by Emily Mongan
Window shopping gives you a chance to scope out what fashions you fancy before ever stepping foot into the store, so why shouldn’t you be able to do the same with your hair, nail and makeup looks? That’s the idea behind BeautySpotter, a new app that lets you see styles from UK salons and stylists and book an appointment based on the looks they deliver.
For example, a salon, stylist or client can post a selfie of their hairstyle, nail art or makeup look. That photo is then added to a gallery that users can then scroll through, or search by key words like fishtail braid or ombre. Like a look you see? Booking an appointment with the stylist that created it can be done with the app in just two clicks.
BeautySpotter. was founded by Gemma Bellman, whose own experiences inspired her work. As a high powered business woman in the city, sampling the creative talents of various hairdressers and beauty therapists just wasn’t possible. When it came to choosing beauty looks for her wedding day, she didn’t know where to start.
While the wedding went off without a hitch, Gemma wasn’t happy with her hair or makeup. Out of that disappointment, the BeautySpotter. app was born. Gemma hopes this ‘window shopping’ beauty app will take the fear and disappointment element out of any form of makeover. What you see is what, hopefully, you’ll get.
Gemma said of her venture ‘I wanted to create a peer-to-peer platform for discovery – bringing beauty back to face value,” Bellman said. “Having worked in beauty for a number of years I’d always been frustrated with the lack of transparency in the salon industry. You’re essentially shopping blind for treatments – never knowing exactly what you’re paying for until it’s too late.’
With account options for both clients, stylists and salons, BeautySpotter. gives beauty professionals a new way to interact with their clients, and for dedicated customers to show their go-to stylists some love!
Looks can also be saved and shared with friends and followers, so beauty junkies can keep everyone up to date on their latest makeovers and have their style history available at their beautifully manicured fingertips. Now instead of pining after a look you see online, you can get that same style and maybe discover your new go-to salon at the same time! BeautySpotter is available as a website at Beautyspotter.com, or as a smartphone app that can be downloaded for free from iTunes.
Kérastase have even jumped on board with a competition in collaboration with the app! You can win a trip for 2 to a ‘BeautySpot’ in Paris (be quick! the competition closes on the 2nd September!). Just use the app or the website to book into your favourite Kérastase salon and stylist, have your look created there then upload it to BeautySpotter and tag #Kerastase and #CoutureStyleMe!