Making people Beautiful and making friends

Michelle Hamm and her team at Hair Essentials Salon have been “making people beautiful” for more than 17 years. 

Many are regulars who have been coming since the salon opened its doors, others are newer clients, but they’re all considered family.

“We’ve been blessed,” Hamm says. “We’ve developed so many wonderful friendships. And we have clients of all ages. We’ve had people who started with us years ago, and now we do their daughters and sons-in-law and grandkids’ hair. And we’ve had new ones come along, of course. They’ve all become like family.”

By design, Hair Essentials is set up as a warm, welcoming, no-stress environment to make people feel comfortable. Customers are encouraged to dress casually, even if that’s just sweats and a t-shirt. And it’s a family salon, so kids are always welcome.

“We have a small-town feel. I joke and say we’re more like your Steel Magnolias versus the whole spa atmosphere. I guess we’re just more ‘down home.’”

And yet, they offer everything from the latest styles to the more traditional roll-and-comb-out style some of their older clients prefer. 

“We do everything from cuts to colors to perms,” Hamm explains. “We do it all. Our goal is to give you what you ask for.”

As they strive to offer the perfect cut and style, they also want to tailor the overall visit to meet any other specific needs of the customer. It’s all about ease and comfort.

“We just want to welcome people and take care of them. If we need to pray or talk, we’ll do that. If they want us to be quiet and just let them have some relaxation and downtime, like moms who might be stressed, then we don’t talk. We get a feel for what makes them feel most comfortable.”

Hamm has a close-knit group of stylists that are like-minded when it comes to serving customers. Vicki McCulloch has been with her since she opened the salon, while Lindsey Garrett and Katie Vacca came on board recently.

“We work well together as a team. We take care of each other’s clients when somebody is out or sick. If you come in and one stylist does your hair, and you want to try someone else the next time, there is no drama or animosity. We try to fit the person with the best stylist.”

She says the key to Hair Essentials’ success has a lot to do with communication.

“The biggest thing is listening and communicating. We have people who have moved here who will come in and say they’ve been to places in the past where they told the stylist they just wanted a trip and ended up leaving with three or four inches cut off. We’re going to give you our opinion or make a suggestion, but at the end of the day, it’s about you and what you want.”

And after more than two decades of working in the beauty business, Hamm still gets excited about going to work every day.

“I love people. I guess I’m a people person and probably a people pleaser,” she says with a laugh. “But I just enjoy hair. I love coloring it, changing it, or styling it. Even after 20-something years, I still love meeting people, being around people, and helping people. It makes me happy to make them happy.”