A Braintree woman who lived in New Zealand for more than five years has returned home and opened a natural hair salon in the High Street.

Millie Hennessy, 27, moved to New Zealand at 15 having attended St Francis School in Braintree and St John Payne in Chelmsford.

Miss Hennessy moved back to New Zealand a few years later, but returned home again shortly after and found herself commuting to London.

Having broken her finger walking her dog, Miss Hennessy was unable to work for several weeks and was told about an empty shop in the High Street by her nan, a shop which is now called Crop.

She said: “I had some time off and my nan knows the landlord of this lace. I was stuck with this time on my hands and just got talking to him.

“Everything here was built by my family, it was a big family effort, and everyone came together and helped.

“90 per cent of everything we use here is natural – ammonia free, paraben free and sulphate free.

“I take an hour or longer for haircuts so it’s more of an experience and I try not to have too many in at once.”

The former clothing boutique has now been transformed to a natural Scandinavian style salon, with wooden countertops and fascinating light displays in the windows.

Every client receives a head massage and a hot towel after their treatment using natural products like Davines, Keune and New Wash.

Miss Hennessy said: “A broken finger turned out to have quite a happy ending.

“Last year I was living in my parent’s basement and now I’m here.”

She is already hoping to grow the business, with possible plans to employ an additional member of staff after Christmas.