A HAIRDRESSER in Maldon has reached the final of the prestigious Most Wanted Awards.

Janes Williams, 50, co-director of Reed Hair on Maldon High Street, will face off against top London stylists in the Business Thinker of the year category of the national hairdressing competition.

The Most Wanted Awards celebrate the best of British and Irish hair talent, open to UK and Ireland based professional hairdressers and salons.

Jane was entered into the competition after pitching Reed Hair’s business changes last summer.

She said: “We decided we needed to get our client numbers down, as our salon had become extremely busy and very hectic and generally not a great environment, but we also needed to keep revenue up.

“It was a very risky and challenging move to lower client numbers, but now we work very differently to other hairdressers. We work by people booking time with stylists rather than service.

“Some people will literally come and spend three hours with their stylist with no interruption.

“It was a really brace decision, but now our business is going through the roof once again and we’re so proud of what we’ve achieved.”

The final takes place on September 9 in London Guildhall.

Jane added: “There’s five of us in the final and I’m up alongside some extremely prestigious and high end salons in London, and just to be up with them is truly an honour.”