Sara's Salon: From Hurricane Heartbreak to Harlan Haven

How one stylist's journey through Florida's storms led to a thriving local salon built on expertise, flexibility, and community connection

Sometimes life's most challenging moments become the unexpected doorways to our greatest opportunities. For Sara Probst, owner of Sara's Salon in Harlan, that pivotal moment came in the form of Hurricane Irma in 2017 – a devastating storm that would ultimately lead her home to Iowa and to creating the salon she'd always dreamed of.

"I'm going to try not to get emotional," Sara says, recalling that difficult chapter. As a single mother with two young boys in Florida, she lost everything when the hurricane swept through. "We lost everything and it was a struggle and it was just not easy whatsoever. But here is where all my family is and where I grew up."

The Journey Begins: From Nebraska to Naples

Sara's love affair with hair began early, sparked by Saturday mornings spent at her aunt's salon in Omaha. "When I was 15, my aunt Linda had a salon that she managed and ran out of Omaha. I've always kind of been interested in hair, and so when I was 15, I was the receptionist at the hair salon," she recalls. "Every Saturday was just kind of learning and watching of how the hair world goes."

After graduating from beauty school in 2003, Sara's career took her to Florida, where she spent 12 years building her expertise. She progressed from working at walk-in salons to management roles, eventually opening her own Sara's Salon in Naples in 2011. "I just wanted to go out on my own and have my own creativity and be able to have the flexibility because I wanted to start a family," she explains. "I wanted to be able to give my clients one-on-one undivided attention to where it's more private for them."

Finding Home in Harlan

When Hurricane Irma forced Sara to rebuild her life, the path back to Iowa wasn't entirely unexpected. Her mother Deb, who worked at Myrtue Medical Center for nearly 40 years, had been fielding requests from colleagues for years. "Every time she would come back from Florida, her hair was freshly done, and all of her co-workers and all the nurses were like, 'where do you get your hair done? We want to go see her,'" Sara laughs. "And she's like, 'that's my daughter. She lives in Florida. I'm sorry.'"

Those same colleagues became Sara's clients when they learned she was moving back. "All of Deb's co-workers were like, 'hey, she needs to open up a shop in Harlan. If she opens up in Harlan, she'll have all this business right away.' So I went with that and I ran with it. All of my clientele has been built on word of mouth."

After navigating the challenges of relocating during COVID-19, Sara officially opened Sara's Salon in Harlan in June 2020. She's now settled into her favorite location at 1121 7th Street, where she signed a three-year lease in January 2025.

A Salon Built on Specialization and Care

What sets Sara's Salon apart isn't just the cozy, private atmosphere – it's Sara's commitment to healthy hair and specialized services that are rare in small-town Iowa. "I use a non-ammonia color line, which is no scalp irritation, no smell. It is very, very rare and very, hard to find, especially in a small town," she explains. "I use Olaplex, which is a bonder that helps protect your hair, which I don't know of any other Salon around town that uses that."

Sara's expertise spans an impressive range. "I provide services from anywhere from a 10 month-old baby to 102-year-old grandpa," she says. Her barbering training allows her to offer specialized men's cuts and fades, while her color expertise ranges from subtle highlights to dramatic transformations. "I have three boys, so we're always doing the fun new styles for kids. But I also love doing foils and color corrections. My motto is I'm all about healthy hair."

Her client base reflects this versatility – roughly 50% come for color services while the other 50% seek out her men's haircuts and fades. "Not every hairstylist can do a good fade," she notes. "I think it helps by having boys. I really like doing fades."

The Art of Personal Service

What Sara loves most about her work becomes clear when she describes her favorite type of appointment: "I love it when I have a client that comes in and they're like, 'just do whatever.' They give me free reign. I love that because then my creativity can come out." She approaches each client like a chemist, customizing color formulations based on skin tone and personal style. "Hairstylists, we're like chemists. I customize all of my color formulations for my clients."

The personal touches extend throughout the salon experience. "I always make it super fun for my clients. Currently now I have clients that love the Beatles. So when they come in, I turn the Beatles on for them. I try and customize to make the client more comfortable and feel more at home." The salon is stocked with beverages and even toys for families with children.

Balancing Business and Family

Perhaps what's most impressive about Sara's approach is how she's built a successful business while maintaining her priorities. "I love the flexibility. I have three kids, and we are busy, busy, go, go, go, sports all the time. I love being able to be my own business owner to where I can be successful, but then also still have time at home with my kids."

This balance comes with challenges. "It's very hard for me to say no to a client," she admits. "I used to bend over backwards and I work six days a week to accommodate everybody's waking needs. But when you have kids, you kind of have to pivot a little bit."

Now Sara maintains regular hours at her Harlan location – typically Tuesdays 9 to 8, Wednesdays 9 to 4:30, and Fridays 9 to 2, with Thursdays usually spent at her Logan location. "A happy client is a returning client. So that's what's important to me," she says.

