Castle Douglas salon celebrates after landing top award

Wayne Blackburn, Maureen Hering and Leah White receive the award for best hair and beauty salon in south west Scotland from awards host David Tanner

A Castle Douglas salon is celebrating after landing a top award.

Blackburns Hair and Beauty on King Street was nominated for the Official Scottish Hair and Beauty Awards, which recently took place at The Doubletree by Hilton in Glasgow.

And owner Wayne Blackburn, senior stylist Maureen Hering and beauty therapist Leah White returned home with the prize for top hair and beauty salon for south west Scotland.

Wayne, who also has a salon in Newton Stewart, said: “It’s an absolute joy to be nominated and then to be winning.

“We were up for two nominations – beauty salon of the year and hair and beauty salon of the year.

“We were unlucky with the first one but we were absolutely delighted with the second.

“There were more than 460 people there – just to be represented is great but it’s a huge reflection on the staff, they’ve been brilliant.

“I’m highly delighted for the girls, as much as I’m the boss it’s them that put the work in.

“It’s good for the Newton Stewart salon as well as they’re part of the same group and staff work in both salons.”

Wayne has run his salon in Newton Stewart for 12 years and the Castle Douglas branch for eight.

A spokesperson for Oceanic Events, who organise the awards, said: “We were delighted to be back for yet another year to celebrate the country’s finest stylists, beauticians and well loved salons.

“Our aim is to highlight the strong presence and profitability of the country’s hair and beauty industry and recognise the professionals whose talent, ethos and excellence have put them forward to receive the recognition they deserve.

“We would like to congratulate all of our winners and highly commended recipients on their achievements.”