Award-Winning O'Hara And Friends Salon Moves To New Digs In Palos

PALOS HEIGHTS, IL -- A veteran stylist has moved her award-winning Alsip salon to larger digs in Palos Heights. Cathy O’Hara has cut, styled and colored hair for over 20 years at shops around the south suburbs when she opened her own shop in 2013. Readers have voted O’Hara and Friends “Best Hair Salon” for four consecutive years in the Daily Southtown’s Best of Chicago’s Southland.

“I grew up in Alsip by Restvale Cemetery,” O’Hara said. “From the time I was a little girl I saved my chore money to buy a Barbie head. When my grandma watched TV, I’d take her pink sponge curlers and do her hair.”

When her classmates at Alan B. Shepard High School talked about going to college, O’Hara wanted to go to beauty school. She attended Blue Island Beauty School and worked there for four years after graduation. Encouraged to continue her education, she became a cosmetology instructor at Pivot Point International, long considered the Harvard of beauty schools, on the Chicago’s North Side.

O’Hara worked 20 years at the former Abracadabra salon in Oak Lawn, which was demolished in 2013 to make room for the Stony Creek Promenade development. Although a door closed, but another soon opened, and O’Hara opened her salon in Alsip at 127th Street and Route 83. She dubbed her new enterprise O’Hara and Friends.

“It’s not about me, it’s about my staff and clients,” O’Hara said. “May all that enter as guests, leave as friends. That’s our motto.”

A natural born marketer, O’Hara offers kid-themed nights, such as Ninja turtles, Frozen and other Disney princesses designed to calm nerves before a first haircut or keep kiddos still and entertained while their hair gets snipped. During the holidays, kids can come in and talk to a professional Santa. The salon also promotes numerous local charities and businesses.

“Local chefs come in and pass out appetizers. I try to incorporate and do other things for local small businesses,” O’Hara said. “I’ve been pretty fortunate. I do a lot to stir up interest.”

Outgrowing the space in Alsip, O’Hara and Friends moved in March to larger digs at 7008 W. 127th St. in Palos Heights. The new space offers 1,500 square feet with six chairs for stylists for haircuts, styling, perms and color, private rooms for waxing and facials, designated makeup areas,k a comfy lounge and a patio.The larger space has also afforded the salon to expand services to include manis and pedis and reflexology. O’Hara and Friends also offers bridal party packages.

O’Hara and Friends Salon is located at 7008 W. 127th St., Palos Heights. Hours are 4 to 8 p.m. Monday; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday; 11 a.m to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The salon is closed on Sunday. To discuss services or make an appointment call 708-239-1111.

Photo: Cathy O'Hara, owner of O'Hara and Friends Salon | Patch Editor Lorraine Swanson