IT’S almost two decades since Jane Norgrove’s dream of opening her own hair salon came true.

Now, just days after hairdressers were given permission by the Government to reopen after the coronavirus lockdown, she is marking 18 years of the Natural Selection on Rodbourne Road.

In fact she was probably the first to pick up the scissors again because she opened for a couple of customers just after midnight on July 4 - the day the restrictions were eased.

“It’s quite a long time and it’s a hard job but it’s my passion. I’ve been playing with hair since I was at school,” said the 48-year-old.

“I was getting in trouble with my teachers because of how often I was playing with hair. I really couldn’t do anything else.

“It’s been my dream to open a salon and it’s something I enjoy doing.

“My favourite thing is meeting new friends and it’s like a place where there are no boundaries. We just talk about everything and make people look beautiful at the end.

“I make a difference in people’s lives and that makes me really happy.”

Jane originally moved to England from Nigeria in 1995 and studied at a college in London before moving to Swindon.

Before opening her salon, Jane used to work at Royal Mail, but after she moved to Rodbourne the only thing on her mind was the idea of opening her own salon.

“I was working at the post office for many years but I lived in Rodbourne and started looking for a shop.

“This place used to be a barber but it was empty. So I stood across the road and looked at how many people were coming past and how many people were stopping.

“I did that for about a week before deciding I’d take the shop. I started with nothing and I’ve been doing it ever since,” she told the Adver.

Earlier this year Jane won a national award for her hair and beauty styling at the MTM Awards in Bristol.

The contest celebrates the achievements of Asian, black and other ethnic businesses and communities in categories like food, art, entertainment, fashion and beauty.

Jane has even styled the hair of footballers and rugby players including Anthony Watson.