West Enders will keep up with the latest hairstyles and fashions thanks to a new hair salon which has been launched in Somerset.

Charmaine Nicole Hairloft, which is run by owner Charmaine Nicole and based in Somerset Road, was opened in October last year and has been going from strength to strength ever since.

Ms Nicole said hairdressing had been her passion since the age of 15 and she had now been able to realise the dream of running her own salon.

She started out working for a hair salon 12 years ago and still has her own booth rental working as an independent contractor at a salon in Hamilton to maintain her client base there.

"My story is simply one of passion, a great passion to want to make women look and feel their best when it comes to their hair," she said. "That passion has led me to open my own salon.

"From the age of 15, when one of my teachers asked me what I wanted to be, I told her a hairstylist. I knew that once I became a stylist, I would not want to work for someone for too long.

"I've always had a strong desire to go out and open my own salon someday.

"I just took the opportunity because I really needed to spread my wings and go on my own with the ideas I had."

During her time in the industry, Ms Nicole has learned a lot of important lessons to prepare her for running her own business and when the opportunity arose to set up in Somerset she jumped at it.

Her rent is cheaper in Somerset than being located in Hamilton and she has a loyal existing clientele who have followed her to the new salon, as well as taking on new clients, but one day hopes to expands to a more central venue.

Ms Nicole also believes she has filled a niche in the market to meet the demand for quality hairstylists in Somerset and has turned to the likes of social networking websites such as Facebook in addition to advertising on e-moo (which received 250 hits in its first two days of listing) to promote her products and services and above all highlight the importance of healthy hair.

"Our motto is 'You are your hair, so wear it well'," she said. "A hairstyle is a personality thing.

"Your style and colour say a lot about you; they reflect your personality, amplify an attitude and make a statement, so no matter what it is, embrace your style and wear it well.

"We go the extra mile by educating our clients on the products available to them, and how they should care for their hair at home."

Ms Nicole, who works in her salon with another staff member and an independent contractor, focuses solely on hair and offers a number of services including relaxers, colours and cuts.

And although she has to juggle running the salon and booth with looking after her one-year old child in the face of the current economic downturn, she is determined to make a big success of it.

The salon is open from Monday to Sunday between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.

For more information contact Charmaine Nicole Hairloft on 232-1810, email mail@charmainenicole.com or visit www.charmainenicole.com