My journey with beauty started early — straight out of middle school, I went on to study beauty therapy and cosmetology. But life had other plans, and instead of heading straight into the beauty industry, I built a career in finance and then shifted into tech, working for almost 11 years at Apple. Everything changed towards the end of my second pregnancy, when I learned that my firstborn son is autistic. In that moment, my priorities shifted completely — I knew I needed flexibility to support him and our little neurospicy family. And that’s the one thing a career in a tech giant couldn’t give me.

I took time off and decided to refresh my knowledge and upskill in nails. I started part-time, working from a small desk in the corner of my living room — and that’s how Fab Lab was born. Word spread quickly, my client base grew, and before long I had set up a home salon in a spare bedroom. Less than three years from taking that first step of renewing my qualifications as nail technician, I opened Fab Lab in downtown Cobh. Since then I had the honor of training with some of the best nail experts from Ireland, Croatia and Poland. I have gained international nail educator qualifications training with globally recognised expert, international champion and record holder for most awards ever presented to a single nail stylist and educator - Joanna Bandurska.

But Fab Lab is not just a salon. It’s a hub for women looking to take charge of their future — whether that means learning new skills, changing careers, or simply connecting with other women on a similar journey. It’s about making those big, scary steps feel a little less overwhelming.

At Fab Lab you can get pampered, learn new skills and get qualifications for life and soon supply all your essentials to start your new career.