Upon entering Liz’s Hair Care, customers are greeted with a warm smile from whoever is sitting behind the front desk. 

Liz’s Hair Care has been a part of the Mission Hill community for over 20 years, encouraging all customers to learn about caring for their hair. 

The salon offers natural hair care along with styling services including silk presses, locs and braids. While it specializes in Black hair care, the salon is open to customers of any hair type. 

“If someone comes in, you just want to be there and be available,” said Elizabeth Siggers, owner of Liz’s Hair Care. 

Siggers began cutting hair at Olive’s Beauty Salon in 1990. She discovered her passion under the mentorship of Olive Benson, the owner of the salon. In 2001, Siggers opened her own salon. 

“I learned so much from [Benson]. She was well known in the industry, so I’ve traveled to a lot of countries and a lot of different states doing hair,” Siggers said. 

One of the most important skills she learned from Benson was the maintenance of textured hair.

“That’s why I named my salon what I did, because that is a big thing that I learned from Olive’s Beauty Salon, how to take care of the hair,” Siggers said. “It’s so easy to damage our hair.”

Siggers prides herself in making all of her customers feel comfortable coming to her with any sort of hair type or health. 

“I like the challenges when someone comes and their hair is really damaged, and I’m able to help them repair it back,” Siggers said. 

Along with the wisdom Siggers passes onto her clients, she said she hopes to bring a high level of customer service to those who come in. Her employees apply the same philosophy, hoping to brighten the day of each customer. 

“One of the things my clients always mention to me that they love is that I’m always welcoming them with a smile on my face,” said Maria Eden, a hair stylist assistant and front desk worker at Liz’s Hair Care. “That’s very important to me. It doesn’t matter what type of day I’m having, I always make sure to greet them with a big smile.” 

With eight current staff, Siggers has high expectations for who she chooses to employ, but she also understands turnover and a need for adaptation. 

“You’re just always hiring. Never get content,” Siggers said. “You have to always be hiring because when someone goes, you need to be able to keep up with the clientele. A lot of people count on me and my salon.” 

As a business owner for over 20 years, Siggers said she’s grown her management skills; one of her biggest takeaways has been the importance of delegation and asking for help. 

“The truth of the matter is you should not be the owner, the technician and the manager,” she said. “You can’t do all three. And we all try, as small businesses, because who has the money to pay for X, Y and Z, you know?” 

Siggers runs her business on her own and creates a positive environment for all of her workers and clientele. Ronald Flint, a master stylist, cosmetologist and colorist who has worked at Liz’s Hair Care for about three years, said he attributes his tight bonds with coworkers to the environment Siggers fosters.

“Liz kind of brings us all together, and it all merges,” Flint said. 

Siggers has gained a loyal clientele, with many of her customers returning for years on end. Judith Sanford-Harris, a retired higher education teacher and student development counselor, has been coming to Siggers’ salon for over 20 years. 

“I never have to wait — Liz is wonderful. She makes sure her customers are taken care of right away. I can ask any questions I want, and I don’t feel silly,” Sanford-Harris said. Though her daughters no longer live in the area, they spent the majority of their childhoods coming to Liz’s Hair Care as well. 

“She and the other women were very patient with my daughters,” Sanford-Harris said. 

As her business progresses, Siggers said that she hopes to step back and allow for new management. 

“I hope to transition my salon off to one of my employees,” she said. “I’ve been here for 24 years, I’m shooting for 30, and I’d like to actually take a back seat.” 

Liz’s Hair Care prioritizes creating a feeling of home in a third space, both for customers and workers alike. 

“Liz treats us like her family … it just feels welcoming and comfortable here,” Eden said.