Just like the gemstone it’s named after, the new premises of Lazuki & Co is beautiful, bright and inviting. 

Peta Tillett, owner of Lismore’s boutique hairdresser and beauty salon, has rebuilt the salon bigger and better after the February flood.

Now located in the upper storey of 180 Molesworth Street, the salon takes up the whole floor of the historic brick building, with its light, airy verandah spaces and high ceilings.

“All our clients are excited at the beautiful new space,” Peta said. “It’s such a great building, high above flood and want to make it a comfy safe space for people to relax - and feel welcome and warm.

“It’s a space where people can take time for themselves.”

Peta lost all her salon equipment in the February flood, despite spending two days moving everything to a higher level. But, instead of giving up, she decided to expand the business. 

“As soon as we announced we were opening here, our clients were booking in,” Peta said

Not only has she retained all her staff, this week, Peta has a new beauty therapist starting and people can book in for an appointment.

The new salon features a beauty therapy and massage room, as well as a two hair salon rooms - and there are plans to have a sauna. People can book in for facials, nails, beauty treatments, massage and maintenance.

Connecting

Peta has owned the business for four years and is a make up artist who sells her own brand of cosmetics.  

“All my powders are Australian made entirely from natural ingredients, with no preservatives,” she said.

“I like connecting with people,” she said. “In this business, we touch people for a living in a massage and beauty way and it is such a nice thing."

When Peta moved to Lismore from Victoria, she saw there were single operator salons and medi spas – but nothing in-between.

She had previously worked in a day spa, but wanted to create a place where people could have massage and a facial and not feel not intimidated.

“A place where they could come in and talk about skin, or buy a voucher to have a massage, pedicure, and blowwave,” she said. 

Teamwork

Peta said keeping all her staff after the flood was important to her because “it’s all about the team”.

“Educating my team well is something I’m really into,” she said. “We sublet a place in Goonellabah to maintain their work and keep them engaged with education and volunteering.

“More jobs means more opportunities and I’m putting more juniors so that they can develop their skills, while offering a discounted rate for people who want to work with apprentices.

“In Lismore, lots of people are still rebuilding or trying to get their business open in Lismore and can’t afford the full luxury service.”

Hair Aid

Soon, Peta is heading off to volunteer with Hair Aid this September and will be working with people in prison in Bali.  

“It’s been over two years since our team’s last project in Cambodia and I’m looking forward to making some positive change in someone’s life once more,” she said.

“This project will be working with a women’s prison, a dump community and a street community.”

Peta is looking for donations of hairdressing items, capes, scissors, clips and combs.

She is also collecting old mobile phones, they are used by the dump community to help with the children’s homework, toiletries such as tooth brushes, sanitation pads, soaps, mini shampoo and conditioners – and bras.

Job available

Peta is still looking for another hairdresser, so if you are interested you can call her on 0401636208 or email [email protected].

The salon is located at level 1, 180 Molesworth Street and is open Monday to Saturday by appointment. For more information, or to book, visit http://www.lazuliandco.com.au/