Kentish Express Ashford & District
Awards double confirms stylist’s stunning success
Hairdresser named business in honour of murdered mentor
A young hairdresser from Ashford says she is delighted after winning two awards.
Chelsea Ford, 22, is the owner of Nat’ural Hair salon in North Street, Ashford which opened in 2012.
Chelsea won silver in the Hairdresser of the Year category and bronze in the Salon of the Year category at the Kent Health and Beauty Awards held at the Great Danes Hotel in Hollingbourne.
It was the first time Chelsea or Nat’ural Hair had been nominated for the awards.
The salon, which does hair and high-definition brow treatments, has recently started offering beauty treatments.
Chelsea said: “I didn’t know I had actually been nominated until April, when I was sent some questions to fill out about me and the salon.
“I also had to send in some pictures of my work and then found out I had been shortlisted.”
Nat’ural Hair, which will have been open for five years in Nat’ural Hair owner and double Kent Health and Beauty Awards winner Chelsea Ford November, was named in memory of Chelsea’s best friend and boss, Natalie Esack, who was murdered in her salon, Esack’s Hair Design, in the town centre in April 2012.
Chelsea first began hairdress- ing when she did work experience at the age of 14 in Natalie’s salon in Ashford High Street, before then being taken on as an apprentice.
The pair soon became close friends as well as workmates. Chelsea was working at the salon when Natalie, 33, was stabbed to death by her estranged husband, Ivan Esack.
The 38-year-old former policeman was jailed for a minimum of 28 years for the brutal murder.
“It’s funny because people always say to me that Natalie would be so proud of me,” continued Chelsea.
“And that I should be proud of the salon, which I am.
“But winning these awards I finally feel like I am making her proud.
“Having started Nat’ural Hair when I was only 17, I feel that this is a great achievement.
“I’m thankful to my clients too. They’ve got me through and this far.”
‘Having started Nat’ural Hair when I was only 17, I feel that this is a great achievement’