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This salon is a product of perseverance, self-belief and a love of learning
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Having completed over 60 qualifications while running her own salon, Ómra Beauty founder Rachael Foley sees beauty as far more than skin deep. Here, she speaks about empowering her clients through education, the importance of cancer care therapies, and the training network that helped make it possible.
Working as an entrepreneur in Ireland can be extremely tough, and owning a beauty salon is no exception. It is for precisely this reason that Image Skillnet was formed. The unique not-for-profit, enterprise-led training network provides support for the hair, beauty and spa sector in Ireland, offering free membership to businesses and their employees looking to join their community.
An important resource for hair and beauty professionals, they provide part-funded training and professional development for members. Their mission is simple – to deliver the highest quality learning and development that is effective and relevant, and has an impact on the participant, the enterprise, the sector, and the wider economy.
They offer a range of courses that would be a great support to anyone in this always-evolving industry, from hair science and advanced skincare, to business webinars and GDPR essentials.
Their services were used by Rachael Foley of Ómra Beauty in Dublin 4, an award-winning salon that first opened its doors in 2013. With over 10 years in business and a genuine wealth of knowledge, Rachael sat down with us to discuss the importance of diversity and accessibility in beauty, how she made her dream a reality, and how Image Skillnet helped her in business.
Ómra Beauty began in 2013. Tell us about your salon’s ethos and mission.
Our mission at Ómra Beauty is to give a thoroughly professional treatment in a friendly, welcoming and relaxed environment. Our commitment is to treat all humans and creatures on this planet with respect and compassion, therefore bringing out true inner beauty. Everything we do reflects that ethos. Our philosophy is extremely client-driven, with a huge emphasis on customer service and education. We want every person who visits us to feel truly cared for, listened to, and empowered with knowledge that supports their wellbeing beyond the salon.
Our space reflects this ethos: a natural, earthy elegance that creates calm the moment you step inside. We are proud to use only cruelty-free products, and we pair treatments with education, empowering clients to make informed choices about their wellbeing. Inclusivity is at the heart of who we are. We welcome clients of every age, gender, and life stage, from pregnancy care to oncology treatments. With training in domestic abuse awareness, and my certificates in basic Irish sign language and in diversity, equality, and inclusion, we ensure Ómra is a safe and supportive space for everyone.
This dedication has been recognised with awards such as Best Cruelty-Free Beauty Salon and Oncology Aesthetics Salon of the Year (2023), and Beauty Salon of the Year (2024), but what matters most is the trust and loyalty of our clients. Beyond treatments, we’re passionate about giving back—supporting TY and Erasmus students, contributing to local charities, and volunteering our services—because we believe beauty should uplift far beyond our four walls.
Ómra is about more than treatments; it’s about compassion, professionalism and community, with customer care and education always at the heart of what we do.
What kind of treatments and services do you provide?
At Ómra Beauty, we provide a wide range of beauty, body, and holistic treatments designed to suit everyone. Both men and women are welcome, and we adapt our services to meet the needs of clients with different abilities, tailoring every treatment individually. Our offerings include nails, waxing, threading, facials, massage, brow and lash treatments, body exfoliation, spray tans, reflexology, ear candling, and more. We’re proud to use Jane Iredale gentle mineral makeup, and our award-winning make-up services are a highlight. Even our two-week polish, Artistic Colour Gloss, is 7-free, meaning it’s free from the seven most harmful chemicals commonly found in long-wear polishes.
We specialise in unique treatments as well, including pregnancy-specific beauty, ear piercing and oncology-friendly services such as Cancer Touch Therapy, Oncology Aesthetics and Reflexology in Cancer Care. Every product we use is chosen for its proven benefits to skin and body, ensuring safe, effective and rejuvenating results. Each client is taken on a personalised journey, with step-by-step planning of their beauty regime and tailored homecare advice. Our salon in the heart of Dublin 4 offers a serene sanctuary where every client enjoys calm, luxury and unmatched service.
What is your most popular treatment?
Our most popular treatments are massage and facials. Massage is always in high demand, and we offer a variety to suit each client’s needs, from Swedish Body and Deep Tissue to Aromatherapy, Hot Stones and Indian Head massage. Our therapists are IMTA registered, so clients can even claim money back from some healthcare providers. For facials, we’ve carefully chosen brands that reflect our ethos: Payot, founded in 1920, with its heritage of holistic care, Alpha-H cosmeceutical skincare for its results-driven active formulas, and Made for Life Organics, which is especially supportive for clients undergoing oncology treatments. Together, these treatments reflect our belief in combining professional expertise with genuine care and wellbeing.
