HAIRDRESSERS Sam Curtis and Lorraine Merchant are going back to their roots after snapping up the salon where they developed their careers.

They are the new owners of Chapters Hair Design in Witney, having bought the business from Peter and Gill Daniels.

Mrs Curtis, front, worked at Chapters for 13 years and went on to manage the salon before leaving to look after her children eight years ago, while Mrs Merchant, back, was there for a similar time.

They joined forces again to establish their own salon, Woods Hair and Beauty, at Carswell Golf Club, near Faringdon, and ran it for seven years.

But when the opportunity came to take on Chapters, in Witney’s High Street, they jumped at the chance.

Mrs Curtis said: “We were still good friends with Peter and Gill and when they wanted to retire, they contacted us. It’s really good, because a lot of the team are still here from when we worked in the salon.”

Woods stylists Sam Poole and Sharon Keen have moved to Chapters, with Mrs Curtis and Mrs Merchant also working in the salon, boosting staff numbers to 17.

Mrs Curtis added: “It’s a much bigger operation to manage but Chapters has been running for 23 years and is well-established.

“We’re looking to put our own stamp on it going forward.”

And the new owners are relishing the challenge.

“We complement each other and have never had a cross word in seven years,” said Mrs Curtis.