A local mom balances family and a family business

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF TRICIA WILLIAMS

BUILDING A FAMILY BUSINESS

A wife and mom balances her new Homewood hair salon with her busy home life

BY STEPHANIE GIBSON LEPORE

Long before she was a wife and mom, Tricia Williams and her sister, Cindy, did what so many siblings do: They spent years dreaming up their future, together. “She is a stylist and I have a business background. For years we dreamed of, and talked about, opening a salon together,” says Tricia. “She is also a mom to three kids, and it was her experience 10 years ago that many salons were not flexible for working moms.” Meanwhile, Tricia was pursuing her MBA at UAB, and she used an assignment to alleviate her sister’s frustration. “I wrote a business plan for her to open a salon.” But instead of leaving it at that, the sisters made their dream a reality. “We are from the Washington, D.C. area, and Old Town Alexandria is one of our favorite places, so we decided to open the business.” In 2012, they founded Salon 46. Tricia ran operations from Birmingham, with frequent visits back home, and her sister worked in

CONTINUED ON PAGE 25

the salon while maintaining a flexible schedule that fit into mom life.

Like the business plan, there is much thought behind the name of the salon, too. Salon 46 comes from the CH-46 helicopter that Tricia and Cindy’s father, Lt. Col. (USMC Ret.) Frederick Roland Wagner, Jr., flew in the Marines. It is one of the most difficult helicopters to fly, but he loved a challenge, they explain. “Though he developed a service-related terminal disease called frontotemporal dementia— which ultimately took his life—he passed his energetic, fun, and hard-working spirit on to everyone he knew,” says Tricia. “Salon 46 was founded in 2012 to honor him.”

Though Tricia remained in Birmingham, working her day job and handling salon business on the side, she had another dream to expand the business here. “I have wanted to open [one] in Birmingham for years, but there was always some life thing that was keeping me from it,” she says. “Losing my dad during the pandemic made me finally decide to do it. Tomorrow isn’t promised, so I am trying to make the most out of today.”

The salon’s location in Homewood was an easy choice. “I have always wanted Birmingham to have a salon like Salon 46, which is a place where all feel welcomed and where stylists can thrive and clients feel at home while getting great hair,” Tricia says. “I lived in Homewood in my twenties and immediately fell in love with the community. It’s very similar to Old Town Alexandria, where our first location is, and it just feels right for our second one.”

One thing that is different now: Tricia is married with kids. So, in addition to all the work that comes with opening your own business, there’s the added layer of family balance. “I haven’t really considered myself an entrepreneur until recently,” she says. “For 7 years, the salon was my side hustle, which meant I worked a lot! Now, it’s my main gig, so I guess I am officially an entrepreneur, but there is still not a balance and that’s okay. My family is in this with me, and I think that’s the only way I could do this.”

Leaning on her husband, Ernie—who also has an extensive business and marketing background—for support is a foundation of Salon 46. “My husband has been my unpaid business partner for years—working long hours by my side, encouraging me when times were tough (hello, pandemic), and believing in me when I didn’t believe in myself,” she says. “I truly feel that this support is why I was able to have a salon in D.C. for the last decade, and why I am opening one in Homewood.”

Together, modeling hard work to their boys is a priority. “My family is everything to me, and my kids are my heart,” Tricia says. “I became an instant mom—twice! I have three teenaged stepsons, and we recently adopted our fourth son from foster care. This is a family journey. We are all learning that pursuing your dreams is hard work. My boys have big dreams, too, and I want to model for them that having dreams builds a purpose and passion, but it’s not always an easy road. I left a job that I had mastered to pursue this. Some days, I question that decision, but never for very long. Just as this salon was started to honor the life of my father, I recognize that our kids are watching what we do, whether we want them to or not. They may not take every lesson we intend them to, but I couldn’t imagine not having the family team on board for this.”

On top of her fierce devotion to family, Tricia’s enthusiasm for business ownership and excellence is evident. “I believe in our mission,” she says. “We understand what it’s like to be frustrated with your current hairstyle. You deserve healthy and beautiful hair, and we can help. Stylists are there for clients through the highest moments of life, like weddings, proms, and new jobs. And stylists are also there for their clients in the lowest moments of life, like funerals and cancer diagnoses. As a salon owner, I get to support and encourage my team through it all. Sometimes that’s providing them with continuing education on the latest trends or inspiration to become better at their craft. Other times, it’s listening to what they’re going through personally. And I want to preserve the integrity of the profession. This is highly skilled labor—stylists are artists. If I can create an environment where that creativity can serve people in this area, it’s a good thing.”

Salon 46 opens this month. They are currently hiring a great team who will be able to welcome clients with all types of hair, including stylists who specialize in blonding, natural hair texture, gray blending, and more. Salon 46 is located at 350 Hallman Hill E., Suite 71 in Homewood. For more information, visit salon46.com/birmingham.