A salon which stays open outside of normal working hours to ensure everyone feels comfortable is a finalist in the Lancashire Telegraph’s ‘Best Beauty Salon 2024’.

Embellish Beauty Salon was opened three years ago by Abby Rodgers and has continued on an upward trajectory – recently being joined by friend and nail technician Tori Paige.

Taking over the current site in Jubilee Street, Blackburn, two years ago, Abby prides herself on her flexibility and high levels of customer service.

Abby said: “It was very unexpected but thrilling because it means our clients can see how hard we work for them and how much we both love our jobs.

“To make it into the top ten is a massive accomplishment shows the passion we put into it, and we are really thrilled.”

Appreciating some clients, especially those who suffer from social anxiety, struggle with the 9am to 5pm salon experience Abby began running evening sessions, two nights a week, where it would be a one-on-one session with the customer.

Abby added: “We are always looking to progress and adapt and bring in new treatments and we have a lot of clients we work around.

“During the standard hours, there is a bit of social anxiety for some people, and it makes it more relaxing it being just the two of us.

“I work until the last client wants to be put in and it caters for people who don’t want to be in a busy salon or who suffer from social anxiety.”

Training in hair and make-up in 2015 Abby had always wanted to be a make-up artist until lockdown.

During the pandemic, she decided to branch out and alter her approach offering nails and brows alongside the traditional make-up treatments.  

She also has tried to help her customers out financially and tries to teach them how to do their make-up more effectively and provides the foundation knowledge.

Abby added: “Lockdown helped me a lot in ways in expanding and progressing and has led us to be the business we are.

“I have taken it as a positive, even though it has had a negative impact it pushed me business-wise to do better and to offer better.”

Readers can vote for the ‘Best Beauty Salon 2024’ by picking up copies of the Lancashire Telegraph between Monday, September 30 to Saturday, October 12.