A Community Connection

Operating in a small town like Harlan has shaped Sara's business in meaningful ways. "Being in a smaller area, everything is word of mouth," she observes. "When you're in a smaller community, when you just get your hair done, you go to the grocery store, and someone's like, 'oh, my gosh, your hair looks great. Who does it?' You can just be like, 'oh, you know, Sara, she's right here just up on the square.'"

The personal connections run deep. "I have family in town. So it's nice when you have clients that come in and you're like, 'oh my God, you know my aunt, you know my uncle.' Just small town stuff like that is nice. Something that you don't get in a big city."

What sets Sara's Salon apart isn't just the cozy, private atmosphere, it's Sara's commitment to healthy hair and specialized services that are rare in small-town Iowa. "I use a non-ammonia color line, which is no scalp irritation, no smell. It is very, very rare and very, very hard to find, especially in a small town," she explains. "I use Olaplex, which is a bonder that helps protect your hair, which I don't know of any other place around that uses that."

Sara's expertise spans an impressive range. "I provide services from anywhere from a three-month-old baby to 102-year-old grandpa," she says. Her barbering training allows her to offer specialized men's cuts and fades, while her color expertise ranges from subtle highlights to dramatic transformations. "I have three boys, so we're always doing the fun new styles for kids. But I also love doing foils and color corrections. My motto is I'm all about healthy hair."

Her client base reflects this versatility, roughly 50% come for color services while the other 50% seek out her men's haircuts and fades. "Not every hairstylist can do a good fade," she notes. "I think it helps by having boys. I have three boys, so I really, really like doing fades."

The Art of Personal Service

What Sara loves most about her work becomes clear when she describes her favorite type of appointment: "I love it when I have a client that comes in and they're like, 'just do whatever.' They give me free reign. I love that because then my creativity can come out." She approaches each client like a chemist, customizing color formulations based on skin tone and personal style. "Hairstylists, we're like chemists. I customize all of my color formulations and all my color formulas for my clients."

The personal touches extend throughout the salon experience. "I always made it super fun for my clients. Currently now I have clients that love the Beatles. So when they come in, I turn the Beatles on for them. I try and customize to make the client more comfortable and feel more at home." The salon is stocked with beverages and even toys for families with children.

Balancing Business and Family

Perhaps what's most impressive about Sara's approach is how she's built a successful business while maintaining her priorities. "I love the flexibility. I have three kids, and we are busy, busy, busy, go, go, go, sports all the time. I love being able to be my own business owner to where I can be successful, but then also still have time at home with my kids."

This balance comes with challenges. "It's very hard for me to say no to a client," she admits. "I used to bend over backwards and I used to work six days a week just to bend over backwards to everybody's waking needs. But when you have kids, you kind of have to pivot a little bit."

Now Sara maintains regular hours at her Harlan location, typically Tuesdays 9 to 8, Wednesdays 9 to 4:30, and Fridays 9 to 2, with Thursdays usually spent at her Logan location. "A happy client is a returning client. So that's what's important to me," she says.

A Community Connection

Operating in a small town like Harlan has shaped Sara's business in meaningful ways. "Being in a smaller area, everything is word of mouth," she observes. "When you're in a smaller community, when you just get your hair done, you go to the grocery store, and someone's like, 'oh, my gosh, your hair looks great. Who does it?' You can just be like, 'oh, you know, Sara, she's right here just up on the square.'"

The personal connections run deep. "I have family in town. So it's nice when you have clients that come in and you're like, 'oh my God, you know my aunt, you know my uncle.' Just small town stuff like that is nice. Something that you don't get in a big city."

Looking Ahead

As Sara settles into her beautiful storefront location, complete with the bay windows and natural light she'd always wanted, she's focused on what she does best: providing exceptional hair services with a personal touch. "I absolutely love it. My landlords are great. I've got my own big storefront. That's what I wanted the whole time was to have my own storefront."

For potential clients, Sara emphasizes that she's always welcoming new faces. "I'm always taking new clients," she says. Her advice? Plan ahead, appointments typically need to be scheduled about a week in advance, sometimes longer during busy seasons.

Sara's story is ultimately one of turning life's unexpected challenges into purposeful opportunity. What began as a devastating loss in Florida has blossomed into exactly the kind of salon she'd always envisioned, one where technical expertise meets genuine personal care, where healthy hair practices take precedence over quick fixes, and where every client feels like they're visiting a friend. For Sara, success isn't measured just in beautiful hair transformations, but in the relationships built one appointment at a time. Her clients understand and respect that family comes first, which makes them even more special when she stretches her schedule, coming in early or staying late, to accommodate what works best for them. It's this mutual respect and flexibility that creates the perfect balance, making Sara's Salon more than just another hair salon, it's a place where community, craft, and genuine care come together seamlessly.

Visit Sara's Salon at 1121 7th Street in Harlan, or call/text Sara at 402-680-1587 to schedule your appointment. Connect with Sara's Salon on Facebook for updates and inspiration. For professional hair products, visit her online shop with free shipping to your home. Sara also maintains a second location in Logan for added convenience – just call to discuss which location works best for your schedule.