SCRATCH PADS

Step inside Kate Lifestyle, the Maldon salon that offers its family of clients a five-star service in stunning surroundings. HELENA BIGGS explores…

From the moment I met Kate Driscoll, she radiated warmth and positivity. It was on a Zoom call last winter, and she excitedly told me about her gel polish brand, GelJunkie, and shared the beginnings of her industry journey. But it was when I visited her salon, Kate Lifestyle, that I got to fully unpack her career success story and explore the venue that has made such a big impact on its local community.

On arrival, Kate welcomed me with a huge hug, and was every bit as magnetic as on that first video call. She has the ability to envelop you in her presence, making you feel as if you’ve been friends for years, and this energy translates to her team members, who looked up from their nail desks to greet me with ‘hello’s’ and smiles. Their clients also offered friendly nods and embraced me into their salon circle: a feeling that I know is one of the reasons for the salon’s busy books.

Kate Driscoll

The premises is well suited to the sophisticated high street of Maldon, Essex; resting between cocktail bars and boutiques and attracting a varied clientele. Its nail and reception area is at street level, featuring five nail desks and two pedicure stations in complementary tones of greige, brushed gold, cream and blush pink. A beautiful cherry blossom tree is a focal point, placed between two nail desks and catching the attention of passers-by who see it through the salon’s main window. It’s this window that allows the venue to be flooded in natural light; enhancing the salon’s design details that include pretty patterned wallpaper and wide-back pedicure chairs in plush pink velvet with plenty of cushions.

“Kate Lifestyle’s look is classic with a modern twist, as I enjoy fusing vintage styles with modern fabrics and finishes,” Kate shares. “There are seating areas where clients can relax, and many pop into the salon for a cuppa and chat outside of appointments, as we’ve created a social space.”

I’m led through the nail area, past a unit featuring hundreds of nail shades, and downstairs to the beauty floor. I’m surprised by three large treatment rooms on this level, which Kate reveals are used for aesthetics, lash, brow, massage, wax and skincare services. Chilled house music plays through the rooms, further enhancing the salon’s comforting characteristics and avoiding any feelings of clinic culture.

“A beautiful cherry blossom tree is a focal point, placed between two nail desks and catching the attention of passers-by who see it through the salon’s main window.”

As I complement Kate on the use of space, she reveals that this lower floor was waterlogged when she acquired the premises, and it took around eight months from when she first collected the keys to transform Kate Lifestyle into the luxury venue it presents today. It is the second premises she has put her stamp on since entering the beauty industry 18 years ago, following the birth of her first two daughters. “I had wanted to train in beauty since leaving school, but my career path initially took a different direction,” shares Kate. “However, as soon as I started training, I became hooked.”

Kate achieved Level 2 and 3 qualifications in beauty before commencing a full-time nail diploma at an education centre in Chelmsford. She showed a natural flair for the craft and went on to attain Levels 2 and 3 in Nail Technology.

“I remember calling my mum after the first day of nail training to tell her that I’d found my calling and passion,” Kate smiles. “My educator, Katarina, was amazing, and while I had loved my beauty training, I particularly enjoyed nail styling and pursued extra sessions and one-to-one lessons with her.”

Katarina saw something special in Kate, and when she revealed that she was emigrating, she passed over her client base. Kate embraced this opportunity and rented a desk in a small salon, serving Katarina’s former clients while working on growing her own roster.

“A prospect arose to work more locally to my home, within a room in a hair salon in Maldon,” Kate reveals. “My clientele and profile quickly grew, and I took on my first member of staff, who had trained at the same nail academy as me. We moved to another area of the salon which afforded space for a beauty room, and we expanded our treatment menu. I remained in the hair salon, running the business for around five years, managing five members of staff.

“Over time, it became clear that we were outgrowing the space, and my husband located a premises nearby, which we took over in January 2018,” Kate continues. “We spent two months refurbishing it before opening Kate Nails & Beauty, which featured four nail desks and one therapy room. Three full-time members of staff worked alongside me, and our client base continued to grow. I then realised that we needed an even bigger salon space, so that we could continue to cater to the needs of clients and enhance our offerings.”

