Meet the salon owner creating gorgeous glow ups for two decades

Keeping a successful business running over the past 18 years hasn’t been easy especially during the Covid-19 pandemic and its aftermath.

Here in our latest Meet The Salon Owner feature, Leeanne, who is 43, tells us how she’s always been interested in hair and beauty since she was a teenager, how much she missed her job when she took up teaching for a while and why Winsford will always feel like home.

If you would like to appear in one of our Meet The Salon Owner, Meet The Makeup Artist or Meet The Beauty Therapist features email heidi.summerfield@newsquest.co.uk

Salon owner Leeanne Forsey

What’s your full name?

My name is Leeanne Forsey.

How old are you?

I am 43 years old.

What’s the name of the salon/business?

My salon is called Guyz N Dollz Hair and Makeup

Leeanne opened the salon in September 2006

What’s the address?

Rilshaw Lane,

Winsford,

CW73DJ

Are you the owner/manager?

I own the business and Katie Mitchell is my manager.

How many employees do you have?

There are six team members - myself, Katie Mitchell, Joanne Birtley, Jordan Stanway, Keiran Cox and Samantha Hoult.

Beautiful bridal hair

When did you open the salon? Has it always been in the same location?

Guyz N Dollz was established in September 2006 on Wharton Road but we moved to the new location in December 2022.

Are you local to the area? Did you grow up here?

I’m originally from Winsford and very proud of it too. I love our town.

READ MORE:

Meet The Salon Owner creating gorgeous glow ups and perfectly polished nails

On trend makeup

Tell me a bit about your salon/business. What do you do? What services do you provide?

The salon is very lively and always warm and welcoming. We cater for all ages and sexes. We provide all hair services from colours to perms to keratin treatments and most types of hair extensions. We specialise in hair up and bridal hair and we have an in house makeup artist who has appeared on the BBC television show Glow Up 2023. We have also been featured on Sky Living in 2013. We have won several awards over the years including Keiran winning Junior Hair Stylist of the Year in the North in 2022. We have been involved in several charities over the years and helped to raise lots of money. We pride ourselves on helping in the community such as with Active Cheshire, This Girl Can, and giving back to deserving local heroes such as the NHS. We also have recognised upstanding citizens of Winsford by offering free services and treats.

Why did you decide to open your own salon?

It has always been my dream to open my own salon from being 14 years old when I first started in the business working as a junior at Just Hair in Winsford town centre. I then went on to work at a salon in Wilmslow and Knutsford but I missed my home town so I came back and started to teach hairdressing. I quickly realised that when you teach you don’t get to do much hair at all and it’s more paperwork and watching and advising others. I’m one to get my hands dirty and get stuck in so I needed to get out of the classroom and back to the salon floor. It’s in my blood. So, within a year I was back doing hair at home but I still missed the salon environment - the friends and the banter, which is when I opened my own salon.

Sleek waves

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Meet the salon owners training future stylists and hosting charity music gigs

What’s your hair and beauty background? Why this type of business?

There is no other job for me - hairdressing is my life and I know nothing else! There’s no better feeling than seeing a person’s confidence grow while they’re sitting in your salon chair and you just made them feel a million dollars. In my opinion, it’s the best job in the world. We are not just hairdressers we are therapists, scientists, baristas, friends, confidants and a safe place for people to come and unwind, escape the outside world for a while and just relax.

Guyz N Dollz specialises in hair up

How did the Covid-19 pandemic affect your business?

The Covid-19 pandemic greatly affected my business and continues to affect it now. It’s changed the way people have their hair done. People come in less frequently these days. Colours used to be done every four to six weeks but now people can go up to three months before booking their next appointment. The balayage and root smudge trend has contributed to this. Roots are quite fashionable now so colours last longer.

What makes your business different to others in the same area/field? What sets your business apart from your competitors?

We are one big family at Guyz N Dollz and every person that walks through the door feels that warmth. No one is an outsider and everyone is welcome!

Guyz N Dollz Hair and Makeup is on Rilshaw Lane in Winsford