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Never too young for a bit of pampering

Stephen Foster
28/ 4/2006

MICHELLE Barlow thinks she has come up with a business winner - a beauty clinic for kiddies as young as five.

Beauty treatment for children has been big in the United States for years, but Michelle differs from the approach across the Atlantic because she feels over there children 'grow up too quickly.'

Michelle's makeovers are aimed at keeping her clients looking like children.

She offers haircuts, mini manicures, tooth gems, makeup and spray tans for girls who take part in dancing competitions at her Hare Hill Road, Littleborough, salon. Her clients fall into three age categories - five to seven-year-olds, eight to 12 and 13 upwards.

Michelle has been in the beauty business for 20 years, having worked as an account manager for Estee Lauder and has been a beauty therapist for 15 years.

"I wanted to open up on my own, but it had to be something different," she said. "I decided to set up a salon where most of my clients were children. Mums bring their little girls to my salon as a special treat. I provide various packages, including princess parties and school proms.

"My make up is specially for children. I don't make them look like young ladies. It's more glitter and party make up, so they keep their childhood. I would never put mascara on them. Children nowadays like to look cool. The other day I had a client in and she was only six, but she had a mobile phone in her pocket."

Michelle deals with some of her young clients in their homes and she is assisted by her sister Karen Karpyn. She does have some adult clients on her books, but the majority of her work involves children.

Being a mother of three and her sister having four girls, Michelle believes she knows what the very young fashion conscious are looking for.