Stirling family celebrates 60 years in hair and beauty business
The team at an award-winning city centre hair salon are celebrating the family firm's 60th anniversary.
Frances Hunter Hair and Beauty, based in Stirling's Port Street, is steeped in family history and has been providing haircuts and colours to clients across Central Scotland since 1965.
The first salon was opened in Alloa by Frances Hunter and her husband Eddie who were pioneers of the hair and beauty industry in the area from the early sixties.
Eddie insisted on calling the initial Greenfield Street shop after his wife and the couple soon expanded the business opening additional salons in Clackmannan and Stirling's Barnton Street – all named after Frances.
They opened a salon in Port Street in 1971 and when Eddie died in 1985 at the age of just 47, Frances threw herself into work seeing the business go from strength to strength and building up a loyal clientele – many of whom still visit the salon today.
Her children Gary – who also celebrates his 60th birthday this year – and Leslie joined the family business as teenagers and are now award-winning stylists who run Frances Hunter Hair and Beauty along with Gary's wife Allaine who works in reception and administration.
Meanwhile, hairdressing icon Frances never really retired and was a regular visitor who enjoyed popping into the salon and chatting to clients until her death last year at the age of 81.
Leslie says: 'We're so proud of our history and what our parents achieved and are delighted to be celebrating our 60th anniversary this year along with our loyal clients.
'The salon has never been busier.'
Frances started work in the hair industry when she was 17 initially working for a salon run by a hairdresser named Jean Frews where she quickly gained an excellent reputation and a growing list of clients.
Gary says: 'Our dad Eddie was 21 at the time and working as a van driver so mum taught him how to cut hair because she was so busy with her clients and needed his help.
'Her client list was growing through word of mouth so she trained dad up and they opened their first salon in Greenfield Street, Alloa in 1965 and began working together.'
Gary and Leslie became involved in the family business once they were old enough to help out.
'After school we went to the salon and gave my mum and dad a hand,' Gary says. 'We were working on the tills, getting coffee for clients and there was no doubt in my mind about what I was going to do when I left school.
'I was destined to be a hairdresser – the whole family were. It was ingrained in our DNA.'
Frances and Eddie proved to be real pioneers and innovators in the hair and beauty industry bringing new techniques, experience and knowledge to the area and investing in training for themselves and their staff.
'Eddie even spent time working under legendary hair stylist Vidal Sassoon in London where he learned all the latest styles and methods.
Gary says: 'Both our parents had a great work ethic and were really ahead of their time. It was dad who brought cut and blow dries to Stirling in the early 70s – something mum said would never catch on! It was all shampoos and sets back in the day until our parents brought in new ideas and techniques.'
Gary and Leslie have both inherited their parents' work ethic and love of learning and clearly thrive on continuing the family legacy.
Leslie, who was named Best Female Stylist at the 2024 Scottish Hair & Beauty Awards (SHABA), says: 'We've been in the business all our lives and we love it and enjoy spending time with clients and seeing them coming in and enjoying the whole experience.
'We have clients going back years who used to be mum and dads' clients and they still come to us which is wonderful.'
Meanwhile, Gary's son Samuel is also following in his family's footsteps – he works in the salon and won Best Male Colourist at last year's SHABA Awards.
Gary says: 'He was also a finalist in the Wella Professionals TrendVision Awards last year in London which is massive for someone who is only 24.
'He's been here for 18 months now and is a talented colourist already – a real natural. We've taught him what we know and it's all about education and training for us.'
Over the years, the number of shops run by the Hunters has gradually reduced and the family now concentrate on running the flagship Port Street salon after closing the Alloa salon last year.
The Port Street salon was originally in a smaller building, above the shop which is now Ginger Roots, before Gary and Leslie created a new purpose-built salon in the current location which opened in 2006 and the salon also offers beauty therapy upstairs.
The team are celebrating the 60th anniversary across the whole of 2025 with promotions, events and offers available each month.
They have also created a 60th anniversary logo and 'Happy Birthday Frances Hunter' has been stencilled into the salon window.
Allaine says: 'We're excited to share and celebrate our legacy and our clients and are also asking people to share their photos and memories of the Frances Hunter salons over the years and tag us in.'
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