You beauty! Alice nominated for three awards

Elixir Beauty, on Central Street in Halifax, is in the running for Beauty Salon of the Year, Beauty Therapist of the Year and also Masseuse of the Year for the Yorkshire region

The company is owned by Alice Henry, 38, who set up the business in 1996 while still at college, working and training at the same time.

She said: ‘My dad gave me some good advice to make my own loyalty cards and take them to the local banks and shops. I gave their staff the cards and they became regular clients.

‘There was only one other salon in Halifax at that time - now there’s one on every corner!

‘When the recession came my husband lost his job in sales and everyone was cutting prices.

“But I had faith in my long-standing clients so I put up my prices. This helped cover the loss of the smaller non-regular treatments and instead, we thrived.

‘As I got older, I thought I would have children but it didn’t happen for me so I decided to grow my business instead.

“Being unable to have kids left me numb but my business became my baby and since then I’ve never looked back.”

Last year at the awards, Elixir won Best Customer Service and was nominated for Top Rated Salon of the Year, Beauty Salon of the Year and Beauty Therapist of the Year.

“I was ecstatic to be nominated again,” added Alice.

“However, I will miss the awards ceremony because I was so sure I wouldn’t be nominated that I booked a holiday with my husband for his 40th birthday.

“I’m about to take on another apprentice and I’d like to grow the salon and open seven days a week.

“In 1996, the most popular treatments were eyebrows and manicures. Now it’s Shellac nails.

“Clients are much savvier now.

They see what they want on the internet and on celebrities and come in and ask for it.

“I put my success down to consistency and quality.

“I always make sure I’m on time for appointments and I take the time to do a good job.”