A hairdressers specialising in extensions continues to grow after adding a new member to its team of five. Globetrotting Chloe Ladbury has joined Lox of Love on Aycliffe Business Park after a 10-month tour around the world. The 25-year-old worked as a stylist on a cruise ship after leaving The Works at Cobblers Hall. “I’m really excited to be back home and enjoying a new challenge,” said former Woodham Academy student Chloe, who lives in the town. “I started training to be a hair dresser when I was 15 and after working on the town for a few years wanted to get more experience. The opportunity came to join a cruise, and we went all over the world visiting some wonderful places including Brazil, Colombia, the Caribbean and Alaska. “It was fantastic but I was ready to come home and take up a new challenge, so I was delighted when Victoria offered me this new role.” Managing director Victoria Cartwright says her firm has grown, despite being hit by a personal tragedy in 2016 when her sister Anna Swabey lost her 20-month battle with a brain tumour – since passing, Anna’s fundraising efforts have smashed the £100,000 barrier.
“It was a very difficult time,” says Victoria, who runs Lox of Love with her mum and business partner Linda. But luckily our staff and clients were extremely supportive and understanding. We got through it as a family and now the business continues to do well. Our turnover has increased and we’ve seen significant increases year-on-year.” Victoria now hopes to grow her team at Lox of Love’s premises at Unit 6, Evans Business Centre on Durham Way South. Chloe joined the team as parttime Saturday assistant Amber Peake also made her role fulltime at the family firm. “We’re delighted with the addition of both Chloe and Amber,” adds Victoria. “The hairdressing and hair extensions side of the business expanded so much, we were struggling to cope with demand at one point. Amber used to be our Saturday girl while at school but has become very popular with our clients and she will eventually become fully-trained in hair extensions.
We’ve had to expand the salon due to demand so we can increase our capacity so we now have a new spill-out room to ease the burden during peak times” Lox of Love, which is official stockists of Beauty Works extensions, will soon be offering a new wig-fitting service for clients with medical conditions. Victoria added: “When Anna lost her hair through radiotherapy, she was trying to find somewhere and ended up finding a place in Hertfordshire “Support in this region is lacking a little bit, so within the next month we’ll be offering a full wig-fitting service, not just to chemotherapy patients, but other people with medical hair loss. “Towards the end of the year we’re planning to offer a hair recovery programme. It’s something I’m passionate about, and something I understand.” Mum-of-three Victoria, launched Lox of Love in December 2012, originally as a mobile service which had around 500 clients, before opening her own premises on Aycliffe Business Park in May 2014. To book or make an enquiry with Lox of Love, call them on 01325 327362, or for more details go to www.loxoflove.co.uk
IN PHOTO:Chloe Ladbury (centre) with stylist Emma Stevens (left) and managing director Victoria Cartwright.
