This week’s trader of the week had not been in business long before she was hit by the coronavirus lockdown.

Naz Begum, 32, qualified as an advanced skin practitioner nearly four years ago and decided to fulfil her dreams and open her own beauty salon, Million Dollar Skin, in November 2019.

Just as the business was establishing itself, the country went into lockdown and now Naz has started to reopen some of her services.

She said: “It has been a tough start, but if we can get through this then we will be okay.”

The salon, in Forsyth House, Woodland Road, Darlington, offers non surgical aesthetics enhancements such as clinical facials, Dermaplaning, hair and body treatments and LVL lashes. Naz is also qualified to prescribe professional medical grade homecare, which is clinically backed.

She said: “We are one of the first salons in Darlington to offer the famous Million Dollar facial loved by celebs, and I was trained by one of the UK’s leading training providers, Dermaplaneuk.”

While the lockdown has provided some memorable moments, Naz said her most memorable so far was when a Love Island star booked a session for the Million Dollar facial. Naz said: “I have been training behind the scenes, and during lockdown, and continue to do so all the time. There are always new things to learn and new treatments to find out about.

“We now offer a ‘bacial’ (back facial) for b’acne, again one of first in Darlington to offer this amazing treatment.

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“I have an amazing Million Dollar training group, full of kindness, knowledge and passion, and I want to encourage women to feel good about themselves, and this is what makes us different.

“Our background is clinical, so we have always followed a strict infection control process and have always worn PPE.

“However, due to Covid-19 we are taking extra precautions with sanitising before and after every client.”

Future plans include Naz’s ambition to become a qualified beauty trainer, still offering treatments, but also training other people.

She said: “I love what I do. I always wanted to be in the beauty business and love having my own salon.”

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Due to Covid-19 restrictions, not all the treatments are currently available at the salon and all treatments are by appointment only.

All Naz’s customers throughout August and September will be given a free care package which includes a santiser, mask and antibac wipes.

The salon appointments are from 9am to 2.30pm Thursday to Sunday.

Evening appointments may also be available.

Go to www.facebook.com/milliondollarskindarlington

The Northern Echo understands many firms are currently operating under challenging circumstances, but we hope to use Trader of the Week to support local businesses. To see your business featured on our pages and on our website, please email jo.kelly@newsquest.co.uk