A local holistic beauty therapist is vying for her first national business award just 18 months after opening her clinic in Wellesbourne.
Karin Minton, who runs A Blissful Balance, has been shortlisted for Beauty Therapist of the Year at the Beauty Full Awards.
It marks an incredibly proud chapter for Karin whose business is rooted in a personal mission – to give every woman the chance to feel ‘truly seen’ and valued.
The former Stratford Girls’ Grammar School student last year walked away from a 21-year career as a social worker to open her clinic, in Warwick Road, a business that also continues to play a key role in her own journey of recovery after facing trauma, loss and divorce.
She said: “Life hasn’t always been easy, however, each challenge helped me rebuild, grow, and understand myself more deeply. As a result, I gained a genuine appreciation for the emotional support women need during difficult times. Therefore, my treatments are designed to offer not only relaxation but also understanding, compassion, and a safe place to breathe.
“Every touch, every treatment, is rooted in kindness, compassion, and the belief that self-care is not a luxury, but a powerful act of empowerment.”
She added: “Skin on skin touch for me is also so key to my emotional wellbeing and the soothing music, the sight, the smells are all a very sensory experience. I truly believe in the emotional and physical benefits of self-care, the power of nurturing touch, and the importance of taking time to prioritise yourself,” she said.
“Most of my clients are going through a tremendously difficult time, so the counselling, the listening skills, the empathy, all of the social work core values, I use on a day-to-day basis, but in a much purer form. The skill is in knowing know what people want, and that being a social worker for so long, I can read someone within seconds.
“I treat everyone like a friend. I care, so I don’t rush people in or out. I remember their stories and I share about myself too, so I show genuine authenticity.”
Karin prides herself on opening her doors to the ‘Unseen Woman’ – and clients navigating their own traumas, from operations, loss, divorce, perimenopause, menopause, mental health and chronic illness, to escaping domestic violence.
She said: “There’s so many women who feel invisible to their children to their partners to their work colleagues and even to themselves and in my treatment room you’re seen for who you are. I think you can do all the counselling in the world but if you’re not doing all the body work alongside it, such as mindfulness, massage, sound healing, reiki etc., then you hold on to the trauma. People come to me because I’m focused on them.”
The Beauty Full Awards recognise excellence across the hair and beauty industry, highlighting the salon’s dedication to outstanding service, creativity, and professional standards. The grand final takes place in September, when Karin will discover if she has been successful.
Of the award she said: “I’m absolutely over the moon to be a finalist. Just 18 months ago, I started A Blissful Balance, and I could never have imagined the incredible support I would receive from so many wonderful women.
“To be recognised in this way is a real honour. Thank you to every woman who has walked through my door, recommended me to others, left a review, or simply cheered me on. This really does mean the world to me.”
A spokesperson for the Awards said: “We look carefully at each application and only those that demonstrate exceptional standards are shortlisted to the finals. A Blissful Balance has clearly shown quality, innovation, and dedication worthy of this recognition.
“The 2025 season attracted thousands of entries overall, and the Beauty Full Awards from across the world. Achieving finalist status means Karin has been recognised among an international field of beauty professionals, making it a fantastic achievement.”
Meanwhile, A Blissful Balance is also celebrating recognition as Highly Recommended by Fresha. These Awards spotlight standout businesses, which promise quality, professionalism, and exceptional experiences.
Winners were selected based on performance across 2025, assessing multiple factors, including: the number of client reviews collected; average star rating across reviews and total online bookings confirmed during 2025.
Karin said: “As a small business, awards and recognition like this mean so much, but what makes the Fresha one extra special is that it’s built on the support, reviews and recommendations from my wonderful clients. Moments like this remind me why I took the leap and created A Blissful Balance in the first place.”
