Louella Belle walks in memory of its founder and we find out how a salon created a strong brand over two distinctly different locations

Nail News

Danielle Miller

Zara McLeod

Jaydee Macnamara

Sophie Wood

Rachel Coats

Tracy Ward

IN MEMORY

The team behind Artistic and Morgan Taylor distributor Louella Belle joined the annual Moon Walk London in May, walking 26.2 miles and raising £13,000 in memory of the company’s founder, Lisa Crook.

Crook passed away in December after a battle with breast cancer. Moon Walk is an overnight walking event organised by breast cancer charity Walk the Walk, which sees people walk a path through the city to raise money.

Crook’s son and Louella Belle managing director Jamie Crook said: “We’ve been blown away by the overwhelming support we’ve received for doing the Moon Walk. In the last 21 years, Walk the Walk has raised more than £121 million so signing up was our way of helping a cause that is so close to our hearts. I’m so proud of the team – walking 26.2 miles was a challenge, but we’ve raised more than £13,000, which makes it all worthwhile.”

Wonder women

CND and Lecenté distributor Sweet Squared has chosen the finalists of its We Are Unstoppable campaign. The six women were nominated by their nail techs for their stories of success and overcoming adversity.

The finalists are: Tracy Ward, a single mother at 16 who went on to become a head teacher; cystic fibrosis sufferer and Team GB athlete Sophie Wood; domestic violence survivor Zara McLeod; Jaydee Macnamara, who grew up during apartheid in South Africa and gained a degree in nuclear medicine; Danielle Miller, an ambassador and course developer for women in construction industry alongside her full-time job; and Rachel Coats, who has been battling cancer since 2013.

The winner will receive free CND Shellac services for a year and a mini break to Barcelona. Their tech will also win a prize.

ONLINE OPTION

This summer, Bio Sculpture is introducing online training for its classic gel system, available to techs and beauty therapists with a manicure certificate and gel experience. The course can be completed over two weeks at the learner’s own pace, designed as a convenient way for busy techs and salon owners to undertake the training. It covers nail preparation and easy gel removal along with proper application of Biosculpture’s soft, medium and hard gels. Assessments will take place in person. The course will cost £377 including an LED lamp. The brand has also revealed the winners of the international competition it launched for its techs to name six new Evo polishes in indigo and violet shades. Two of the winners were from Great Britain, Emma Eyles with the name Asenath and Tamaryn Hausberger with the name Rhiannon. The new colours will be released in August.

SALON SPOTLIGHT

Colour Riot Nails, Shoreditch and Fitzrovia, London

Opened: December 2017 (Shoreditch salon) and March 2016 (Fitzrovia)

Techs: Eight

Product houses: Gelish, Orly, Nailberry, DND, Missu. Interior design vibe: “I’d describe the Shoreditch salon as ‘colour trendy’. It’s full of colour, with an orange manicure table, pink and orange pedi chairs and pink, white and yellow walls with geometric wall art.

“The Fitzrovia location is a smaller space so we went for plain white walls with pops of colour in all the furniture pieces. I chose these design styles because they represent our name, and because I didn’t want a spa-like, clinical or even a luxury feel to the salons, but instead fun, colourful spaces where everyone is welcome.” USP: “Our creativity. We’re not just nail techs but artists, and we thrive on all aspects of creativity and translate it onto the nail.”

Bookings: “Our primary system is online via Timely. We also take bookings through Treatwell and over the phone.”

Typical client: “Our Fitzrovia clients tend to be women aged between 25 and 35 of a middleclass background. We find they’re not as adventurous as our Shoreditch clients, who are also typically women in the same age range but are normally students or work in creative industries.”

Going east: “East London was chosen for the second location because the area suited the creative side of the brand perfectly. I fell in love with the vibe of the community. It’s also well located and accessible.

Future plans: “Expansion, expansion, expansion! Expect to see more Colour Riot studios as well as merchandise and products.”

Tinu Bello is founder and chief executive of Colour Riot Nails

@ColourriotnailsLondon

@colourriotnails

@ColourRIOTnails