Phoenix's Hair Again Salon, at 21st and Glendale Avenues, which recently faced devastating arson, is turning tragedy into hope by launching a mentorship program despite its obstacles, including a fire that destroyed it in late November 2023. Owner Kara McAllister told ABC15, "You can come back from pretty much anything if you put your mind to it," reinforcing her resiliency and desire to give back to the cosmetology community. The salon, which McAllister took over a decade ago, was moved a few doors down and resumed operations just eight days post-fire.
The fire's aftermath left McAllister's business with much of its equipment and sentimental items, including photographs that chart the salon's long history, lost to the flames but with the peak holiday season for salons beckoning, McAllister acted swiftly to continue serving clients, many of whom reacted in disbelief at the quick turnaround according to a statement obtained by ABC15.
The arson is currently under investigation with no arrests made thus far. McAllister recounted to 12News, "Just utter shock," and detailed how surveillance footage captured two individuals setting the destructive blaze with a tire and debris. This deliberate act of vandalism marks one of several incidents targeting the strip mall and its businesses in recent times.
Nevertheless, McAllister remains steadfast and is channeling her energies toward recovery and reinvestment in her craft, reflected in her mentorship initiative and the upcoming open house event on February 15. An invitation extended to aspiring cosmetologists interested in learning the trade and benefitting from McAllister's hard-won knowledge according to information provided by ABC15. This approach, mirroring McAllister's positive outlook, exemplifies her determination in the face of adversity, insisting, "When I look around, I see the devastation, but I also see a lot of potential and we can come back better, stronger, and prettier," as she told 12News.
