IT was perfectly-manicured high fives all round for Peebles beautician Rachel Hale as she was named the winner of the Best Nail Salon in the Borders.

There is a figure of speech commonly used today when someone does well and triumphs – ‘nailed it’. And that’s just what Rachel Hale has been doing for clients who walk through the doors of her salon.

The nail artist has come a long way from the days of offering treatments in her mobile beauty van. It will be two years this Christmas since Rachel opened her nail and beauty salon in Peebles Old Town.

“It all started as a hobby,” explained Rachel. “My friend and I would do one another’s nails and I loved it so much I went to college to train and gain my qualification.”

But it was never the dream to run her own salon. “In all honesty I didn’t think that would ever be a possibility, so the dream was to go mobile which I did when I bought a van. I did this for three years before the opportunity came up to open my premises.”

The beautician traded up her wheels and transformed the small Old Town premises into a luxurious nail and beauty salon.

“Nails are my passion, I just love them. I do offer a few other treatments but nails are what I specialise in,” she said.

Her art for nail makeovers earned her a nomination at the Borders Retail Business Awards last week where she picked up the award for Best Nail Salon.

“It was a complete shock to win. I’m so grateful to the person who nominated me and to everyone who voted.”

Rachel will now go through to the final at Scotland’s Business Awards which will be announced in May next year.