Mitchum pursues passion as owner of Afterglow Salon & Spa
Published 8:18 am Sunday, October 26, 2025
Editor’s note: October is National Women’s Small Business Month. During this time to honor and support female entrepreneurs and their contributions to our local economy, The State Journal is spotlighting four area women who are small business owners.
The opening of a salon in the spring of 2007 was the culmination of a lifelong dream for Sara Mitchum.
She called it Afterglow, the name of the paint color used in that first location in the Sower Building across from the courthouse, while the paint color is different now, the name never changed after almost two decades and two moves before settling at the current location.
Afterglow Salon & Spa occupies the entire lower level of the two-story brick building at 60 Devil’s Hollow Road. Seven hairdressers, three nail technicians, and a massage therapist ply their trades from 9 a.m. until 5 or 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday each week.
At 45, Mitchum exudes the joy — and confidence — of doing something that is more a calling than a job.
“I guess you’d say this is my passion,” she said. “From the time I was a little girl, I always did my dolls’ hair. I knew in high school that I was going to be a stylist. I love the interaction with people, so it’s perfect for me.”
She graduated from Frankfort High School in 1998 and started pursuing her dream.
“I studied at Barrett and Company in Nicholasville,” she recalls of her journey. “I went to school from 9 until 4:30 Tuesday through Saturday and had two part-time jobs on the side. It takes from eleven to fifteen months to complete the course of study.”
She said in cosmetology school students begin by studying technical things, moving on to fixing hair on manikins, and finally to people.
“They came in and received a discounted rate while we learned under supervision,” she said.
While Mitchum is the owner and boss, those who work in her salon are somewhat like independent contractors with their own space.
“I am the boss,” she says, laughing, “but the boss who doesn’t like to be the boss! We have a good group working here, something of a family environment. Also, we have a good clientele.”
Mitchum says she would have more chairs on the salon side and hence more customers, but she likes the space and a certain element of privacy for clients.
Like barbers, cosmetologists are called upon from time to time to be good listeners as those in their chairs share troubles and challenges. “I don’t want everyone on top of each other.”
“I could have twice as many chairs on this side,” she says, pointing to one side of the facility. “But I like the spacing better.” That also leaves room for her gift offerings.
“That’s something of a crap shoot. I get things I like, and they don’t sell as well as things I don’t care as much for. It’s there if someone needs a quick gift.”
She serves as the hairdresser for Harrod Brothers Funeral Home.
“Most people have their own hairdressers, and they are called in,” she explained. “When they don’t, Will (Harrod) calls me and I go. I feel like it’s the final gift you can give someone.”
She recently married Joe Nelson and together they have four daughters, two each from previous marriages.
Mitchum says she can’t imagine doing anything else.
“I don’t know what I would do if I couldn’t do hair. It’s all I have ever done — or wanted to do.”
The phone number at Afterglow is 502-223-8000.
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