A BORDERS hair stylist has shared her excitement at being nominated for an internationally recognised award – and her pride at her salon’s success despite her mental health struggles.

Sammy Brown owns Fusion Hair Extensions and Beauty in Galashiels, and despite having only opened her business earlier this year, she has been shortlisted as a finalist at the Hair and Beauty Awards 2022.

During the second coronavirus lockdown in 2020, Sammy decided to leave her job as a carer as it was having an adverse effect on her mental health.

She shared that in September she was diagnosed with EUPD.

“I decided to take the plunge and open my own salon,” said Sammy.

“In the process and stress of all of this huge, mammoth task ahead of me, and all the extra added stress and ever-changing daily conditions which we were under due to COVID, I was seen by the crisis team at the Borders General Hospital who were a godsend as I had become very depressed again.

“We went through all the motions and it was a huge relief to have finally been diagnosed with EUPD (or Borderline Personality Disorder).

“This affects me majorly every day.”

But despite this, in March 2021 Sammy opened Fusion, on Bank Street, and is already celebrating her success.

She said: “I have managed to start up my very own little salon which I am immensely proud of to even have achieved with so much going on and the fact that at points I didn’t even want to be here anymore.

“I’m pleased to say my salon is thriving and to have been shortlisted for best hair extensions/hair extension specialist of the year for 2022 was a huge and very welcome surprise for all the blood, sweat and tears that has gone into making my dreams a reality.”

And Sammy’s passion for her work isn’t just limited to making people look good.

“I am very passionate about making people look and feel good,” she explained. “As a sufferer of BPD, I know all too well how it is to feel horrible about yourself.

“I can literally see people’s confidence grow in front of my eyes and I am now looking to branch out into hair replacement systems for people suffering with health conditions that affects hair loss.”

Looking to the future, Sammy hopes she can work with the local health services in the Borders to offer treatments to others.

“My goals for the future are to hopefully work with the BGH/local health care system and give back a little to help and offer patients hair replacement systems who may be under going cancer treatment,” she said.

She added: “I would like to say thanks to the crisis team at Borders General Hospital for giving me the help and support I needed to get to this point in my life.

“Without them I wouldn’t be here to tell this story and hopefully inspire others who may feel their mental health is a massive barrier to achieving their dreams.”