Salon in the Spotlight: Hannah Taylor Beauty and Make Up, Kidderminster
By Kat Hill | 10 March 2021 | Feature, Salon & Spas
“The salon now couldn’t be more different to its previous life as a derelict pub,” smiles owner, Hannah Taylor. “I use to pass the premises and daydream about its potential.
“At the time the lease far surpassed my budget. Months passed and during this time the building had been split into two separate entities and a hair salon accommodated the one side.
“This resulted in the lease splitting and opened a door for me to investigate its viability. It required a huge amount of effort and investment as it was a vast shell of bricks and concrete with no internal structure.
“Before carrying out any restoration it was also essential to go through our local council for change of use planning permission, which would take several weeks to finalise. I anxiously awaited the decision while working from a temporary location that a local business had offered me, enabling me to still see my clients.
“It was a huge relief as I was granted permission and with the help of a team of tradespeople and the support of my family, we were able to begin a complete renovation – while I was working full time to maintain my clientbase!”
After a complete renovation, the salon opened its doors in time for Christmas in 2018 – complete with a bold, blush decor.
“We are based in a semi rural area, so I wanted something fresh and modern,” Hannah continues. “I knew the decor had to be pink and gold, with bespoke floral accents.”
With the building needing so much work, Hannah was able to design the salon’s layout from scratch to create her dream workspace. The nail area features three Pink Concorde Nail Tables from REM. “It offers a sociable experience, where our clients can chat to each other and the team,” Hannah smiles. “We have four treatment rooms to allow for privacy during waxing, facials and aesthetics services.”
“Clients have commented that when they walk in it feels like stepping into a ‘pink haze of relaxation’. It’s a joy to see the effect this indulgent environment has on our clients.
“I put the question of what makes the salon unique to our clients and followers on Instagram to get their opinions. The most common comments, along with those about the décor, were that the salon feels like a safe haven for them, and how comfortable and relaxed they feel inside with the company of staff.
“This is exactly what we strive for as a salon, especially at the moment. We would never want to isolate a particular client base and welcome people from all different walks of life.
“Everyone should feel completely at ease when they come here. I think now more than ever it’s important that we are there for our clients, not just for their aesthetic needs but from a mental health perspective too.”
