January 21, 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

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...

Spartan Spotlight… Lindsey Aden

April 8, 2020

April 8, 2020

St. Joseph-Ogden senior Lindsey Aden has big plans for her future. Aden, who lives outside of Royal, will be attending...

10 things you don’t know about me… Angela O’Brien Page

August 26, 2019

August 26, 2019

Every week we ask an area resident to share 10 facts about themselves. This week we asked Angela O’Brien Page....

10 things you don’t know about me… Amy Gibbons

December 18, 2019

December 18, 2019

How did you come up with the name for your salon? 192 is actually the St. Joseph exit number. I...

Talk of the Town with Susan McKinney

July 2, 2019

July 2, 2019

Every week we ask a village official three questions. This week we talked to St. Joseph Township Librarian Susan McKinney...

‘No one believed in our kids and our teams more than he did’

April 24, 2024

April 24, 2024

Dan Wright loved life.  He loved his family. He loved his community.  Wright passed away on March 19 in Florida. ...

Senior Spotlight… Anna Wentzloff

January 27, 2020

January 27, 2020

What are your plans after graduation?My plan after graduation is to attend college to become a Child Life Specialist concentrating...

Success of students, FFA is what Duitsman will remember about her time at SJO

July 30, 2019

July 30, 2019

This August will be a little different for Katie Duitsman. The former St. Joseph-Ogden High School agriculture teacher will not...

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...

10 things you don’t know about me… Gary Page

June 4, 2020

June 4, 2020

1. What is your favorite childhood memory? At the risk  of being boo’d out of town – I will never...

How I get it done …. with Jennifer Huls Wayland

October 14, 2022

October 14, 2022

We asked local business owners to describe their leadership style and how they make decisions. This week we talked to...

Hometown appeal: The Wheelhouse earns Business of the Year honors

April 16, 2019

April 16, 2019

When the Wheelhouse opened in 2017, it was unlike anything in St. Joseph. And still is. The farm-to-table restaurant owned...

Bringing Boston to St. Joseph: Jones to complete virtual marathon Monday throughout villages

September 5, 2020

September 5, 2020

Alison Jones has competed in the Boston Marathon before. On Monday, she will participate in the storied event — just...

Kids say…Would you like to be a farmer? Why or why not?

October 22, 2019

October 22, 2019

Every week we ask area students questions about being a farmer. This week we spoke to kids at PVO South....

Van Buskirk reflects on successful expo

May 1, 2019

May 1, 2019

Dawn Van Buskirk loves the Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon. Van Buskirk has been involved with the marathon since it started...

Comments
Leave a Reply