Icon Beauty turns 17!

It’s our birthday!
The salon has changed so much over the years, but the thing that hasn’t changed is what it’s always been about, the people who walk through the door and trust us with their time, health and beauty.

A lot of heart has gone into Icon. Members of the team have become like family, clients have become good friends, and there have been so many funny moments in the salon that have made the hard days more than worth it. Some of you have been coming to us since the very beginning, and it means more to me than I can really put into words.

Gloucester Road has been our home the whole time, and I’m proud to be part of a community with so much character and so many independent businesses doing their own thing. It’s a special road to be on and I’ve never even considered being anywhere else. It just wouldn’t be the same.

As with all businesses, there have been quiet years, busy years, easier stretches and some really tough ones, but through all of it, the support from our clients has never wavered. That’s not something every salon gets to say, and I know how lucky we are.

So thank you to every single person who has ever come in. Thank you for the recommendations, the loyalty, the kind words, and for choosing to spend your time with us.

Looking back to 2009
When I opened the salon in 2009, my dream was to create a warm, welcoming and friendly environment, with real attention to the details of the interior. At the time, I felt that was something many salons lacked, and there was a real gap in the market on Gloucester Road. I wanted every treatment room to feel comfortable and luxurious, whether you were coming in for a massage, a facial or simply a wax.

When I first saw the building, I could see its potential. I had a picture in my head of what I wanted it to become, although looking back at these photographs now, it’s amazing to see just how much it has changed!

Those early years were very much about finding our feet and gradually making the space our own. Over time, the salon has evolved with us. Colours have changed, treatment rooms have been redesigned, reception has had quite the transformation, and the little details have continually been updated. Some of the décor may make me smile now, but I feel incredibly proud of what that original vision has grown into.

Underneath it all, the feeling I wanted to create from the very beginning has stayed the same. I wanted somewhere that felt professional without feeling clinical, where clients could walk through the door, switch off and know they were going to be looked after. Seventeen years later, that is still at the heart of what we do.

Here’s to seventeen years, and to whatever comes next!

Ten years of Taylor
This year Taylor celebrates ten years at Icon, which honestly doesn’t seem possible! She joined us straight from Hengrove College, and she still remembers her first day. She spent it on reception and shadowing the girls to learn all our treatments. She says it was nerve-racking, but she knew almost straight away she was in the right place.

Since then, the salon has expanded, the layout is completely different, and the branding has had a refresh. Taylor wanted to know who else remembers the Icon butterfly. I definitely do!

If you’ve had your nails done by Taylor, you won’t be surprised to hear that nails are her absolute favourite. They’re what she could happily do all day and her favourite treatment to have done herself. She loves the instant results and seeing everyone’s personal style come through. This year, chrome has been the most requested look by far, and this autumn she’s going for dark red.

What she loves most, though, is her regulars. Some of you have been coming to see her for years, and she says those relationships make the job feel effortless. She also says the team’s energy, shared knowledge and support are the best bits of working here. We feel exactly the same about her.

Away from the salon, you’ll find Taylor shopping (she says it wins over the gym every time!) or at home with her beloved dog Boycey. He is such a funny thing. He loves zooming around the house to burn off energy and tilts his head when you talk to him, and she absolutely adores him. And if you’re wondering what keeps her going between clients, it’s not tea or coffee. She’s a Diet Coke girl through and through.

Thank you for ten brilliant years, Taylor. We’re so lucky to have you!

Until next time
Thank you, as always, for reading and for being part of Icon, not just this year but for the last seventeen. The evenings are drawing in and we are thinking about putting the heating  and our slippers back on, so I hope you find time for a few cosy, slower moments this month. We’d love to see you in the salon soon.

Lucy x