T&A Best Beauty Salon - Aphrodite's Touch in the final 10

Those are the words of 26-year-old Laura Speight, owner of Aphrodite's Touch on Pasture Lane, Bradford, which has made it into the final of a Telegraph & Argus contest.

The T&A recently launched its Best Beauty Salon 2024 competition, with readers invited to share their favourite firms.

Inside Aphrodite's Touch (Image: Newsquest/Mike Simmonds) Nominations were made through our online voting platform and were subsequently whittled down to the final 10.

Laura - who has worked in the beauty business for several years and opened Aphrodite's Touch a year and a half ago - told of her joy at her company reaching the final.

She said: "It's mind-blowing, a dream come true. 

"I'm so proud of how far I've come."

Laura, who works alongside her mum Vicky, recently launched a training academy to help shape the future of the industry. 

"I've always wanted to pass on my knowledge to up-and-coming beauticians in order to create a successful business, just like I have," she said. 

Aphrodite's Touch is hoping to win our Best Beauty Salon 2024 competition (Image: Newsquest/Mike Simmonds) Laura described the atmosphere in Aphrodite's Touch as "lovely".

"I absolutely love having my own salon where I can provide a safe, relaxing environment for my clients," she added.

"Aphrodite's Touch has a range of clients from both the local area and areas further afield.

"I love how the salon has brought me such amazing clients, who are all so lovely and have made such great friends for me. 

"The salon is such a friendly space where everyone is welcome, prices are very reasonable and the quality of the work is done to a very high standard."

Good luck to all the businesses in our competition (Image: Newsquest/Mike Simmonds)

Laura said many people come to her for nail treatments.

"Trends are always changing in the nail world and I always keep up-to-date with them so no client ever leaves disappointed," she added.

"Everyone is always so happy with the quality of the work."

Don't miss out on your chance to shout up for your favourite beauty salon as part of our competition.

It really couldn't be simpler to vote for the business you think should win. 

All you need to do is fill out the voting form, which can be found in the T&A.

The voting coupon will run in the newspaper until October 12, so there is plenty of opportunity to make sure the beauty salon you think is the best is in with a chance of taking the top spot.