay Willmott opened her salon, Elle Belle’s Beauty Studio, in 2017, named after her daughter.

Kay Willmott

With ten members of staff in the salon, including herself, as a beauty therapist and laser technician; salon manager, nail tech and masseuse, Rosie Jo; beauty therapist, Alona; hair stylists, Lydia and Sofie; nail tech and junior lash tech, Chloe; nail artist, Eliese; nail tech, Oksana and nurse practitioner and injector from Mobile Medical Solutions, Heather Symonds. Kay’s piercer and laser technician husband, Tom Willmott, also joins the team from time to time, running events such as the studio’s Princess Ear Piercing event.

“Our nail tech, Oksana, fled Ukraine last year with her family,” Kay shares. “We love that she’s able to continue with her passion for nails in the UK with us. She is doing phenomenally and is hands down one of the best nail techs in our area!”

Elle Belle’s Beauty Studio offers a range of services, including L&P acrylic, dip powder, builder gel, gel polish, polygel and hard gel overlays. Kay notes builder gel manicures have become the most popular nail treatment in the salon, alongside eyelash extensions and laser hair removal.

“We’re the only salon in the area that offers everything,” she explains. “We provide services that are mainly found in the city. Many of our clients will come in and spend the entire day with us, moving from station to station and room to room.”

In 2022, Kay took the leap to expand into a larger premise on the high street, deciding on beautifully floral decor complemented by pink and cream accessories. Her stand out cream throne is a major talking point in the salon and adds to the elegance of the decor, which is often a backdrop for photos in the many wedding prep packages the salon offers.

“We very regularly have people coming into tell us how beautiful it is and saying that they just have to book in,” Kay beams. “It’s very hard to pick one part of my set-up that I like the most. I love my customised nail desks, my lotus lash beds and I also really love having such a large, light aesthetics room.”