Ennis has a new name in beauty following the opening of the Avène Beauty Salon in the Carmody Street Business Park last month. Avène Beauty is the brainchild of Rachel Harrison, a native of Lisheen, Ballynacally, and a familiar name in the Clare beauty community, having previously worked as a full-time make-up artist from a young age, and most recently in Aoife Garrihy Beauty in Ennistymon.
Avène Beauty is Rachel’s first solo venture, and for this she has teamed up with sister-salons Sarah Dinan Nails and Enhance Your Beauty Aesthetics to provide a one-stop-shop for beauty in the Carmody Street Business Park.
Rachel has just returned from a 10 month stint in Australia when, as well as offering beauty treatments to Irish expats and locals, she also took the opportunity to further her beauty training and experience, and learned new techniques and skills that are not available in Ireland.
“Australia was a great experience. I completed another beauty course while I was over there with Naked Brow Artistry, who I have been following for years online and really admire. That was an amazing experience. I try to do as many courses a year as I can. You have to keep up skilling and keep educating yourself,” said Rachel.
“It’s great to see how people do it differently in different countries, they have different solutions and different approaches to beauty.
“Every Irish girl in Australia is looking for an Irish beautician or an Irish hairdresser. I found a nice little niche for myself over there. I built up a great clientele in Perth and when I made the decision to come home, my clients at home were delighted with the news.”
After spending years working in some of Clare’s best beauty salons, Rachel knew that her next step was to go out on her own. When she arrived home from Australia, she wasted no time doing just that.
“I was home just three days when I was in with an accountant and opening up a business account. I found a perfect location in the Carmody Street Business Park and within a week or 10 days I had the place decorated and ready to go,” said Rachel.
“It is a one stop beauty shop. On the bottom floor we have Sarah Dinan Nails, she is doing all aspects of nail care. On the second floor you have Ellen from Enhance Your Beauty Aesthetics, she does facials, filler and all sorts of skin care treatments and aesthetics.
“And on the top floor is me and my Avène Beauty Salon. I look after all aspects of beauty specialising in eyebrows, make-up, threading, full body waxing and bridal make-up.
“I am so lucky with the clients that I have had over the years because every one of them has come back to me. It is so great to see a friendly face coming through the door, who already knows who you are. We just pick up where we left off. I have clients who didn’t get their eyebrows done for the 10 months while I was away in Australia!
“I’ve had some really lovely new clients but it is really great to have the people come back, who have been coming to me for years and years. It’s lovely to have that base who follow you wherever you go.”
Rachel knew from a very young age that a career in beauty was for her. She first became enamoured with beauty when she was just 13 years old. That was when her bedroom became an impromptu beauty salon for her and all her friends.
She graduated quickly to working on weekends in beauty salons in Ennis, adding eyebrow work and lashes to her already significant skills with make-up.
After she finished her Leaving Certificate, she completed an ITEC CIBTAC Beauty Diploma, and took up a full-time position in a salon, where she furthered her experience in a broad spectrum of beauty treatments.
After years of hard work and valuable experience there, Rachel moved onto Aoife Garrihy Beauty in Ennistymon, a move where she rediscovered her passion for all things beauty, brows and lashes. “That was an amazing time for me in terms of training and experience. During my time there, I was trained in laser hair removal, Environ skincare, and trained in using state of the art beauty equipment. It was an amazing experience, one that I am forever grateful for,” she said.
Avène Beauty Salon in Carmody Business Park is a one to one salon experience. It offers a bespoke beauty experience with early morning and late night bookings available and free private parking.
Bookings can be made through the Fresha App, through Avène Beauty Salon on Instagram or on 086-2316805. Christmas appointments are already nearly fully booked so advanced booking is advised.