There’s a new beauty salon in the Village Goonellabah shopping centre.

Kristy Saad’s newest Affordable Beauty salon has been open for two weeks now and she’s excited that the new plush massage and spa pedicure chairs have just arrived.

“People come in and want to sit in them and just get a massage,” she laughed.

“Your back gets a massage while your feet are soaked and given a pedicure.”

The Goonellabah shop is the third beauty salon that she’s opened.

She’s been in the beauty business for 20 years, working from home originally, before opening her first Affordable Beauty salon in South Lismore ten years ago.

“Then four years ago, a friend approached me to open a shop in Ballina,” she said.

“I like the business side of things and being able to provide a service – it took me years to work it out and I love the challenge.

“I also like to look after my staff.

“This year, the people who own the Village Goonellabah shopping centre approached me and said there was a need for a beauty salon here.

“I’ve had an excellent response so far,” she said.

The Goonellabah shop will be run by another trained beauty therapist, Jess Smith, whose specialty is pedicures and eyelash extensions.

“I like making people feel good and build relationships with people,” Jess said.

“They come in and relax and walk out feeling beautiful.”

Jess is busy putting up the new spray tanning booth in the shop this week and said eyelash extensions are the most popular service people come in for.

“Microdermabraisions are also popular – people love a good exfoliation,” she said. “while they are getting their facial, we also do their nails.

“It’s a ‘top and toe’ treatment that relaxes people. 

“We also do eyebrow and eyelash tinting and nails.”

Kristy said since she started setting up the shop four weeks ago, the only problem has been waiting for an internet connection.

“I’ve been told that by the NBN company that they are busy and haven’t been able to connect me up to the NBN yet,” she said.

“It’s a problem for me because my staff and the online bookings are connected via a computer system and I can’t get into it up here.”

Kristy said it’s an issue she will be taking up with the Ombudsman.

In the meantime, it’s business as usual, as she manages her salons and brings a relaxed glow to the cheeks of Lismore residents.

You can find out more information about Affordable Beauty at https://www.affordablebeauty.com.au/