With voting for The Northern Echo’s Best Hairdresser or Barber competition now well and truly open, your favourite salon needs your support!

Every day over the next ten days, we will be featuring one of our top ten finalists, chosen by our readers.

Today The Northern Echo speaks to Charlotte McClean, owner of Forty7 The Salon in Coniscliffe Road, Darlington.

Charlotte has been at the helm of Forty7 the Salon for seven years - but it is also the salon she first cut her teeth as a stylist when she was just 14.

She said: "I’ve had Forty7 The Salon for seven years now as my own – but it is actually where I started my training when I was 14, working for then-owner Tracey when it was Chipperfield's.

"It was Tracey who told me when the salon was becoming available again, and after being freelance for 11 years, I was ready to get back in the salon.

"I was also the salon manager when I worked for Tracey, so I had gained a lot of experience in running the business, and I would even think about how I would have it if it was mine back then!

"I worked as a freelance after I had my children, and I enjoyed it, but I much prefer being in a salon. It feels more professional, and you can create a space that is lovely to be in for the client.

"I wanted the salon to be welcoming, friendly, comfortable and cosy with lots of warm colours.

"One of my favourite techniques to work with is foils because it is very neat and I’m a very neat and tidy person!

"But overall it’s a very satisfying job to make people happy and to make them feel good. It is your clients that make it all worth it, and you go through a lot together over the years. I’ve got such amazing and loyal clients.

"There are five of us now – three other stylists rent chairs and I have my own junior. I do love the training aspect of the job.

"One of my girls has been with me since she was 14 and started as a Saturday girl, but I know her mum so really I’ve known her since she was born. She’s doing so well now, and it’s amazing to see her doing an amazing job."