Managing editor
For Vicki Kay Williams, styling hair is more than her livelihood. It’s a way to express her creativity and make people look good.
And according to Williams the stars lined up just right for her to open her own shop this summer in downtown Marion.
“When I’m standing in line at a store and if I see someone who could have a better style, I think ‘I could help them’,” she said.
Williams is no stranger to the Marion business community. She has worked in Marion, owning her own shop and working for others, for nearly two decades. In all, she has been a hairdresser for 21 years.
She opened her downtown shop July 13, aptly named Vicky Kay’s, and loves it.
Even though Williams has been out of the business for a few years, her following is returning to her shop.
“It’s been very busy,” she said, and busy is what she is used to.
Williams and husband Mike have four children — Blake who is a senior at Marion High School, Seth is a freshman, sixth-grader Falon, and kindergartener Quaid — who keep her busy away from the salon.
“That’s the beauty of working for myself,” Williams said. “I can take time off to be available for my children.”
No stranger to Marion, Williams has lived in Marion since she was 4 years old. Her family moved to Marion from Orange County, Calif., to be closer to Williams’ aunt and uncle, Vicki and the late David Jackson.
Williams graduated from MHS in 1990.
“I couldn’t wait to get out of school,” Williams said, “but after graduation, I said ‘What am I going to do now’?”
When she was Vicky Kay Hartley, she wanted to be an astronaut. Later, she considered being an archeologist. She was particularly interested in studying Egyptian pyramids.
“Not everybody knows that about me,” Williams said. “I’d still love to go to Egypt someday and see the pyramids.”
As a teen, Williams loved doing hair and makeup and being around people.
So, it made sense for her to go to beauty school.
Williams has owned her own shop and worked for others in the past, taking time off to raise her family.
While she was on hiatus from hairstyling, Williams also completed two years of nursing school. She enjoyed the training but didn’t like having to commute to school and being unavailable to her children.
When her youngest child started kindergarten this year, she decided it was time to take a leap of faith and open her business.
“I had so many people ask if I was going to do hair again,” Williams said.
She applied for a micro-loan through Marion County and received financial assistance with help from county economic development director Teresa Huffman, whom Williams called “amazing” in helping her get started.
“I figured the loan was a sign that I was meant to do this,” Williams said.
And then when the downtown building at 420 E. Main St., became available, Williams considered it another sign it was the right time to open her business.
“It was meant to be because everything happened so easily,” she said.
After painting — inside and out — replacing floor covering, and installing equipment, Williams feels right at home in her new salon, and says the new business wouldn’t be possible without support of her family.
Keeping up-to-date with styles and techniques is important to her. She attends hair shows to learn.
“It all comes back to basics,” Williams said, referring to being on the cutting edge of style but still enjoying simple services that include shampoos and setting hair in curlers.
Her favorite service is to style hair for and provide salon services to brides and their wedding parties.
“I like to be a part their special day and the excitement,” Williams said. “I’m willing to travel to the bridal party — whatever is necessary to make her day special.”
Her full-service salon includes the basics, hair extensions, artificial nails, manicures, pedicures, and removal of unwanted hair by waxing or sugaring.
Plans are in the works for a spray tanning booth and a line of makeup.
“Styling hair comes natural to me,” Williams said, and considers her own hairstyle to be an advertisement for her business.
“I’ve had strangers ask me who does my hair,” she said. “I grew up in the ‘big hair ’80s’. My hair will always be big and fluffy.”
Williams considers this venture a long-term commitment.
“Marion is my home. I’m not going anywhere,” she said.