I know what it is like to build a business from scratch
From naive 21-year-old, straight out of college, to award winning salon owner
I have had an amazing career travelling the world, looking after the hands and feet of the famous, travelling on private jets and yachts, competing and winning international nail competitions, and educating many nail and beauty professionals.
30 Years as a salon owner
MULTI AWARD WINNING SALON OWNER
Where it all started for me
I attended Thanet Technical college full time for 3 years in the mid 1980’s to achieve Level 3 NVQ in Hair and Beauty therapy.
Immediately after leaving college, I opened my salon Bodylines.
I started small with just me, and over the next 35 years, I have used every business model you can think of to grow my business.
Whatever business model you are currently in, I’m pretty sure I’ve been in the same one, including having to run my business from home, not once, but twice!
Bodylines is now a very large salon, over 3 floors and has won many awards. We have a team of 10, and we also house our own academy on the premises.
To see more about my business, check out the website www.bodylines.biz
Our team are employed, and we have a culture of growing each team member with continual education and self-development.
What this means for you-
You are in good hands when you have me as part of your team. There is NOTHING that I haven’t seen, heard or been through in Salon life! (Including a pandemic and 2 world recessions!)
I’ve learned some hard lessons, and those lessons have allowed me to be the Salon Boss that I am today.
YOU don’t have to make those same mistakes.
Let me be the mentor and coach that I wish I’d had for all those years.
MULTI AWARD-WINNING INTERNATIONAL EDUCATOR
I always wanted to teach…
My passion from a young age was teaching.
As the eldest of 4 very close siblings in a dysfunctional home, I quickly took on the “leader” role. Even at school, I was always looking to help others learn.
Nurturing is something that comes naturally to me and when I entered the Nail Industry, I looked to the biggest brand at the time (CND) to attach my dreams to.
I wanted to work at the trade shows, and in 2002, my dream came true, and I became a CND Education Ambassador.
CND pushed and molded me into the knowledgeable professional I became and gave me the confidence to enter and win competitions nationally and internationally.
However, my proudest moment as an Educator was when I was awarded CND International Educator of the Year 2021. Such an honour, and definitely one I doubt I’ll beat.
Teaching isn’t just rewarding, it also ensures you are up to date with your knowledge, it makes you more geeky, and I love that!
I also teach for Nimue Derma-cosmeceutical skincare , Wax;One and Lashus.
My academy has also just welcomed 2 more Educators for Light Elegance, E-Filing and Morroccan Tan.
What this means to you…
You can be sure that I am always up to date with my industry knowledge
When I am writing content for my Business coaching, I have my Educator head on. I am always looking for an easy to understand path through the knowledge.
It also means that if you hire me on a 1-1 basis, I can look at your team, or yourself if you are a solo professional, and elevate your knowledge on the subjects that are working well for successful salon professionals right now.
Celebrities I Have Worked With
COMPETITION WINNER AND JUDGE
Competition will always push you to be better…
I am a natural competitor.
I perform well under pressure.
This meant that practical competitions were thrilling for me.
Without a shadow of a doubt, competing at national and international levels gave me the skill that I have today.
I won 15 trophies for Nail Enhancements and at one point was placed 5th in the world.
Entering large National competitions like Professional Beauty and Scratch Stars are less adrenalin fuelled but more importantly, they give you a microscopic view of your business.
100%, entering is the biggest benefit; Reaching Finalist or even Winner is the icing on the cake.
For details of mine and my salons awards see (here) ***** (link to the awards page on Bodylines website)
I have now retired from competing, and for the last 6 years, I have judged for both Pro Beauty and Scratch.
Judging is a passion and a privilege, it never fails to amaze and inspire me, how talented salon professionals have become.
What this means for you-
If competing on any level appeals to you, I am perfectly positioned to help grow you and/or your business into becoming award winning.
Even if you don’t want to compete, judging national awards gives me an insight to where the industry is heading, we can use this insight to guide your business to growth.
CELEBRITY SESSION ARTIST
Not for the faint hearted, but a fast-track way to working with perfection!
When I started to work backstage at Fashion weeks and on photographic shoots, Celebrity Session artist wasn’t even a thing!
My skill in enhancements from competing got me in the door as the environment backstage isn’t anything like being in the salon.
I’ve described session work as “Your best work ever, in the faster time, in the worst environment”!
But goodness does that kind of pressure increase your ability to deal with absolutely anything!
Through working with celebrities on shoots, I then found myself being asked to work for them personally.
I have been in private jets, private yachts, and seen the best hotels in the world.
All through my job.
There are some huge struggles with that kind of work, and I have to say, even though I have some amazing memories, I’m happy to now be retired from the craziness!
What does this mean for you?
You can rely on me to be unflappable.
There is absolutely no situation that I can’t deal with.
Session work gives you a certain work ethic, and I apply that now to my salon business and my coaching.
