Grooming salon for men is a cut above

Mar 10 2008 by Karen Dent, The Journal

A NURSE has teamed up with her son to help the men of Durham make the most of themselves.

Karen Foster and son Philip, a media student at Sunderland University, have joined forces to open Durham City’s first male grooming salon.

Trampas – The Men’s Room is one of three enterprises that Ms Foster, who is continuing to work part time as a nurse, is involved in.

She visits clinics providing aesthetic services such as Botox as part of Allure North East Ltd and she also runs Fragrant Symphony, which sends reminder text messages of important dates and offers to deliver flowers on behalf of its clients.

Ms Foster said: “I believe you can do lots of different things in life. I enjoy my work. The nursing keeps things ticking over.”

She is now concentrating her energy towards developing Trampas, which employs one full-time hairdresser, gives chair space to a self-employed hairdresser and has two part time beauty therapists. Her son has put together the business’s website.

In addition to Botox, the salon offers fake tanning, waxing, wet shaves, hairdressing and holistic treatments such as facials, aromatherapy massages, reflexology and ear candling.

Ms Foster said: “The reaction has been very positive. Clearly, there are a lot of students and where we are on Saddler Street is very visible. There are also a lot of visitors to Durham.”

Younger men are more likely to try holistic treatments whereas the older customers prefer traditional wet shaves, she added. She also credits the David Beckham effect with popularising the waxing method of hair removal among men.

“Women will come into salons with their friends in groups but the men come alone and will have a haircut. No one has to know what anyone is coming in for,” said Karen.

Ms Foster, who launched the business in February, has already been shortlisted in BT’s Be Your Own Boss contest and is waiting to hear whether she has been successful.