A Hitchin hair salon has reopened after a revamp that has seen its once-gloomy basement transformed.

The Comet: The basement at Salon EightyFour in Hitchin. Picture: Salon EightyFourThe basement at Salon EightyFour in Hitchin. Picture: Salon EightyFour (Image: Archant)

Jessica Donald, owner of Salon EightyFour in Bancroft, said she and her expanded 13-person team now aim to go beyond just hairdressing and provide “the whole package” – with a key role for the newly-plush downstairs, The Basement at Salon EightyFour, which she joked used to resemble a “dungeon”.

Jessica told the Comet: “Now we’ll be able to provide relaxation, weddings and more. It’s exciting to expand the team and offer a lot more for the business.”

The Comet: Salon EightyFour owner Jessica Donald and new team member Abi Gregory in the revamped basement. Picture: Danny LooSalon EightyFour owner Jessica Donald and new team member Abi Gregory in the revamped basement. Picture: Danny Loo (Image: Danny Loo Photography 2018)

The new team members include Abi Gregory, who Jessica said had worked in some of London’s top hotels.

“I’m glad she’s here because I can put part of that into her hands, having just been the hairdresser all these years,” said Jessica.

The Comet: Salon EightyFour owner Jessica Donald (right) and new team member Abi Gregory. Picture: Danny LooSalon EightyFour owner Jessica Donald (right) and new team member Abi Gregory. Picture: Danny Loo (Image: Danny Loo Photography 2018)

“Hitchin as a town really seems to be thriving.”

Nurse and aesthetics practitioner Annie Coles and HD brows and make-up specialist Helen Wallace have also joined the team.

Jessica added that she hadn’t expected anything like the 100 or so people who came to The Basement’s launch night, and would like to thank them all.