August 20, 2026 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

A cut above: St. Joseph resident and hair stylist Milt offering free haircuts for students

Nicole Milt wants to help kids feel good about themselves.

So Milt has volunteered to do free haircuts for students in St. Joseph. She was inspired to offer the free service by a Facebook post.

“I thought to myself I would love to get involved in something like that,” she said.

A friend asked Milt if she could tag her in the post and Milt took that as a sign that she should be doing it.

“God is good,” she said. “So I decided to make a post and see how many I could help.”

Milt said those interested in a free haircut for their child should message her on Facebook. She will perform the haircuts in St. Joseph so families won’t have to travel far.

“I’m trying to juggle times and fit everyone in,” she said. “I want it to be people truly in need.”

Milt said she loves helping people.

“This service doesn’t cost me anything but my time and makes me feel so good to know that I have helped a kids’ self-esteem,” she said. “I am very big on allowing them to be able to pick their cut, but also be respectful and compromise if their parents don’t agree 100 percent. I know that some kids have to do without or get a short buzz cut because they don’t have the means to get a real cut by a professional. Their self-esteem can be so strongly affected by that and sets them up for a tough first day.”

Milt said she loved school as a child and had perfect attendance.

“You get to see your friends all the time, play sports and just be a kid,” she said.

Milt said she was motivated to participate in the free haircuts because she loves the community.

Milt said she and her husband Zach moved to St. Joseph because they wanted a community that they could let their son go play for hours without worry, but also be surrounded by kids with values and accountability.

“I grew up in a small town and you can not find better values,” she said. “The kids in our community are all wonderful.”

Milt has been a hair stylist for 11 years. She worked in a salon for three years before managing a salon for eight years. Recently, she became a small business owner and works out of a private studio in Champaign inside Sola Salons.

“I love it because I can focus completely on the guest in my chair and take the time to make them feel special and relaxed,” she said. “It’s my oasis.”

Milt said she never tires of her job and creating a special look for her clients.

“I love making people feel good,” she said. “I’m also very knowledgeable about what I do, so I love teaching and letting people know how to make their hair even better.”

in People
Banner
Related Posts

10 tips to get your home ready to sell

August 5, 2019

August 5, 2019

Clear out your personal belongings and declutter. It’s a good idea to eliminate clutter and depersonalize the home. You’ll want...

5 Question Friday with Drama Director Chandler Dalton

October 28, 2022

October 28, 2022

The SJO drama department is producing “The Internet is Distract—Oh look a kitten!” Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at...

For Poulter, entertaining people is a calling

July 17, 2024

July 17, 2024

Jonny Poulter just wants to entertain people. The 2022 St. Joseph-Ogden High School graduate was inspired to play music after...

Get to know SJO Senior Marching Band member Mallory Wagner

October 21, 2022

October 21, 2022

The competitions, going and spending the evening with my band family and meeting and befriending other bands is just such...

5 things you don’t know about me… Deklan Quinn

August 7, 2019

August 7, 2019

Deklan is in the running for the title of Little Prince! He is six years old. We asked him to...

‘Her heart was golden’ — Short loses battle with cancer

June 10, 2019

June 10, 2019

Nine years ago, Sarah Logan Loomis raised her hand at a meeting of parents. The meeting was for her daughter,...

10 things you don’t know about me… Noreen Acton

August 13, 2019

August 13, 2019

Every week we ask an area resident to share 10 things about themselves that we may not know. This week...

Senior spotlight Eric Poe

February 7, 2020

February 7, 2020

Every week we ask a St. Joseph-Ogden senior five questions. This week we talked to Eric Poe. Thank you to...

Kids say…

August 26, 2019

August 26, 2019

Every week we ask students at local schools three questions related to farming. This week we spoke to students at...

10 things you don’t know about me … Matt Walsh

September 30, 2022

September 30, 2022

Matt Walsh with Engaging Entertainment is will be DJing at the Wagner Signs and Graphics Anniversary Celebration. We asked Matt...

Michael looking to the future with coaching job

August 23, 2019

August 23, 2019

Nate Michael spent his youth playing basketball in every form.  After graduating this spring from McKendree University, the 6-foot-3, 180-pound...

10 Things You Don’t Know About Me… Laura Mabry

February 27, 2019

February 27, 2019

Each week we ask an area resident to tell us 10 things about themselves. This week we asked Laura Mabry...

Homer resident digs his passion of paleontology

March 15, 2019

March 15, 2019

Earlier this year, Homer resident and Augustana College sophomore Quinn Powers gave a Youth TED talk. A TED talk is...

Athletic complex to be dedicated tonight

April 16, 2021

April 16, 2021

 The St. Joseph-Ogden School District will honor Glenn Fisher tonight.The district voted in June 2020 to name the athletic complex...

Passion for fitness inspires Hixson’s JustBfit class

September 17, 2019

September 17, 2019

Brenda Hixson likes to help people be fit. Hixson created a fitness program that meets at St. Joseph Grade School...

Comments
Leave a Reply