Salon B. You: Where Hair Meets Heart in Harlan

Local stylist Becca Boruff transforms her journey of recovery into a mission of helping others feel their best

Four years ago, Becca Boruff found herself at a crossroads. After 18 years of cutting hair in Omaha, life had taken her through some challenging chapters. But sometimes the most difficult journeys lead to the most meaningful destinations. Today, Boruff runs Salon B. You on Chatburn Avenue in Harlan, where she's built more than just a successful business – she's created a space where authentic connections happen one haircut at a time.

"I am sober also four years," Boruff shares, reflecting on how her personal transformation shaped her business philosophy. "So that all came together. And so now the basis of my hair salon is to do what makes you feel good."

From Omaha to Oakland to Home

Boruff's path to Harlan began in Oakland, Iowa, where she grew up. After nearly two decades building her career in Omaha, personal struggles brought her back to the area where her grandparents had lived in Tennet her whole life. "Being in Harlan is very nostalgic to me," she explains. "I work doing hair in the building that I used to go to as a kid to get movies. It was the video store, you know, like that. So it's been a full circle of good."

The location itself feels like destiny. When Boruff first moved to Harlan, she had stepped away from hair styling and was working at Hy-Vee. But every day, she drove past the Salon Suites building on Chatburn Avenue, wondering if she could ever make it work. "I was like, how cool would that be if I could do that? However, how could I? I don't know anybody here. You have to pay rent, you know, to have that building and start your business."

When she finally called to inquire, she discovered that a suite would be available in just one month. "I literally, in my process of becoming sober, I regained my faith. And I said, I'm going to do this in faith. And I have done amazing."

Building a Business on Saturdays and Service

Starting over in a new town meant building clientele from scratch, but Boruff had a strategic advantage. "The thing that really helped me, which my favorite day in the salon is a full busy Saturday. And there wasn't a lot of places here in town that were open on Saturdays."

Her willingness to work evenings and weekends quickly set her apart. For nearly three years, she balanced her salon work with her Hy-Vee job, gradually building her client base until she could focus on hair styling full-time. The strategy worked – her Saturdays were booked solid from the beginning, and word spread quickly about the stylist who was available when others weren't.

When the local barbershop closed, Boruff discovered another opportunity. "All these men started finding me and realizing that I can cut men's hair too. And so I have a huge following of that. I mean, it's just been wonderful."

Comprehensive Hair Services with a Personal Touch

With 23 years of experience, Boruff offers a complete range of hair services. "I am comfortable and pretty confident in all hair services. So I don't exclude anything." Her offerings include:

• All hair color services, with a specialization in blonding
• Hair cutting for men, women, and children
• Texture services including perms and smoothing treatments
• Facial waxing and eyebrow services
• Special occasion styling, including updos and wedding hair

But what truly sets her apart is her approach to client consultation. "95% of the time, after talking with customers about what they actually want, they get something completely different," she explains, referencing her commitment to education over quick sales. "I don't care what your friend has. I know what looks good. But if it doesn't look good on you, then that's not what we do."

Her willingness to tackle new challenges keeps things interesting. Recently, a client asked about installing synthetic dreads – something Boruff had never done before. "I said, I've never done it, but I would sure find out how. I would love to try. That's how I am as a stylist. I want to learn."

The Science Behind the Style

One misconception Boruff frequently encounters is that hair styling is simple work. "People are very shocked to hear that when I was in school, I had to learn all about nail disorders, diseases, skin disorders and diseases, all of that." Her training included sanitation protocols, state board examinations, and comprehensive health education.

"You go to the store and you buy a box of color off the shelf because you want your hair to be blonde. You have black hair. This box says it makes your hair blonde. So you go home, you put it on your head and you have flaming orange hair and you don't know why," she explains. "That's because I would never do that as a trained professional hairstylist. I would never do that. And that's where the science comes in."

The color theory alone requires extensive knowledge. "Even then, they'll grab my color book and they'll pick out a swatch. And I just like to explain to them, okay, so this is where my job comes in. You picked that swatch, but I am not even going to use that color on your hair at all... because your hair, this is on a white swatch."

