Our latest feature - Meet the Salon/Barbershop Owner - gives business owners and managers the chance to shine a spotlight on their salon and showcase some of their best work.

If you would like to appear in our Meet the Owner feature, you can fill in our Q&A here or email claire.pierce@newsquest.co.uk

Here, 45-year-old Kelly Fay Castell, from Borras in Wrexham, reveals how she became part owner and managing director of a salon, and how the team stayed connected with clients through lockdown...

Name and address of the business

The Hair Lounge Rossett

Station Road, Rossett, Wrexham, LL12 0HE.

How many staff do you have, and in what roles?

We are currently a team of 10 consisting of six employed staff and four independent business owners:

Kelly Fay Castell - managing director

Fiona Cupit - director/designer

Deena Wilson - director/designer

Andrea Hughes - designer

Kasey Gibson-Dean - stylist

Lowri Roden-Roberts- graduate stylist

Lorraine Salisbury - independent designer

Tonisha Williams - independent creative stylist

Danielle Dunne - nail technician (The Nail Lounge Rossett)

Renée Dawson - makeup artist (Renee Dawson Makeup)

The team at The Hair Lounge Rossett.

When did you open?

We opened the salon nearly 12 years ago, in June 2011.

Why did you decide to open your own business?

Fiona, Deena and I have worked together in the hairdressing industry for many years until one day we decided we wanted to do something for ourselves and create something special. After working hard on our vision together we eventually created The Hair Lounge Rossett.

We wanted to create a special place with a luxurious feel, where our guests could sit back relax and enjoy their experience. The salon is unique in the way it has lots of separate rooms where our guests can unwind and relax, hence the name, The Hair Lounge.

Have you always been at this location?

Yes, it has always been in this location, however as we were only just starting to come out of a recession when we originally moved here, we just rented the downstairs space.

It was a scary time to open a business and it felt like a big risk, but thankfully it paid off and as we became more established, we expanded into the whole building and a few years down the line we had the opportunity to purchase the building. So, this location is here to stay for the foreseeable future for both our team and wonderful guests.

Are you local to the area, did you grow up here?

I was born and raised in the Wrexham area. In fact nine out of the 10 team members were.

Tell us a bit about your salon

We feel that it is more than a hairdressing salon, it becomes your hair relaxation lounge, that is perfectly situated between Wrexham and Chester, in the beautiful village of Rossett.

The village has lots of convenient amenities and we also have a large free car park adjacent to the building to make it easily accessible and trouble-free for our guests.

The salon itself is set inside a stunning double fronted Georgian building, which created the perfect environment for our vision. Spread out over two floors we have several boutique rooms including a colour bar and relaxation areas. The whole environment has been created with our guests in mind, so they can sit back relax and let our dedicated team take care of them.

Style, colour and hair-up at The Hair Lounge Rossett.

What services do you provide?

At The Hair Lounge Rossett we cover most areas of hairdressing including cutting, colouring, colour correction, hair-up, barbering, Brazilian blow dries, hair extensions and bridal hair.

And also nails, pedicures and make-up, including bridal, glam or occasional.

What is your hair/beauty background?

For me personally I started my hairdressing career at the age of 15, completing several years on the salon floor, I also gained an NVQ in beauty and my D32/D33 Assessors Award, so I could teach hairdressing. Due to dermatitis developing on my hands, I opted for a change in my career path and went to work as an air stewardess on the airlines.

After working on the airlines for a couple of years and having missed the world of hairdressing I came back into the industry and managed a hair salon for a while, and then The Hair Lounge dream was created.

Did the pandemic affect your business?

It certainly did. We were forced to close the business during lockdown, so we had no source of income. Even when we were allowed to open there were so many cancellations and obviously staff absence due to the virus, it just felt like it would never end. We are still recovering today from the effects of the pandemic.

As hairdressing is such a hands-on personal experience, to lose contact from our day-to-day life was so strange. So, to stay connected with our team we arranged lots of online chats, events and games with prizes for the winners.

For our guests we ran competitions, shared hair inspiration tips, and created videos to remind them that we are still here and in our own little way try and help them feel a part of a community which was so important for many of us during those difficult times.

We even shared a group chat with other local salons in the area, so we could share our thoughts, information and keep up-to-date with the latest developments in the industry.

What could set you apart from your competitors?

Our main wow factor is our team, without them The Hair Lounge Rossett wouldn't be possible as they all go over and above to make sure each and every guest leave the salon feeling and looking fabulous.

There is a buzz around the salon that is infectious, and our guests feel it, comment on it, and compliment us all regularly which we are extremely grateful for.

Inside The Hair Lounge Rossett.

Why do loyal customers return?

I feel it is only fair to use some of our guest's reviews for this, here are just a selected few which we are so grateful to hear:

"You're something very special."

"Love the boutique feel and personal touch."

"An oasis, indulgence, privilege to have on my doorstep."

"Blissful experience, warm welcome, credit to you all."

"Top London salon experience, in beautiful surroundings."

We are so lucky to have the most amazing guests, some as close as next door and others who travel from as far as Dollgelau and Bala. Each one we value and appreciate so much.

What's next for you and the salon?

One of the best things about the hairdressing/beauty industry is that it is always evolving, so there is always something new and exciting to look forward to. We regularly keep up-to-date with training sessions to bring our guests the latest looks and techniques and are currently working on a bridal specialist team (watch this space) and a brand new website.

Danielle at The Nail Lounge follows the fashion and trends to carry out the latest nail art and uses medical grade products to carry out her pedicure treatments.

Renée is launching The Brow Lounge, which will compliment and work alongside her make-up business.

So, as you can see there is always something new, fresh and up to date for our guests to enjoy.

What are your opening hours?

Tuesday 9am-5.30pm, Wednesday 9am-8pm, Thursday 9am-8pm, Friday 9am-5.30pm, Saturday 8am-3.30pm. Appointments outside of these hours and days can of course be arranged for special occasions or to fit in with our guests' lifestyles, by prior arrangement via our booking team.