Falkirk salon Damask Hair and Beauty celebrates 30 years in business

Damask Hair and Beauty reached the milestone moment on Saturday, but Covid lockdown restrictions meant celebrations were kept low-key.

Patricia Crawford, better known as Trisha, credits the efforts of all those who have worked at her Grahams Road firm, along with its clients, for Damask’s successes over the past three decades.

With her salon currently closed indefinitely due to lockdown restrictions, the Falkirk-born businesswoman marked the occasion at her Shieldhill home with husband Douglas, daughter Jodie and son Jamie and plans to host an anniversary event when the time is right.

Mrs Crawford said: “We’ve got a great clientele, very loyal.

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“It’s a busy salon and a lot of our customers have been with us for 30 years.

“I’d like to thank them so very much because if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have lasted for 30 years. I’d like to thank all my staff because they’ve all played their part – it’s definitely been a team effort.

“I’d also like to thank my mum and dad, Jim and Catherine Roberts, and my family for supporting us.”

After training at Renella in Falkirk, Mrs Crawford set up her own shop and witnessed the transformation in the hairdressing industry first-hand.

Being able to “adapt with the times” has been pivotal, according to the mum-of-two.

Throw in the challenges posed by a pandemic and the need for adaptability has only become more important.

Mrs Crawford continued: “I’ve had 15 different hairdressers before and now I’ve got nine, three beauty rooms and five nail bars.

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“My daughter does nails and eyelashes. She’s now coming into the business to help me a wee bit, which I’m really delighted about.

“She’s gone to the beauty side and has been doing great with it. If you go back 20 years ago and I asked her to do something like that, I don’t think there would’ve been a market for it – but now beauty is so big.

“My beauticians and nail girls are really good. They’re all self-employed and I’ve got a make-up artist, Hayley Hunter, who has turned her hand to doing nails just now and started making candle melts.

“They’ve all diversified and held their own in this difficult time.

“We were shut for four months in the last lockdown and, depending on when they decide to let us open – I think it'll be near the end of March – we’ll have been shut for six months.

“I think the government has done really well to support us. If it hadn’t put support in place, it would’ve been horrendous.

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“Once we open we’ll be in quite a strong place.”

She added: “I’ve had staff who have been there for about 20 years.

"Over the last ten years, a lot started opening their own shops.

“I think there are too many hairdressers and beauticians in the Falkirk area, but it’s good people have the opportunity like I did to open their own business.

“It’s a lot easier to do that now than it was 20 years ago when you had bigger salons such as Renella and Greens. It’s good that people are striving to improve and do well for themselves.”

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