A salon owner from Whitefield is celebrating after winning a national award recognising her skills in hair transformation.
Ashleigh Lawrence, 27, was named Hair Extension Specialist of the Year in the North West Region at the Hair and Beauty Awards at a glittering ceremony in Birmingham.
The mum-of-two is the owner of Her HQ Salon and Training Academy on Bury Old Road in Whitefield, which specialises in hair extensions but also make-up, eye lashes nails and aesthetics as well as industry training.
Ashleigh got started in the world of hair extensions while studying law at Manchester Metropolitan University after a friend recommended that she give it a try.
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After having her first child, Skylar Rae, four years ago, she found running her own business fit perfectly around the demands of being a new parent.
She said: “Being self employed was amazing for, building up a client base meant I didn’t need to go back to work.”
Ashleigh was nominated for the accolade after being contacted by the National Hair and Beauty Awards, which asked her about her skills, experience and plans for the future.
Eventually she was shortlisted among 10 other extension specialists in the region, before being crowned the winner.
She said: “I never thought I would win, it was a really lovely night.
“I was just so shocked and I’m still processing it.
“It really hit home how hard I had worked.”
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She said the best thing about her award win was sharing her achievement with her daughters, Skyla Rae and two-year-old Scarlett.
She says the best thing about her job is seeing how her work can build confidence in people.
She said: “I love transforming people with hair extensions, how much you can make people feel better, also the training side for me, that’s what really makes this job worthwhile.
"My partner of eight years and the father of my children Joe Hunt has been one of my biggest supporters.
"He did the full salon renovations when we opened and really pushed me throughout my career and to do my course all those years ago."
In the future, Ashleigh plans to expand the training side of her business, working especially with new parents to help them start their own businesses.
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