Two Darlington sisters who opened their first salon while still teenagers have spent the past 17 years building their business.
Now they are planning to push their "dream" to the next level with a fresh space, helping make women feel confident when getting their hair done.
Jordan Gourley and Charlotte Robinson were just 19 and 17 when they took the plunge and opened their first salon, which has seen the sisters grow up, become mums and establish their careers while continuing to work alongside one another.
Now, the pair behind JC Hair Lounge are preparing for their biggest chapter yet, with plans to open what they describe as their "dream salon" on Coniscliffe Road.
For Jordan and Charlotte, however, their work has always been about much more than styling hair.
From left, Charlotte Robinson and Jordan Gourley of Jordan Charlotte hairdressers in Darlington. Photograph:Stuart Boulton/The Northern Echo (Image: Stuart Boulton)
The sisters work with women experiencing thinning and hair loss, with Jordan specialising in hair extensions and hair loss systems.
Jordan, 36, said: "My favourite part is giving women their confidence back and putting a smile back on their face when they've had issues with hair thinning and hair loss.
"Hair loss seems to be such a big thing for women at the minute, so being able to help somebody with that is probably my favourite part."
That passion for hair can be traced all the way back to Jordan's school days, when she would practise on her friends in the playground.
Charlotte, 32, later followed her older sister into the industry and the pair have continued working together ever since.
Jordan Charlotte hairdressers in Darlington. Photograph:Stuart Boulton/The Northern Echo (Image: Stuart Boulton)
Jordan said: "I always wanted to be a hairdresser, right from being at school. I used to say I didn't need to do maths because I just wanted to be a hairdresser.
"I used to do my friends' hair in the playground at school, so I always had that love for hair.
"Charlotte sort of followed in my footsteps. When I got the salon in the beginning and was setting everything up, she was the little sister who wanted to come down and help me.
"As she was in the salon more and more, she decided she wanted to do it as well and that's how we ended up doing it together."
The sisters initially ran their salon from Borough Road before later moving to Yarm Road.
The move to Coniscliffe Road will bring them closer to the heart of Darlington town centre and allow the sisters to fulfil a long-held ambition of offering a wider range of hair and beauty services under one roof.
From left, Charlotte Robinson and Jordan Gourley of Jordan Charlotte hairdressers in Darlington. Photograph:Stuart Boulton/The Northern Echo (Image: Stuart Boulton)
Charlotte said: "I feel quite overwhelmed because it's something that I've always wanted to do.
"I always wanted a salon where I could offer every service in the hair and beauty industry under one roof, so people can come to one place and get everything done.
"As soon as we saw it, we were like, 'Yeah, this is what we want.'
"We've scraped everything we can together to get it."
"It's been hard work for the last few months, but hopefully it's definitely going to be worth it," she added.
Jordan Charlotte hairdressers in Darlington. Photograph:Stuart Boulton/The Northern Echo (Image: Stuart Boulton)
They are aiming to open in November, ahead of the Christmas rush, and are also planning a launch night to celebrate the move.
The expansion comes during a particularly memorable year for the sisters after Jordan was named North East Hairstylist of the Year 2026 at the North East Hair and Beauty Awards in September.
After years of building the business with Charlotte in their hometown, Jordan said the recognition meant even more because she was representing Darlington.
She said: "I feel like after all that hard work, my work is starting to be recognised.
"I feel like I'm getting the recognition that I've worked hard for and that I deserve.
"I was super proud to represent Darlington as well because it was an award for the North East and this is my hometown."
Away from the salon, Jordan is also a Remi Cachet Regional Educator and Super Stylist, teaching other hair professionals about extensions and specialist techniques.
Her education work has taken her around the UK and to Australia, and she recently reached another career milestone by taking to the main stage at Salon International in London.
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Jordan said: "To go from building my career here in Darlington to educating other stylists, winning Hairstylist of the Year and now being on the main stage at Salon International alongside people I've looked up to in the industry feels quite surreal.
"I'm incredibly proud to be representing Darlington and the North East within the industry, while still working behind the chair and running our salon in our hometown."
You can find their salon at 102 Parkgate, Darlington, DL1 1RX.