Shear Excellence owner Hazel Baker is no stranger to McComb, where she has styled hair since 1977.
She opened Shear Excellence in 1990, offering top-notch cuts from five hairstylists as well as pedicures and manicures.
Along with Baker, stylists include Laci Knowles, Jonathan Moran, Kim Reid and Carrie Finch.
The newest addition to the salon is Hannah Hart, a licensed massage therapist, who joined in September.
“I love doing what I am doing here at the salon,” Hart said. “Helping people to feel better and good about themselves is such a rewarding feeling.”
Several clients of Hart’s are home-bound for health reasons and can’t make the drive to the salon. Hart said she makes house calls to help people who can’t come to her.
“The first time I give someone a massage, they can’t believe how much better it makes them feel,” said Hart.
The 22-year-old is a 2007 McComb High School graduate. After graduation, she enrolled at Southwest Mississippi Community College, where she studied massage therapy.
“When I left Southwest, my first job was actually for Miss Hazel here at Shear Excellence,” Hart said.
She said a massage can improve one’s health in many ways.
“I have customers that have fibromyalgia and a massage has several benefits for them,” Hart said. “I concentrate on improving the blood circulation in their muscles, which increases the flow of nutrients and eliminates waste products. It can reduce your heart rate, relax their muscles, improve range of motion in the joints and increase production of the body’s natural pain-killers.
“I also work on people who play sports, people who might participate in a bike marathon — or marathon in general. ... One thing people might not know is I also have massages for expectant mothers.”
Ninety-minute Swedish and deep tissue sessions run $80. A 60-minute session is $65, and a 30-minute session is $35.
“I use Biotone Dual Massage Cream and provide a hot rock massage technique for my customers,” Hart said. “The hot rocks are a very relaxing tool. We warm them up in a crock pot in water and heat them to 125 degrees. The rocks are usually placed on specific points, on the back and other areas.”
An hour’s hot rock session runs $85. A 30-minute session is $50.
In addition to hair-dos and massages, Shear Excellence offers gift certificates.
Hart said the salon is offering massage special. “If a person will buy three gift certificates, they can book their own free 30-minute massage.”
Shear Excellence, located at 132 West Ave. in McComb, is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.
For more information, call 684-5753 or 248-0428.
