Thirty years after launching her first salon in Lifford, Karen Harkin Gallagher secured the Businesswoman of the Year title at the Local Women Magazine Power to Switch Business Awards 2026.
- Karen Harkin Gallagher secured the top honor at the Local Women Magazine Power to Switch Business Awards 2026, held at the Europa Hotel in Belfast.
- The award recognizes her work founding KHG Hair Systems, a specialist enterprise addressing female hair loss through enhancers and confidence restoration.
- The business has doubled its staff over the preceding four months while operating clinics across Ireland, the UK, and Spain.
Gallagher accepted the accolade at the Belfast ceremony following three decades of operating a traditional hair salon in Lifford. Donegal Daily reported that her transition into specialized clinical work focuses on women dealing with alopecia, cancer treatment side effects, and thinning caused by hormones, stress, or menopause.
KHG Hair Systems now operates physical locations across Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Spain. Operational scaling has accelerated sharply, with the firm doubling its headcount in four months to meet clinical demand.
Gallagher detailed the personal isolation experienced by many clients prior to treatment.
“I’ve had women sit in my chair who haven’t looked in a mirror in years. Women who stopped going to weddings. Who missed their own children’s big days because they couldn’t face being in the photos.”
“Some of them cry before we even start. And then, at the end, they look up and see themselves again. Not a wig. Not a hairpiece. Themselves. I’ve seen women walk out of my salon standing taller than when they walked in. That moment never gets old.”
“Hair loss isn’t vanity. It takes away a woman’s confidence, her freedom, sometimes her whole identity. Too many women are suffering in silence, and I want that to stop,” she told Donegal Daily.
And I’m so proud to bring it home to Donegal.”
| Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| Award Event | Local Women Magazine Power to Switch Business Awards 2026 |
| Venue | Europa Hotel, Belfast |
| Recipient | Karen Harkin Gallagher |
| Business Enterprise | KHG Hair Systems |
| Operational Footprint | Ireland, UK, and Spain |
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
