Meet the best mates who've created a beauty and wellness community in Crosby

After careers in beauty, always working in other salons, best mates Anna Pagano and Bria Nolan decided it was time to take a leap of faith and go it alone.

And instead of just focusing on brows, lashes and make-up, they wanted to do things differently.

Now a year on from opening Gemini Beauty Bar in Crosby, the pair have created a beauty and wellness community which has proved so popular that they’re already expanding.

Anna says:

“We’d never talked about opening our own business before, but when I drove past a ‘to let’ sign on St John’s Road, I sent it to Bria and we both just went ‘let’s go for it’. It was always our intention from the start to offer something different from a regular beauty salon.

“Semi-permanent lashes and brows, and nails are what we both specialise in and they make you look and feel nice on the outside, but we wanted this to be supporting the whole person. It’s beauty on the inside as well.”

A happy coincidence meant Anna and Bria’s concept for Gemini quickly became a reality after they met Nadine Page, who has her own business, The Creative Well.

Anna, 35, says the two friends have had an amazing first year in business.

She continued:

“I had this idea that we should have the holistic side to the salon, and my sister is into that, so I texted her asking her to do a Reiki course because we wanted to offer It. The next day, Nadine walked in for lashes. She’s from down south and had only moved to Waterloo that week, we got chatting, and it turned out she’s a Reiki master as well as being a registered mental health nurse.

“Nadine had been looking for somewhere to do her treatments, and she was exactly what we were looking for, so she said it was like we’d manifested each other! It all just worked out really well.

“She does reiki healing, one-to-one talking therapies, naturopathy and nutritional therapy, and she’s also a specialist in addiction and detox counselling. Not many salons can say they have a mental health nurse on their team, and together we’re proud to offer services that support whole health.”

“Our salon has grown into more than just a place for treatments; it’s evolved into something much bigger. While we specialise in professional beauty services, our core mission has always been to create a safe, uplifting space that supports both inner and outer wellbeing too.”

Gemini recently hosted a Women’s Wellness Event at the salon focused on self- care, mindset, and connection.

She added:

“That event was based around body confidence, and we invited a coach to come in, Nicola Chan, who is a body confidence expert. Nadine finished the night with a guided meditation, and also was able to talk more about what she does. The turnout was really good so we now have a women’s self-defence even on Sunday, May 17, which will be run by Nicola. That’s designed to empower and equip women with confidence and practical skills, and it will end again with meditation led by Nadine.”

Anna says the salon has been so successful that when larger premises became available on St John’s Road, they jumped at the chance to expand, and they plan to move into the new site soon.

She commented:

“As a business rooted in Crosby – an area known for supporting independents – we’re incredibly proud to be part of such a strong local community, and we hope our story inspires others who might be ready to take that first step toward something more.”