The NexGen Children’s Salon to celebrate grand opening in Centralia

The Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce is welcoming The NexGen Children’s Salon to the community with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony at noon Tuesday, Aug. 18.

The celebration will take place at the salon’s new location at 1000 Kresky Ave., Centralia.

Owned by Denise Heidecker, The NexGen Children’s Salon was created with one simple mission: to provide children with a fun, positive and welcoming salon experience where kids can feel comfortable being themselves.

“I wanted to create a place where kids can be kids, where they can laugh, wiggle, talk our ears off, change their minds halfway through a haircut, and where it’s OK to ask, ‘Are we done yet?’ 47 times,” Heidecker said with a smile.

Heidecker brings 31 years of professional hairstyling experience to The NexGen Children’s Salon. She is also a stylist at her established business, Evolution Hair Design & Spa, which she proudly opened 17 years ago.

Heidecker continues to work with clients at Evolution while bringing her passion for working with children to her newest venture, The NexGen Children’s Salon.

As a grandmother herself, Heidecker understands how meaningful a child’s first haircut (and every haircut after that) — can be. Her own grandson was the first child in the chair for a special haircut, making the new salon a true family affair.

For Heidecker, creating a positive experience is about much more than a great haircut.

“It has always been a passion of mine. I love doing hair because it’s more than just making them look good; it’s making them feel good about themselves,” Heidecker shared.

The inspiration for a children’s salon began years earlier while Heidecker was working at Hair Zoo in Post Falls, Idaho, where she discovered how rewarding it was to create a salon experience designed specifically for children.

Cherity Parish, who is a current stylist at Evolution Hair Design & Spa, is happy to join Heidecker at the NexGen Children’s Salon. After seven years building a friendship and professional relationship, their shared passion for hairstyling and creating positive experiences for their clients made Parish joining The NexGen Children’s Salon a natural fit.

Parish, with 11 years of professional experience and a grandmother as well, was inspired to pursue a career in hairstyling by her mother.

“My mom was a hairstylist, and I grew up watching her make others feel beautiful. I knew I wanted to experience that myself,” Parish said.

As a stylist at The NexGen Children’s Salon, Parish shares Heidecker’s passion for creating a positive and enjoyable experience for children and their families. Together, Heidecker and Parish hope to make every visit to the salon something children can look forward to.

Heidecker, a Toledo native, and Parish, who proudly calls Centralia home, are excited to bring their passion, creativity and love for children to families throughout Lewis County.

Heidecker and Parish would also like to share a special message with the parents in our community:

“Thank you for trusting us with your little ones! We know how special they are, and we promise to do our very best to make their salon experience fun, positive and memorable — and, of course, send them home looking absolutely adorable!”

The Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce will host the Aug. 18 event.

Guests will have the opportunity to meet Heidecker and Parish, tour the new salon, celebrate the new business, and help welcome The NexGen Children’s Salon to the Centralia community.