Liz’s House of Hair has stories to share

Liz’s House of Hair has stories to share

By Kathy Feist

The south end of Leawood Plaza at 122nd and State Line Road is suddenly filling up with new tenants. Along with State Line Animal Hospital and Pride’s Cleaners that have been mainstays, AllState Insurance, Noble Interior Designs and DalMark Group, which specializes in property redevelopment, are taking up real estate there. Another new tenant, (the one that has an outdoor bench complete with fluffy pillows) is Liz’s House of Hair which moved into the busy strip in November.

Like many hair salons in the south KC area, Liz’s has a unique, neighborly charm. Instead of shelves lined with hair products, the salon has a small library of books.

Owner Liz Sheldon, once an English major in college, says she prefers to read books than spend time on her cell phone when waiting on clients. Customers noticed what she was reading and would bring in their favorites or borrow one of hers, says Sheldon. When a customer told her about a lending library she had in her front yard, Sheldon decided to create a similar concept at the salon.

“Since then, everybody has been bringing in books. Because once you read them, you don’t know what to do with them. So people can take a book or bring a book,” she says.

Sheldon has been in the hair business for 39 years. She was formerly a partner at Chez Charles at 103rd and State Line before moving to Salon III at 123rd and State Line for a year. She eventually decided to follow her dream of being a sole owner of a beauty salon and opened the new location.

Sheldon was joined by two former Chez Charles beauticians: Toni Walker and LaDonna Younger. On Jan. 15 she had an influx of beauticians join her when Salon III closed. Vicki Boyd, Rebecca Douglas, Lauri Thurman, Lisa Eddis and nail technician Sharon Williams now have their own stations at Liz’s House of Hair. “It’s like they’ve been here all the time,” says Sheldon. “We’ve all merged.”

The atmosphere at the beauty salon is  fun and friendly. “I wanted to create a space where people feel comfortable,” says Sheldon. So inviting, that even men have become customers, she says.

Liz’s House of Hair is almost a full service salon, says Sheldon, offering everything but hair extensions.  

The salon is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. New clients and walk-ins are welcomed.

For more information call 816-838-2273.