Hannah Clarke is happily back in business after having to close for much of the past 15 months due to lockdown restrictions.

The 34-year-old mum of one boy and one girl runs Ginger Harmony, which is based within Number Three Eco Salon at 3 Westgate in Oakham.

Hannah is a fully trained nail technician, facial therapist, brow technician and make up artist, but has a previous life as a copywriter.

She was born and raised in Peterborough and after meeting web designer husband Phil Clarke, the couple lived in Colsterworth before moving to Oakham.

Hannah told Nub News: "I came into the beauty industry from an entirely different background to most - I didn't do beauty at college, never aspired to work in the industry, and didn't even used to get my own nails done, having had bad experiences before that left my natural nails weak, broken, and brittle.

"All that changed in 2018 when - thanks to an opportunity through my parenting blog - I was invited to learn more about a luxury South African gel nail brand called Bio Sculpture. A spa day and set of gel nails later and I was in love!

"Flash forward to now, and I'm the only Bio Sculpture trained technician in Rutland, as well as having trained in many other treatment offerings. Every product I stock and use is cruelty free, vegan, and designed to promote the natural health of your nails and/or skin."

Initially, Hannah worked from home and also went mobile, driving around the area to visit her growing number of clients.

However, business hasn't been easy, due to the pandemic and its related lockdowns.

Hannah continued: "I moved into my salon space in late October 2020, having been closed due to lockdown from March to July.

"I was so excited to be back in Rutland and to build my client base, but then 9 days later Lockdown 2.0 was announced.

"I reopened for a couple of wonderfully busy weeks up to Christmas, before being yet again devastated by January's Lockdown 3.0, which kept me closed until April 12th."

Hannah explained: "Throughout every lockdown I have been ineligible for any of the Government's SEISS financial help, due to having worked part time in a coffee shop in 2018. Those 6 months rendered me ineligible despite having been self employed since 2015.

"It's been absolutely devastating and all I - along with so many other self employed people and small business owners - can do is hope that we're open for good this time!"

During the past year or so Hannah has been able to use the time to undertake courses to further upgrade her skills, carry out web design to earn some money and she home-schooled her three children.

Now, for more than two months, she has been happily back in the salon.

Hannah added: "The wonderful people of Oakham have been so supportive and my client base grows by the week.

"Thanks to being based in such a well-established and popular eco salon, I benefit from being visible to the clients coming in to have their hair transformed by Jenni, Lisa, and Toni.

"The ladies have welcomed me into the Number Three family with open arms and I have no plans to go anywhere else."

For more on Ginger Harmony, click on the link here.

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