Halo Beauty Sanctuary in Bishop's Stortford offers high-quality beauty and spa treatments as well as treatments for skin complaints

Sharon Tegg is passionate about helping people from all walks of life feel good about themselves at her luxury wellness sanctuary in the heart of Bishop’s Stortford.

The 54-year-old founder of Halo Beauty Sanctuary, at 11 Riverside Walk, is using her life experiences to offer a unique service to clients with the motto: Don’t be beautiful like them, be beautiful like you.

As well as providing high-quality beauty and spa treatments in a tranquil setting, mother-of-three Sharon can treat things like blemishes, acne, teenage skin complaints, rosacea and the signs of ageing.

Her passion for helping people with skin complaints stems from her suffering from lupus, a condition that can affect the immune system as well as healthy tissue in many parts of the body.

And the ITEC Level 4 beauty therapist has been busy enhancing the uniqueness of her business by studying for new qualifications during lockdowns. Not only has she completed the Melanoma and Skin Cancer Early Detection (MASCED) programme, meaning she can diagnose moles and any of the early stages of skin cancer, she is also currently training with Jennifer Young’s skincare brand Beauty Despite Cancer to be an oncology massage therapist, which will see her gain a postgraduate degree.

She also works closely with the Hft centre next door and its adults with learning disabilities.

“I’ve suffered with my skin condition for many years and have a passion for helping other people like myself as I truly understand how debilitating it can be and how it can affect your self-confidence,” said Sharon, who always looks at the bigger picture when tailoring treatments to each individual’s needs.

“The truth is every one of us is beautiful and it’s my deepest joy to help people see how beautiful they are from the inside out.

“There also aren’t enough salons in the UK that will take on cancer patients. I lost my mum Dorothy to cancer 20 years ago and there wasn’t a lot of help out there for her then, so it’s a real passion of mine to help people.

“We do all the things that a beautician and beauty salon offers, but we're quite unique with what we have to offer.

“Ultimately, when you come to Halo you’re not just coming for a facial or a massage, you’re coming in to leave your worries behind before leaving feeling totally rejuvenated and human again.”

Sharon lives in Braintree with husband Darren, a postman in Great Dunmow. Having run her own successful company for 18 years, she decided it was time for a change.

“I opened Halo in May 2019 at the age of 52. I was needing a new challenge after my children, now aged 26, 21 and 19, had flown the nest. I needed something for myself.

“I qualified when I was 49 and went to work on the Estée Lauder counter as a temp in Boots here in Bishop’s Stortford.

“I fell in love with the town having never really been to Bishop’s Stortford before. I was wandering around eating my lunch one day and walked down here [Riverside Walk] and this shop was empty. I’m very spiritual and it was No 11, called Epiphany and I opened on May 11, 2019. The number 11 is very important to me – even my mobile number adds up to 11.

“I’d tried to get a job in my profession but ageism was a factor, so I thought I’d do it myself and that’s exactly what I did. I phoned my husband and said ‘I’ve signed a lease on a shop!’ He said ‘Really?!’

“That’s how it began: jumping in with both feet in a new town where I wasn’t established. It really started to do well before Covid and I’m sure it will do well again after.”

Halo – the name also comes from Sharon’s spirituality – is an eco-friendly salon and by 2022 she intends to be 100% eco-friendly.

She uses only brands that are cruelty-free, vegan, contain no parabens and minimise use of preservatives. The salon is a proud ambassador for ethical brands Medik8, Caudalie and Delilah.

Sharon, who leads a team of five, is looking in the future to open up the salon once a month exclusively for cancer patients who are still self-isolating or being careful due to Covid to have a free treatment.

It’s all part of Halo’s unique approach to helping you improve mind, body and spirit, and Sharon is excited about the future after a difficult second year’s trading.

“It’s been an emotional rollercoaster, physically and mentally, but we’re still here,” she said.

“When people come in we try not to mention Covid too much or cancer – we try to take people away from that for a few hours so they can forget their troubles.”

Halo is hosting Caudalie skin analysis as well as celebrity make-up artist James from Delilah cosmetics on Friday June 25 to help you look even more fabulous. Call 01279 503388 to reserve your place and visit www.halobeautysanctuary.com to find out more about everything Sharon and her team have to offer.