Stourbridge hair salon celebrates 25th anniversary with rebrand and change in ownership

Wendy Street has run DY8 Desinz in Market Street for the last quarter of a century and while she plans on continuing to work at the salon part-time, she’s handed over the reigns to daughter Isabelle Rose.

The mother-daughter duo have worked together for about a decade but 31-year-old Isabelle is now charge of the business and plans to rebrand the salon as DY8 Hair & Co.

To mark the big anniversary a celebration was held at the salon on Saturday (July 12) - with past and present clients invited to drop in.

Wendy, aged 62, who lives in Cheltenham, said: "I found it quite emotional on Saturday. I didn’t think I was going to be. I had a few bouquets of flowers."

She said she plans to carry on working at the salon three days a week - while Isabelle drives the business forward.

Just recently Isabelle, who lives in Stourbridge, was a finalist in the L'Oréal Colour Trophy 2025 competition in London, while stylists Amie Jeavons and Amelia Higgins were also shortlisted in the Afro hair category of the prestigious competition.

Wendy said she's "really happy" to have made it to 25 years in the business and to see Isabelle taking the salon forward, although she confessed "it's hard work".

"It takes over your life," she told the Express & Star.

She's also seen lots of changes in the industry and in people's lifestyle choices over the past two and a half decades.

"We used to do regular clients every week - now people come less often but for a bigger appointment. We don’t tend to have weekly clients anymore."

Social media is also a game-changer. 

"Every day we post on Instagram," she said. "It has changed massively and it’s also changed a lot since lockdown. People really appreciate us."

The salon, which has undergone a full refurbishment over the last 12 months with new basins, flooring, chairs and mirrors, employs six members of staff and is open Tuesday to Saturday with a couple of late-night openings each week.