Kate’s landlord had acquired a larger premises overlooking the high street, which had three floors. However, it needed renovating and Kate would need to reapply for the various licences for her treatment offerings. “My husband and I knew that it would be a challenging project, but saw the potential of the property,” she reveals. “We took the plunge and began the mammoth task of clearing and decorating the space to bring our vision to life. I updated the salon’s name to Kate Lifestyle to reflect the full range of services available, and we celebrated the opening with a party in July 2019.”

“We are a team of skilled, passionate professionals, and we welcome anyone who values our impeccable customer service and craftsmanship into our friendly and comfortable environment.”

The top floor of Kate Lifestyle is rented to hair stylists, with furniture reflecting the elegant carpentry of the nail desks that were crafted by a schoolfriend of Kate’s. A beautiful bay window allows more natural light to radiate through the space, and underneath is a seat from which clients can watch people busying themselves on the high street, and indulge in a complimentary coffee while waiting for their hair colour to set.

Aside from the hair team, Kate employs 13 members of staff: 10 working across beauty, skincare and nails, and three front of house personnel. Personability and great customer service skills are imperative, as well as talent, and Kate shares that one of her team members is due to go the extra mile for a regular client, visiting them at their home to give them a manicure while they are injured and unable to make it to the salon. “We view our clients as family members,” she shares. “We extend our hours for bridal parties and ensure that every client is given a five-star service with refreshments and exceptional products.” Kate hopes that her youngest daughter, nine year-old Freya, will continue her legacy and truly enhance the family feel of the business, having already shown an aptitude for nail painting.

Back on the nail floor, I spot the Crystal Nails and CND Shellac™ lines on the product shelf, and Kate shares that the team has been introducing her GelJunkie brand to clients over the past six months, and gaining exceptional feedback. The savvy pro decided to launch her own brand in 2022, keen to create the perfect balance between providing must-have colours and products that support nail strength. “My focus is on quality and client satisfaction, and I have always had an eye for shades that suit each of my clients,” she shares. “The GelJunkie range features 100 highly pigmented gel polishes to complement all seasons and client styles, as well as a base coat, top coat and Create The Length – or ‘CTL’, a brush-on builder gel.”

I’m not surprised to see that the nail area is even busier than when I left it to explore upstairs, and clients are animatedly chatting to one another while enjoying their pamper sessions. Salon regular, Michelle Boukett, has arrived early to catch up with Kate, and tells me: “I’ve known Kate for many years and followed her to each of her salons. I love the atmosphere at Kate Lifestyle and the team is amazing. I book manicure, pedicure and eyebrow treatments and get to know other clients; we’re like one big family.”

“We view our clients as family members. We extend our hours for bridal parties and ensure that every client is given a five-star service with refreshments and exceptional products.”

Michelle opts for plain colour enhancements, but the nail treatment menu includes standard and deluxe manicures, gel polish and CTL services, extensions with tips or forms, nail art additions and the Ukrainian manicure: a technique presented by Kate Lifestyle’s two Ukrainian staff members. The Footlogix brand is used to enhance footcare services, and cuticle oil, skincare products and foot creams are retailed so clients can prolong their treatments at home.

Care is extended with a commitment to the local community, as Kate Lifestyle offers gift vouchers to charities, schools and events, and hosts coffee mornings in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. The team has been rewarded for its business acumen and philanthropy, displaying the Luxury Beauty Salon of the Year accolade from the London & South East England Prestige Awards 2023/2024 proudly on the reception desk. The business also hopes to reach the finals in the Nail & Beauty Salon of the Year category at this year’s Scratch Stars Awards.

“Kate Lifestyle caters to a diverse clientele who appreciate luxury, quality and personalised attention,” Kate concludes. “We are a team of skilled, passionate professionals, and we welcome anyone who values our impeccable customer service and craftsmanship into our friendly and comfortable environment.”