Salon in the Spotlight: The Hobby Hut, Rhyl, North Wales

Home nail salon owner, Char Price, shares how she overcame a big health challenge to open The Hobby Hut, a nail salon that aims to reduce client stresses via luxurious nail treatments…

Char trained with Mode Academy in 2014, before progressing her career and qualifying as an educator in 2017, via Missu Academy. The tech worked in numerous spaces, from her dining room to her own salon and a rented desk, before deciding she needed to take some time away from the nail industry.

Having been diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), the tech was struggling with her mental health and decided she needed a break. She says: “My clients were constantly asking me to come back during this time, but unfortunately I was too poorly.”

However, after seeing a summerhouse for sale on Facebook, Char debated a gentle step back into the nail industry.

While she wasn’t in a financial position to buy outright, the seller said she would accept monthly payments, creating the foundations of The Hobby Hut.

“My brother and his friend supplied me with the fixtures needed to help me get back up and running,” reveals Char. “I got started straight away and it took a year to get the space looking how I imagined.”

When discussing the aesthetic of her summerhouse salon, she reveals: “I have opted for a neutral look; I wanted to create a calming space in which clients can enjoy their time and relax.

“Nail appointments are a luxury and should be a time when clients can let go of their stresses.”

“I wanted to have a feature wall of Gems Nail Systems products, as they are so pretty and fit with my theme perfectly. I also sought to include pops of black and gold, steering clear of anything too bold and busy,” Char continues.

“The aim was to create a space in which I could practice in, and rediscover the love for nails I had before I become poorly.”

Creating a relaxing client experience is at the forefront of the tech’s priorities: “Clients can either have a chit chat or sit in peace, or go in the garden for a break and play with my dogs. I’m flexible with my clients, as they are with me. I want to keep building good relationships with them.”

Nestled in the corner of her garden, the salon offers a range of treatments, including sculpted L&P acrylic enhancements, builder gel, gel polish and hard gel treatments and pedicures.

As for her favourite part of her salon, Char notes: “I love how pretty it is. It might not be everybody’s taste, but it’s perfect to me. The white wash walls are my favourite aspect, along with the black beams I painted.”

The tech reflects on her future, sharing self-development as a key goal: “I want to work towards returning to who I was before my mental health struggles, and keep making my business work for myself and my clients.”

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