SECOND TIME'S A CHARM

Having opened her first salon at age 22 with just a £7k budget, Charlotte Quinn shares how her success has enabled her to get bigger and better in her new space

Charlotte Quinn opened her first salon in 2014, aged 22, on a shoestring budget; everything in the space was purchased second-hand and her Dad did all the renovations. Fast-forward to 2023 and her hard work and dedication has resulted in a three-month waitlist, which prompted the realisation that it was time to expand.

The new premises was a rundown estate agent office with lots of separate rooms, but when Charlotte saw the space she envisioned an open-plan layout. The sale of the building also came with an office upstairs that was being rented out, which she explained was the perfect business move: “This made it cheaper than the rent I’d been paying for the past nine years.”

Hair By Charlotte was inspired by classic spa interiors and couples neutral earthy tones with a rich dark brown to create a ‘home away from home’ feel. The walls are covered in a peachy, Venetian plaster with a shimmer coat on top (by Bello Venetian Plastering) while the floors showcase hard-wearing luxury vinyl tiles. The dark herringbone design is broken up by tiles of pearlescent stone-coloured vinyl, forming a statement runway. This can also be seen around the backwash, which helps to create separate areas in the salon.

Bespoke pieces are married with salon staples to furnish the space; the reception features a handmade desk with slated wood, spray-painted to match the walls while material was purchased from REM to build a custom seating area for clients. The salon’s 12 styling stations also feature chairs from REM – Havana in the shade ‘Tailored Putty’ – while four Cupid Backwash units can be found to the rear of the salon. 

Charlotte notes that she originally selected another darker shade for the chairs, but ended up getting a lighter shade. However in hindsight she admits that she should have stuck with her first choice, as although they’re a great colour match, the lighter colour isn’t as practical for colour stains.

Other aspects of the space that Charlotte is extremely pleased with include the display area for her own brand, North Professional Hair. In fact, two of the salon’s styling stations are dedicated to fitting the brand’s tape-in extensions and will also act as a training space. Meanwhile, the floral centrepiece in the ceiling has been a client favourite, with Charlotte citing it as one of the best design decisions she's made.

Transitioning from renting to owning a salon space has allowed Charlotte to invest in her business without fear of losing out, enabling her to create a luxury setting worthy of her ever-growing client list.