SME News Q4 2022/ 28 Best Hair & Beauty Salon 2026 – Nottinghamshire Choosing the right salon may feel like a simple decision, but it has a direct impact on your happiness, confidence, and appearance. Today’s market is oversaturated, crowded with unregulated and unprofessional players, and selecting the wrong provider can be detrimental. Residents of Nottinghamshire need look no further than Karissma, an Edwinstowe-based hair and beauty salon offering a personal and professional service informed by the market’s latest advancements. We spoke with Owner Karen Shaw for more information, as Karissma is named in the Midlands Enterprise Awards 2026. The story of Karissma began with Founder Karen Shaw, who entered the world of hairdressing in 1984 as a Saturday girl. After qualifying in West Notts College in 1986, Karen went on to work full time at her local salon, which was owned by Caroline Black. While Karen learned a lot from Caroline, she eventually left the salon after falling pregnant in 1989. For a few years, Karen juggled life as a new mum whilst working as a mobile hairdresser. Whilst this set-up gave her the freedom to pursue her passion while settling into motherhood, Karen found herself missing the salon environment that she loved so much. Deciding it was time to update her skills and expand her portfolio, Karen took the next steps forward to run her own salon. Karissma was established in 2003 in Ollerton, then relocated across Nottinghamshire to Edwinstowe in 2008. The hair and beauty salon began with Karen and one other stylist. Within four weeks, Karen was advertising for two additional stylists to meet the overwhelming demand for service. The team outgrew the small salon in just nine months and expanded into the space next door. With this expansion, clients received all of their treatments, even their hair and nails, under one roof. Word of mouth quickly spread, and the Karissma team found themselves pursuing expansion once again, this time adding a toning studio to its offerings. Following the credit crunch of 2008, however, Karissma was forced to move back to Edwinstowe from Ollerton. With this, the salon faced the unfortunate reality of selling the toning studio, as well as reverting back to its roots as a team of two stylists. For many salons, this may have signalled the end. But for Karissma, it was merely an opportunity to build resilience. Following 15 incredibly successful years of operation in Edwinstowe, Karissma now stands as a ten-strong team of multitalented hair and beauty stylists, each offering their own specialist expertise. Across Nottinghamshire and beyond, clients are seeking out the latest treatments and services being pushed on social media. Many of these are available only in large towns and cities, but Karen has worked tirelessly to introduce these industry-leading services to the small surrounding area of Edwinstowe. She regularly puts the team through refresher courses, takes advice from local wholesalers and product reps, and keeps the salon updated, insured, and qualified in all areas of hair and beauty. This drive to remain at the forefront of industry development has established Karissma as a trusted pillar of its local community. Clients visit the salon for a wide range of treatments, spanning lashes, nails, skin and facial enhancements, boosters, aesthetics, tattoos, and the latest haircuts and colouring techniques. Offering so many different services under one roof makes for a seamless guest experience, with Karen explaining, “Life is so busy; time is so precious that being able to save time travelling is a gift.” Beyond the salon, Karissma has made extensive efforts to support its community. The salon has engaged with numerous local charities, school fayres, school football teams, and parish council events, but its biggest benefactor is the fight against breast cancer. Karissma has aided with raffles, charity walks, donations, bingo nights, and fashion shows for the cause, as well as raising more than £800 through its own event selling staff-made cakes and raffling prizes donated by local businesses. Today, Karissma is showing no signs of slowing its mission to forge a legacy that Karen now hopes will be upheld by daughter Brogan, who joined the salon ten years ago. “My aim in life is to keep Karissma going for as long as possible,” she told us. “I’m going to be retiring within a few years, but I want the salon to continue providing services to the local community, improving always and evolving with the styles, beauty services, and new products on the market.” Looking to the future, we at SME News Magazine have no doubt that Karen’s determination, combined with the unwavering passion of her entire team, will continue to prove precisely why Karissma has been named Nottinghamshire’s Best Hair and Beauty Salon 2026. Contact: Karen Shaw Company: Karissma Web Address: www.karissma-edwinstowe.co.uk
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