A TEENAGER has taken on the challenge of opening her own beauty salon.

Emily Clarke, 19, has opened Glamour & Glow in Witney after finishing two years of studies at Abingdon & Witney College.

The new salon was opened in Wesley Walk on Saturday by the town’s mayor, Joy Aitman.

Miss Clarke, a former Wood Green School pupil, said her dream has always been to open her own salon.

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“I did plenty of research during lockdown and then found this place, which was perfect,” she said.

“We’re really lucky with the location and hopefully we’ll get lots of footfall, so it’s a good place to set up shop.

“I think people will want to try a new salon in Witney.”

Witney Gazette:

Despite her age, Miss Clarke isn’t concerned, and is in fact relishing the challenge.

“I don’t feel nervous about it, I’ve had so much support from friends and family,” she said.

“My age doesn’t worry me, it just gives me the added drive to succeed.”

The salon will be offering a range of hair and beauty services, including massages, nail treatments, facials, eyelashes, waxing, spray tans and sunbeds.

Witney Gazette:

“We’ve got two hairdressers in at the moment and just me doing beauty, as with Covid, we obviously have to maintain social distancing,” said Miss Clarke.

“We’ve had lots of people booking and we’ve got plenty of bookings for the next couple of weeks, which is really great.

“There’s lots of demand, which is what we want.

“I’ll be doing late nights most nights to keep up with the early demand.

Witney Gazette:

“For now, we just want to keep busy and get as many people as possible coming through the door and get ourselves ready for Christmas with deals and packages.

“We want to have a salon where people have complete confidence in coming in.”

Miss Clarke, born and bred in Witney, said the salon differs from other businesses, as it offers both hair and beauty treatments.

“I’d describe the shop as a one-stop shop, you can get all your treatments done and you don’t have to go from shop to shop,” she said.

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“I used to find it annoying going to different places to get my hair done and then your nails so it was always something I wanted to do, have a place where you can get everything done.

“I’ve always been interested in beauty, but thought it would be something on the side, not something I would do full-time.

“I sat my mum and dad down one night and told them I had this dream and it’s gone from there.”