What has been your career highlight so far?
My career highlight came last November at the prestigious Professional Beauty & Hairdressers Journal Awards, where I was honoured to win Beauty Therapist of the Year for the second consecutive year, and on the same night, Ómra Beauty was named Beauty Salon of the Year. PB/HJ represents the pinnacle of the Irish beauty industry, so receiving these accolades was an incredible recognition of the passion, dedication and commitment I’ve poured into this industry over the past two decades. With over 60 qualifications and a deep belief in empowering clients through education, I see beauty as more than skin deep. I dedicated these awards to my sister Amber and my amazing team at Ómra Beauty, celebrating the values we live by: nurturing, educating and inspiring others to feel their best. That night was a powerful reminder that hard work, determination, self-belief and continuous learning truly make dreams possible.
Has owning a beauty salon always been a dream of yours?
Yes, owning a beauty salon has always been a dream of mine. I’ve always been ambitious and driven, constantly seeking ways to push myself and create something meaningful. Opening Ómra Beauty allowed me to design a space that’s gentle on the senses, inclusive for all clients, and conscious of the planet.
As a passionate advocate for animal rights, we are proudly a cruelty-free salon, and I carefully select only the product lines I truly believe in and can stand by the results, ones that deliver visible, reliable transformations. Every detail of Ómra Beauty reflects this ethos, creating a welcoming, serene environment where clients can feel nurtured, cared for, and confident that they’re in expert hands.
I only use product lines that I am passionate about, so it was wonderful to be able to choose the brands which I thought were excellent at delivering this.
How did you set about making it a reality?
I brought my dream to life through perseverance, self-belief and a love of learning. With a background in science, beauty therapy felt like a natural progression, and over the past 22 years, I’ve gained more than 60 qualifications while working in salons, spas, mobile services and education. Over 12 years ago, Ómra Beauty opened its doors in The Merrion Centre, Dublin 4, a true labour of love that my family, friends and I quite literally built with our own hands. I’ll never forget finishing the newest version of the salon overnight while eight months pregnant, determined to make it perfect for our clients.
From the beginning, client comfort and impeccable hygiene have been at the heart of Ómra, recognised with HABIC and Glantar awards during the pandemic. But Ómra is about more than beauty; it’s deeply personal. Ómra, the Irish for Amber, is named after my beautiful sister, who passed away in 2011 from Melanoma. She always encouraged me to follow this dream, and in her memory, we now offer Cancer Touch Therapy and Oncology Aesthetics so that no client ever feels excluded from the chance to relax and be cared for.
What role has Image Skillnet played in your progression as a beauty therapist?
Image Skillnet has been instrumental in my journey as a beauty therapist and a business owner. Over the years, I’ve been able to complete a wide range of free and subsidised courses through them, opportunities I simply wouldn’t have been able to afford otherwise. Without that support, my repertoire and professional knowledge would have been so much more limited. Instead, I’ve been able to explore everything from Oncology Aesthetics and Sustainability Advocacy to training, education and assessing, sales, and most recently, a Bachelor of Business Studies. They also guided me safely through Covid-19, providing courses on salon hygiene and safe practices that helped protect myself, my team and my clients at such a critical time.
Each course has added a new layer to my skills and, just as importantly, to my confidence. What I love most is that Image Skillnet doesn’t just hand you a certificate; you still must put in the work, the study and the commitment. But they make that journey possible by opening doors you may never have known existed and by guiding you every step of the way.
They’ve always been so supportive and genuinely want to see people succeed. Thanks to Image Skillnet, I’ve built a hugely varied and in-depth education, and that has allowed me to bring real knowledge and expertise back to my clients and my team. I’m so grateful for the opportunities they’ve given me; they’ve truly been a game-changer in my career.
Would you recommend Image Skillnet to an aspiring beauty practitioner or business owner?
Absolutely. I would wholeheartedly recommend Image Skillnet to anyone considering a career in beauty or thinking of starting their own business. In fact, I’d say it would be a missed opportunity not to take advantage of their courses. Over the years, I’ve availed myself of numerous training programmes through Image Skillnet, and each has played a vital role in shaping the expertise, confidence and professional standards that define Ómra Beauty today. Their courses not only provide practical skills but also inspire creativity, business insight and a commitment to excellence.
The knowledge and techniques I’ve gained have allowed me to build a salon that consistently delivers exceptional experiences for our clients and fosters a team of empowered, highly skilled therapists. For anyone serious about thriving in this industry, Image Skillnet is an invaluable resource.
Find out more about the services offered by Image Skillnet here.
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