WITH voting for The Northern Echo’s Best Beauty Salon competition now well and truly open, your favourite salon needs your support!

Every day we are featuring one of our top ten finalists – and today it is the turn of If Looks Could Kill, in Church Street, Crook.

LeeAnn Sewell opened the salon nearly seven years ago, but has been in the industry for 20 years.

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She said: “I worked from home before I got the salon, but I’d expanded so much I needed a different premises.

“It also fit around being a mum – I probably wouldn’t be employable if I didn’t work for myself! I have a disabled son who is 18 with complex needs; a 13-year-old, and a nine-year old – so home life is very busy! “Luckily I’ve got an amazing team in the salon and it works for us as a family.

“We cover a full range of beauty treatments, but I specialise in nails and hot waxing.

“I started when I was 22. I had been working for the prison service, but needed a change in career to allow me to work from home when I had my eldest son. I took a nails course and started working from home, and just built up from there.

“I did my advanced waxing course in Manchester, and we provide specialist waxing for men and women, which is fairly unusual in our area so we provide quite a niche service.

“The wax we use is organic – I chose all my products carefully and only use what I believe will work. I’m like that with all of the treatments I offer.

“We also provide lashes, nails, facials, massage and aesthetics. I have two girls working with me, and we have a nurse who comes in and does the injectables.

“I’m currently working towards a Level 7 qualification which will allow me to do them too. It is possible to go on quick courses to get a certificate, but it can be so dangerous if it’s not done properly. I think it is so important for clients to know we are fully trained and qualified to provide any aesthetic work.

“I was absolutely buzzing to be nominated, I got quite emotional. Particularly as I’m the only Crook-based salon to be nominated, and there are a lot in the area.

“I’m so grateful to my customers for nominating me, it’s so lovely to be recognised for what we do.”