More Than Hair: A Place for Connection

Perhaps the most meaningful aspect of Boruff's work isn't technical at all. "The main thing that happens is we get to know each other on a deep level. And we can talk to each other. They can trust me. My salon literally has a sign in it that says what happens in the salon stays in the salon."

This commitment to confidentiality and connection has created unexpected opportunities for impact. "Surprisingly, people are sitting in my chair and they'll be like, well, I had a problem in my life, and we'll start talking about all of it. And I'm like, I love it. I'm helping people, and that is my mission."

Boruff has even noticed potential health issues during appointments, encouraging clients to seek medical attention for concerning spots or skin changes. "I have actually in my chair, I don't like to say diagnose because I didn't diagnose them. I just gave them an idea of something that I saw."

Rural Business Advantages

Moving from Omaha to Harlan taught Boruff valuable lessons about small-town business. "Everybody here in town that hasn't done what I've done says, you know, you could charge those prices because it was Omaha... And those are all false. They are completely false."

The reality proved quite different. "The people here appreciate you. Then they don't have to drive somewhere to go get it done. People know you. Facebook did not work in Omaha for me because it was too large of an area and no one knew you. Word of mouth works here... it's been such an eye-opening experience because this is a better area to build a business."

While her client base includes many Harlan residents, she draws customers from throughout the region. "Probably the majority of my clientele comes from the other small towns around Harlan," including Elkhorn, Kimballton, and other nearby communities.

Seasonal Rhythms and Client Relationships

Like many service businesses, Salon B. You experiences seasonal fluctuations. The busiest times are back-to-school season and the holidays, when Boruff sometimes works 10-12 hour days to accommodate demand. The quieter periods come in January and February, and right after the school rush ends.

"The hardest part is building a consistent, solid clientele to get people to actually pre-book, to reschedule and stay in your books. Always. It's the hardest part to get a schedule where you can look at it three months from now and it's booked."

To encourage loyalty and growth, Boruff offers a generous referral program where both new clients and referring customers receive $20 credits. The rewards add up quickly – refer just four or five friends and you'll have earned $100 in salon credit.

Accessibility and Convenience

Understanding the realities of her clients' lives, Boruff has made her business as accessible as possible. She offers online booking through the Vagaro app for parents and working professionals who can only schedule appointments after hours. "I have to do this in faith. And I have done amazing. I love it. I have been busy. It has been wonderful."

For phone contact, Boruff emphasizes the importance of leaving messages or sending texts. As a solo practitioner focused on her clients, she may not always be able to answer calls immediately, but she's committed to returning messages promptly when she's available.

Looking Forward

As Salon B. You approaches its fourth anniversary, Boruff continues to evolve her services and explore new opportunities. She's transitioning to a digital storefront system for hair care products, allowing clients to purchase professional-grade items with the convenience of home delivery while earning her a commission.

Always eager to learn and grow, Boruff poses a question to the community: "I would like to know, honestly, what others want from me. Like, what can I do more that you would just love to see happening in my salon?"

The answer reflects her core philosophy: "That's what I want, is you to be happy, you know? So tell me what you would love to see in my salon, because I'll try to make that happen."

In a world where genuine connection can feel increasingly rare, Salon B. You offers something precious – a place where professional expertise meets authentic care. For Boruff, success isn't just measured in perfectly executed color corrections or flawless updos, though she delivers both. It's found in the moments when clients leave feeling not just beautiful, but truly seen and understood.

"Those two hours in their chair, I hope, made their day, week, month better," Boruff reflects. In Harlan, where community bonds run deep and word-of-mouth recommendations carry weight, she's building more than a business – she's creating a space where transformation happens from the inside out, one conversation and one haircut at a time.

Visit Salon B. You at 1120 Chatburn Ave in Harlan, or call/text 712-292-2277 to schedule an appointment. For convenient online booking, download the Vagaro app and search for Salon B. You. Connect on Facebook to see the latest styles and updates. New clients receive $20 off their first visit when referred by an existing customer – and the person who refers you gets $20 too.