A Liverpool family business with hairdressing "in their blood" has been at the heart of their community for decades.
Back in the 1960s, Joan Hope, now 89 and her late husband Frank opened their hairdressing salon on Bayliff Road in West Derby. The business was originally named after the couple and later became known as Perfections hair, nail and beauty salon.
Welcoming generations through her doors and seeing hairstyles and trends change around her through the years, the dedicated mum-of-five even gave birth to one of her children above the salon and was back to work the following Monday. Today, all of Joan's children work in the industry, with her only daughter Gaynor Walsh and her husband Tim now carrying on the family business.
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Gaynor said the area "has a real strong sense of community" and that they're proud to still be part of it all these years on. As part of our Liverpool ECHO How It Used To Be series, we spoke to Gaynor about how Perfections has changed through the decades, as well as life in the city itself.
Gaynor told the ECHO: "My mum basically started when she was about 25 and the business opened in the 1960s. I've got four brothers and we’ve all sort of grown up in the business and taken up the business as well. I remember just smelling perms, smoking in the salon and there just being a queue outside in the morning. My mum used to get here at 6am.
"There actually used to be flats upstairs and she gave birth to my middle brother and then she came in on the Monday believe it or not. We’ve all grown up here.
"I’m the only girl so I was the last try at 40 and she had me. There were all banners up in the salon apparently like she's finally had a girl.
"Christmases were hilarious because everyone used to fall out of the salon and be drinking all day and there would be very funny scenarios. Everyone knew each other - it was just a really good feeling."
Growing up in the salon, Gaynor remembers clients coming in for beehive hairstyles and crop cuts. Her mum was also president of the National Hairdressers Federation and would be part of hair shows at clubs like Pickwicks alongside the late Herbert Howe.
Like many industries, Gaynor has seen trends and technology evolve with the business. Gaynor said: "Scouse women have always had something glamourous about them.
"We never go out without our hair done and our makeup and whatever else. Now people have the long hair and the waves, it just changes all the time.
"My mum never had an appointment system. My husband used to say customers are all 'penned up like little birds waiting to come in.'
"It's a bit more organised than years ago when people would sit there waiting and chatting. We’re all up and running on social media now, you have to move with it."
After working as hairdressers in Bermuda, Gaynor and husband Tim moved back home and decided to take over the family business nearly 22 years ago. Today, Gaynor focuses on nails and Tim on hair, with the business seeing loyal clients "come from near and far."
Gaynor said: "When we came back from we were at a bit of a loose end and in the shop my mum and dad wanted to retire. My husband's mum talked us into it and said it would probably be a really good thing for us to do.
"We did it and it’s served us a good life - we’ve had a great time. I did hairdressing but I didn't really take to it - but all my brothers are hairdressers.
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"Two work in Bermuda, one used to work in New York as a hairdresser and my other brother is a barber as well. Then I went out on a Saturday night and met my husband and he's a hairdresser.
"I didn't even know, so that was a bit weird. It’s in our blood a little bit maybe."
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Gaynor said what she loves the most about the business is that every day is different and that a lot of her clients have become family friends. She said: "I've known them when they’ve had a baby, tragedies, illnesses, your clients become your friends when you’ve been working with them for that long.
"When I'm at that desk I'm chatting with them for the whole hour and they know about me as well. The girls who I've got working for me have been here a long time and I know they feel the same way.
"We all know each other, people have known me since I was born. I’m really proud. We have a really strong community in this area - I couldn't say any more about it.
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