A KIDDERMINSTER hair salon celebrated opening for business with one of the stylists shedding her locks for charity.

Celebrity stylist Jamie Stevens was the special guest who cut the ribbon to declare Lucy Potter Hair and Beauty, in Stourport Road, open.

Lucy, who is an acclaimed hairdresser in her own right and has travelled abroad and all over the country in her career, said she wanted to open her own salon and chose Kidderminster

But member of staff Vicky Licence helped turn the launch party into a charity evening when she raised more than £1,000 by having her hair cut by 12 inches.

Lucy said: “I’ve been qualified for six years and achieved a lot in the industry so far. I was an ID artist travelling the country and abroad performing in L’Oréal shows and I came second in the country for the Shu Umuera Muse Image awards in 2015.

“I’ve also worked backstage at fashion shows so I now wanted to take the next step and open my own salon.

“After taking over the building there was nothing but walls and floor. It was just one big room and in my mind I could see how I wanted the salon. After four long months, I converted it from a blank room to a high end salon.

“We held the opening and my Saturday girl, Vicky, was sponsored on the night with a raffle to cut 12 inches off her hair for the Little Princess Trust.

“She raised a staggering £1,076.79 and, along with the money, the hair will be sent to make wig for children.

“I met James Stevens a few times when working for L’Oréal. He is well known in the industry and creates hair for ITV’s Lorraine and This Morning and, until recently, was the head hairdresser for X Factor.

“I asked him if he would come and open the salon and was delighted when he said he was really happy to come and help someone young in the industry opening a salon. He sold all the raffle tickets and chatted with the crowd of 160 people.”