Post lockdown, many businesses are still finding their feet, but mother and daughter duo Lisa and Lois Preston have jumped back into business head first.
As Directors of Lois Jane Hair & Beauty, a salon based on Longview Drive in Huyton, they’re both busier than they could’ve imagined.
Lisa, 43, has always lived in Huyton and after starting her career in hairdressing over 20 years ago, she quickly gained some salon experience before opening her own small salon on Woolton Road in Childwall.
Focusing on broadening her knowledge and continuing to learn, Lisa applied for an Assessor role at Michael John Academy. She didn’t get the position, but to her surprise, was offered a teaching role.
Lisa explained: “I wasn’t a qualified teacher so I really couldn’t understand why I had been offered the job but I took it and it gave me the push to start university where I gained my CertEd Teaching qualifications (now called DTLLS). I was studying part-time with St Helen’s Higher Education Department, through Hope University and working at a college to gain experience which was challenging but I loved it. As I progressed, I was offered a full-time teaching role working at a college based in Knowsley.”
Enjoying the success, Lisa became established in the hairdressing industry. Her daughter Lois, now 25, grew up and developed a passion for makeup, and Lisa knew that she’d need a new salon where there would be room to grow and expand, as well as giving up her teaching roles to focus solely on the salon.
Lisa added: “My teaching skills aren’t wasted as we have our own accredited courses which we deliver at Lois Jane Hair & Beauty salon on selected dates.”
Selecting what now is Lois Jane Hair & Beauty was the perfect move for the family, with work just minutes away from where they live. Initially, Lisa and Lois rented the bottom floor only, before quickly expanding and taking on the salon over two floors.
Downstairs, clients can find six hair stations, a spray tanning room, private beauty room, separate hair washing room and the full display of hair products available for purchase.
Upstairs, Lois takes centre stage where she mainly focuses on makeup artistry and nails. There’s four makeup stations in total, three nail desks, a small beauty room and a large beauty room.
Both Lisa and Lois cater for weddings too.
Lisa manages all things hair, along with four other hair stylists, and moving to Lois Jane Hair & Beauty allowed her to create a bigger team which consists of Danielle, a senior stylist who Lisa first trained 15 years ago when she was an apprentice, Catherine, a former student of Lisa’s who is also now a talented senior stylist, Lauren who is a newly Level 2 qualified stylist is also trained by Lisa and her team and Megan; the newest team member currently studying at Andrew Collinge as a Level 2 apprentice is learning so much from Lisa and the other girls.
The mum-of-two leads the team, but also focuses on building on the salon’s retail offering, selling a wide range of Schwarzkopf after care, shampoo, conditioner, styling and finishing products, Chroma ID toning conditioning treatments, as well as BeautyWorks aftercare, shampoo, conditioner, travel sets, after sun hair care, Argan serum, 10-in-1 spray, treatment masks and more.
Lisa and Lois have since developed their own range of hair products including their branded wave comb complete with a velvet pouch, pink vent brush and luxury gold paddle brush, as well as a full range of hair extensions. Lois Jane Hair & Beauty provides a one-stop-extensions-shop, delivering the full service from supplying the hair, fitting it as well as selling tools and equipment for other hairdressers.
Lois, who started her NVQ Level 1 in Hair and Beauty when she was in Year 10 at St Julie’s High School, has always had a passion for the industry. She continued studying Level 2 Beauty, moving to Liverpool Community College and completing her Level 3 in Nail Services. Whilst in college, she was practising makeup on herself, family and friends before she embarked on a day course to broaden her knowledge in makeup.
Enthusiastic about developing her skills within the industry, Lois has also trained in CND nails, spray tanning, semi permanent eyelashes, crystal clear microdermabrasion facials, lash lifts and brown lamination.
She said: “From 17, I’ve spent the last eight years growing up at the salon. It’s given me so much confidence and I’ve continued to learn and grow every step of the way.
“Working with my mum is amazing but at times it can be hard as at first, we worked and lived together! I chose to move out and buy my first home when I was 20 and I feel that this has given us an even better working relationship.
Lisa added: “Working with Lois is fantastic as we’re able to see each other most days – but some days we barely speak as we’re so busy! We both have different skills that we bring to the business; I’m good at organising, managing the staff and finances and Lois is very creative and is always coming up with new ideas.
“I’m so proud to watch my little girl grow and develop into a confident young lady. She has worked so hard over the years and has established herself within the industry. It’s definitely not easy working with family and we can have different opinions and the odd disagreement! But we always manage to put our differences aside and be professional at all times.”
Lois continued: “We’re both overwhelmed with the amount of new clients we’ve had since reopening after lockdown. It was such an uncertain time during the pandemic but to be open and have recently celebrated our eighth year at the salon with so many clients is just amazing.”
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