After trying multiple paths, a Hutchinson salon owner eventually followed her dream

Although the owner of Reflections Salon and Spa wanted to obtain a cosmetology license after she graduated from high school, her life took a different turn.

Kelly Alger worked for both a bank and a lawyer before following her dream.

“I decided to enroll in Sidney’s Hairdressing College and graduated in 1996 in memory of my mother,” she said.

Alger opened her business in June 2002 on Second Avenue.

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“I chose the name Reflections Salon and Day Spa, because when you look into the mirror, it is a reflection of how beautiful of a person you are,” she said.

© Ashley Berends Kelly Algers' Reflections Salon and Day Spa share a building with her husband Mikes' Barber Shop.

Alger's husband Mike Alger, a barber, owns Mike’s Barber Shop. In 2010, the couple purchased the former Salt City Land & Title Building, at 305 1/2 N. Main St. They remodeled the building to accommodate both businesses, complete with separate entrances.

“I enjoy being able to have a business side by side with my husband in downtown Hutchinson," Kelly Alger said. "We have the opportunity to do family haircuts. The gentlemen see him, and I get to pamper the ladies. It makes a special day for them both.”

With every business, there are challenges. A few of the ways Alger has overcome the obstacles is to keep her booth renters independent and self employed.

"They just pay a certain amount per day," Alger said. "I also keep my service pricing competitive and surpass my client's expectations.”

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Some of the services that are offered on the salon side are haircuts, color, perms and hair removal. For the spa, there are manicures, facials with/without microdermabrasion treatment, massages and a way to create a custom spa package, depending on the needs of the client. A few miscellaneous services are makeup application, eyelash extensions and botox treatments after a consultation.

© Ashley Berends Mike and Kelly Alger

Alger also purchased a small salon in Stafford in 2011 to take care of family and friends in that area. She drove back and forth between locations until 2022.

One of the changes over the years has been the market for hair products. More frequently consumers buy shampoo and conditioner while they are at the grocery store.

“Retail was great when I first began my cosmetology career because the products were only sold in house," Alger said. "Now they are sold everywhere and the price is generally higher than what they are in the salon.”

Alger also enjoys giving back to the community. The couple supports the Cancer Council of Reno County and are members of The Fox Theatre.

"I also donate items to BrightHouse and Laundry Love," she said. "Mike is a veteran, so we also help support other veterans and the VA.”

The Algers’ are also in the process of setting up a scholarship program through the Alger Estate Foundation.

“We wanted to leave a legacy for people entering into cosmetology and barber careers,” Alger said.

In February 2023, Reflections Salon & Day Spa was presented the Hutchinson Small Business Award by the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce.

This article originally appeared on The Hutchinson News: After trying multiple paths, a Hutchinson salon owner eventually followed her dream