Fuss Advanced Skin Hair & Beauty is Mount Gambier’s first Covid-safe day spa

A first-of-its kind day spa is will soon open its doors to customers after a massive renovation with a Covid-safe twist. Take a look inside.

A longstanding beauty business has undergone a makeover of its own and has now been dubbed “Mount Gambier’s first Covid-safe salon”.

New owner, Leah Mcnicol has doubled the size of Fuss Advanced Skin Hair & Beauty, expanded its services to a full day spa menu and undertaken a huge renovation with a pandemic-inspired twist.

After starting the design phrase a year ago, the renovations began in November with the final reveal just three weeks away.

Fuss Advanced Skin Hair & Beauty hairdresser Emily Morris and owner Leah Mcnicol. Picture: Jessica Ball

Ms Mcnicol said the events of 2020 inspired her to create individual hairdressing booths as an added safety measure and hoped if future lockdowns occurred clients, would feel confident returning to the salon.

“Covid isn’t going away anytime soon, we’ve just got to live with it and keep on going but change the way we work,” Mrs Mcnicol said.

“I was in the process of designing a salon and I thought why not have private booths?

“We’ve had a few setbacks with Covid, getting building supplies, toilets, the quickest things to come was the basins from Italy on a ship.”

The new pods have been in action for two weeks with just final touches ups to go on the rest of the renovation.

The new interior of Fuss Advanced Skin Hair & Beauty, Mount Gambier's first Covid-safe salon. Picture: Jessica Ball

The new part of the salon will include a reception, waiting room, make-up studio and three beauty treatment rooms while the current reception is set to be transformed into post-spa treatment relaxation zone complete with a fire place.

Ms Mcnicol got her start as hairdresser 15 years ago before switching her focus to skin and is currently studying towards a Bachelor of Aesthetics.

After spending 11 years working in Adelaide for the likes of Toni and Guy and endota Spa, she moved to home, officially taking over the business in December and said it was the right time to grow the business including the addition of hair services.

“I’m very fortunate to be in this industry, a lot of people are spending more on themselves than travelling so we’ve actually seen a really big growth,” Ms Mcnicol said.

Fuss Advanced Skin Hair & Beauty owner Leah Mcnicol and hairdresser Emily Morris. Picture: Jessica Ball

“I felt like Mount Gambier needed a one-stop shop.

“I wanted it to be a place where everyone can come, get your hair done, your skin done, nails, everything all in a safe, clean environment.”

The building has also been designed with the next generation in mind with Mrs Mcnicol saying she was working towards offering educational courses in the future.

“There’s no one offering a diploma in beauty (in Mount Gambier) so eventually I want to turn it into a classroom,” she said.