A BARRHEAD salon is the go-to beauty retreat for one of Scotland’s top cyclists.

Commonwealth Games double silver medallist Louise Haston regards Salon One as the best there is when it comes to nail art.

So much so, the 36-year-old has even cycled to the Cross Arthurlie Street business from the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow, just to get her nails done.

Salon One owner Claire McCarroll, 39, invited The News along for a chat with the South Queensferry-born cyclist last week, before she headed off to the Para-cycling Track World Championships in Los Angeles with Great Britain.

The pair first met at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow three years ago, where Claire was asked to run a beauty salon in the athletes’ village.

It was there she got to work with Louise, who piloted paralympian Aileen McGlynn to a second-place finish in both the tandem sprint and kilometre time trial events.

The women have kept in regular contact ever since and Louise insists there is only one nail artist she calls ahead of a big race.

“I don’t get my nails done often but when I do, Claire’s the first person I go to,” said Louise.

“When I do decide I need my nails done, I wouldn’t go anywhere else. The stuff she can do on nails is just crazy.

"The selection for the World Championships was a last-minute thing. This'll be my first.

"We need to get points for selection for the Commonwealth Games (held in Queensland, Australia next year). A few weeks ago we came back from the British Championships and we got a gold and a silver so it put us in a good place."

Although she began her sporting career in athletics, Louise chose to turn her attention to cycling in 2009 after being inspired by Team GB's efforts at the Beijing Olympics the year previously.

The former triple jumper and pole vaulter hopped on a bike at Meadowbank Stadium's outdoor velodrome and the rest is history.

Her profession switch is made all the more impressive by the fact Louise juggles cycling with a full-time position in Lloyds Bank's financial crime department.

Claire prides herself on the relationship she has developed with the British Masters Track champion, as well as the opportunity she was given to work at the Commonwealth Games.

The Barrhead woman, who has owned Salon One for 17 years, was only too happy to help Louise out when she made a late request for an appointment.

She said: "She texted me last minute. I just dropped everything because she was going away. She needs the good luck nails on.

"The only interest I've got in sport is Louise. I was suddenly all patriotic and dead sporty when I was at the Games.

"There were athletes from around the world and they'd been away from their home town weeks on end before they arrived there so their nails were all grown out.

"It was phenomenal being part of it, it was quite surreal. It was a tremendous experience to be part of."