🌿43 years, one small business, and a lifetime of loyalty

August 20, 2025

I just got off the phone with my hair salon to book my next appointment, and it hit me: I’ve been getting my hair done by the same amazing stylist for — are you ready for this? — forty-three years!

Yep - that's forty-three years. And it all started when I was 13 years old and in the 7th grade.

My mom and I went to one of those walk-in “Hair Cuttery”-type places for a quick trim. (For my local friends, it was "Holiday Hair" in the Centre Square Shopping Plaza — between Clemens and Clover. 😊)

We landed in Michele’s chair — not knowing she was brand new, barely 18, and just starting her career. But those first haircuts sparked a connection that would grow into a lifelong bond.

Over the years, my mom and I followed Michele from salon to salon, town to town. We were there when she opened her first salon — and later, when she launched Salon Bella & Co. with her daughter, Tarah.

But Michele became more than just our stylist. She’s a trusted friend, a confidante, and Lord knows, more often than not... a part-time therapist!

For four decades, we’ve shared marriages, births, career struggles, successes, heartbreaks, losses — and everything in between. She’s become family. And for that, I'm deeply grateful.

In today’s uncertain economy, I’m reminded just how vital small businesses like Michele’s are.

They’re not just storefronts — they’re the heart of our communities. They embody resilience, passion, and a level of personal care big chains just can’t replicate.

So this week, I challenge you to think twice before heading to that national superstore.

Instead, see if you can support a small business in your neighborhood — the kind that shows up for you, year after year, decade after decade...just like Michele has for me. ❤️

To learn more about Michele, her incredible career, and Salon Bella & Co., please visit https://www.salonbellaandco.com/.

Happy Wednesday! 🌿

Lisa White Burns

Founder of Her Path, LLC

Financial Wellness for Women

🌺 PS: Supporting small, women-owned businesses isn't just good for the community — it's a smart financial move.

Every dollar you spend locally helps keep money circulating close to home, strengthens the local economy, and supports women entrepreneurs like Michele.

🌺 PPS: Little reminder to register for my webinar next week:

"Navigating Medicare: How to Make It Work for You"



August 26^th at 12:00pm EST

Registration and details HERE.

Not for you? Please forward to your Mom, Grandmother, Aunt, Sister...or someone you know that could benefit from this info. Thank you! 

🌿. . . I created this "Wednesday Wisdom" blog to provide women-focused content that includes a dose of real talk, relatable stories — including honest moments from my own ups and downs — and practical insights to help you grow in life and in your finances.

If you’d like to be part of this journey, please join at www.herpathbegins.com/subscribe. Thanks for being here with me!