THE TEAM at a Chard salon said they were “over the moon” to be nominated hairdresser of the year 2024.

Styles Hair Salon was voted by residents and customers as the winner of the Chard and Ilminster Hairdresser of the Year competition.

Kerry Hooper-Cross, owner of the salon, said: “We are over the moon, we are absolutely overwhelmed that so many people voted for us.

“We came out on top, and it was amazing. With the Covid and everything all businesses should receive praise. We went through a lot, and it was tough going.

“For people to take the time and vote for us was overwhelming for us.

“There were so many other great salons and we were just grateful to be nominated, let alone winning.

“I didn’t even check the email and then my son said ‘Congratulations, mum’. We didn’t expect to win, we didn’t think for a minute that we were going to come first.

“When we received the news, we were just ‘wow’. I bought the salon five years ago and never thought for a moment we could win.

“The salon has been here for 35 years. I did my training here when I left school. I bought it five years ago from the previous owner.

“People also come here for a coffee and have a chat and I like to think I am a little hub for the community.

“We try to help if we can and support everything that goes on in the town. My doors are always open for anybody, we are a little family here.

“We want people to feel good about their hair but also about themselves.”

The 2024 runners-up who shone with the most nominations should also be incredibly proud of themselves.

They were:

• Bertiful Hair & Beauty - 50 Fore Street, Chard TA20 1QA

• Ben Russell Salon - 35 Silver Street, Ilminster TA19 0DW

• Hairs Johnny Barbershop - Stringfellow Gallery, Holyrood St, Chard TA20 2AH

• Luxe Hair & Beauty Suite - Brooke House, Leach Road, Chard TA20 1FA

• Hair Inspirations - 7 Holyrood Street, Chard TA20 2AH

• Mark Hebron - Churchill House, 23-25 East Street, Ilminster TA19 0AN

• Sarah Hodge - 34 Holyrood Street, Chard TA20 2AJ

• Studio 40 - Somerset House, 40 Fore Street, Chard TA20 1PT

• Bella Vida Hair & Beauty - The Flower Shop, Boden Street, Chard TA20 2AX