Sisters Ellis and Rowan Williams mark six months since opening their first salon named, SIST•E•R, on Rose Lane, after pandemic presented new opportunities.
A venue where everyone will be treated like a Sister, a home away from home, the salon provides a welcoming, friendly environment where the staff ensure their clients leave feeling and looking their best.
It’s been beautifully designed in neutrals and soft teal hues, as well as a centrepiece wall complete with pampas and dried floral arrangements and an empowering neon sign that says “Sisters are doing it for themselves”.
The duo, who are both advanced Eyelash Technicians providing semi-permanent eyelashes and lash perming, as well as Ellis being a Nail Specialist, and Rowan also offering Aesthetics and Skin Care, joined forces after previously being mobile before working in different salons across South Liverpool for seven years.
Being self-employed and renting a room in a salon is vastly different to owning your own, and to take on such a responsibility just after the pandemic when both Ellis and Rowan had been forced to stop working multiple times due to restrictions, was a nerve-wracking prospect with the UK’s ongoing uncertainty surrounding Covid.
But it’s been the best decision the sisters have ever made. Since opening, Ellis and Rowan have continued to go from strength to strength, with many clients visiting each week to indulge in self-care and enjoy some sisterly support.
They’ve also welcomed other Nail Technicians and Makeup Artists who are self-employed at the salon, ensuring that their clients can enjoy a range of services under one roof.
There are currently two makeup stations and a nail station available to rent.
Having always been really close, SIST•E•R embodies Ellis, 30 and 27-year-old Rowan’s bond; combining sisterhood and friendship to create a space that welcomes its self-employed staff and all clients with open arms and friendly faces.
Ellis explained:
“When we applied to take over the shop earlier in the summer of 2021, we knew that it was a huge risk to commit to a premises whilst the pandemic was still ongoing. With the prospect of winter and further lockdown measures, we worked morning, noon and night to have it refurbished and open. It wasn’t just myself and Rowan; we had the best team helping us to bring our vision to life. We’d committed to it and both knew that we had to make it happen and opening our doors is our biggest accomplishment to date.”
Rowan continued:
“Having both worked in the beauty industry for years, we always knew that we wanted to work together but couldn’t have imagined owning our own salon. The pandemic presented opportunities and when the space became available, we went to view it and it was perfect for us to make that next step forward together. We just needed a little push and self-belief. We’re sisters and will always have each other and that was our goal for the salon – to create a Sisterhood, and somewhere where our clients feel right at home.”
