After 10 years working in London and several years working in other hair salons in Tasmania, Anita Kidd thought it was time to open her own salon.
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She planned to open Queenie Hair salon at Invermay in the first week of March, but COVID-19 delayed those plans.
"I was meant to actually open in what would have been the first week of COVID in March sometime," she said.
"So I put it all on hold ... and I ended up opening at the beginning of May."
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The salon is located at 50 Invermay Road and Mrs Kidd said its name was inspired by a childhood nickname.
"Queenie was a nickname that my mum gave me when I was little," she said.
"I've been a hairdresser for about 25 years and have always worked in other salons.
"I trained in Launceston, but I lived in London for 10 years and worked there, which was amazing. It's kind of mecca for hairdressers.
"Then I moved back and I just worked part time mostly because I had got married and had two kids.
"I had been coming to ... Elite Lashes getting my lashes done and I saw her starting to renovate ... and I just kind of mentioned in passing 'was she interested in having a hairdresser?' and she was super keen so we we started setting it up."
Mrs Kidd said she was glad she chose Invermay because it was a growing area and was always busy.
And after only five months it seems to have paid off as she said business had been really good.
"It's such a growing area," she said.
"It was just originally a space for me to do probably two or three days a week, but it has just really blossomed into something.
"It has become really successful. I'm really busy and I have got lots of new local clients in the area, so it is kind of blossoming along nicely."
The new business owner said having worked in different parts of London, including Mayfair and Brixton, she was not phased by any hair type these days, but she did specialise in some areas.
"With all the different nationalities [in London] as well, you get to do every type of hair so I'm not really daunted by any hair now," she said.
"I would say, curly hair and short hair would be my specialties and cutting. I mean I love colouring as well, but cutting."
Due to the pandemic's restrictions when the salon opened, it is yet to have a launch event. However, one is planned next Thursday with clients, family and friends to belatedly celebrate its opening.
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