A BLACKBURN beauty salon owner is preparing to reopen along with a new areola tattooing service for people who have undergone breast cancer surgery.

Hairdressers and salons like Split N Polish, based on Preston Old Road, Cherry Tree have been one of the most sorely missed services during the most recent national lockdown, with the announcement that, as things stand, they will be able to reopen on April 12 coming as a relief to owners, staff and customers alike.

Split N Polish owner Maria Rigby is ready to get back to business and has used her time during lockdown to train in the most up-to-date areola tattooing techniques, include 3-D tattoos, which she says can be life changing for people who have been affected by breast cancer.

Lancashire Telegraph:

A selection of areola tattoos 

She said: "I've worked with cosmetics for over 20 years, I've always done eyebrows and eyeliners, things like that and during that time I've also worked with cancer patients.

She added: "The areola tattooing is something I've wanted to do for a long time so I thought we're in a third lockdown, time to take the plunge!"

Lancashire Telegraph:

Maria Rigby has trained in 3-D areola tattooing 

The tattooing techniques help to recreate the area around a person's breasts after they have had to go through cancer treatments such as mastectomies to make the area look more realistic.

For cancer survivors this is vital to helping them regain a sense of normality.

Ms Rigby said: "I've seen the results and its amazing, it means the world to ladies, also to men but mainly ladies when they're coming through their cancer journey."

She added: "Something like this helps people to deal mentally with what they've gone through, I know people who have been through it and its just amazing."

Ms Rigby believes that the more willing people are to discuss the effects of breast cancer and the treatments that are available, the better it will be for survivors.

They will be able to see that they are not alone, that help is available and that there is light at the end of the tunnel for them.

She said: "We're getting it out there and we're making people aware that help is there for them as they come through their cancer journey."

Split N Polish meanwhile will continue to offer regular services including facial and body treatments, nail enhancements and care and eye treatments once the salon has reopened.

Lancashire Telegraph:

Split N Polish offers a range of treatments

Anyone interested in areola tattooing must be at least six months post surgery.

To find out more, go to: https://splitnpolish.co.uk/ and find the salon on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/SplitNPolish.