Day’s Bowl-A-Dome rolls into a new era
EmPATH unit to bridge behavioral healthcare gap in region
February 2, 2026
STEVENS POINT – After two decades of planning, persistence and passion, stylist Jaime Provo said she has realized a long-time dream of opening her own hair salon.
Located at 1342 2nd St. in downtown Stevens Point, Provo said Lily’s Hair Parlor is breathing new life into one of the city’s most recognizable storefronts.
Home to Jim’s Barber Shop for decades, she said she reopened the space last fall following an extensive renovation.
Provo said the opening represents both a professional milestone and a continuation of downtown Stevens Point’s long tradition of small, locally owned businesses.
From longtime stylist to owner
Bringing two decades of industry experience to Lily’s Hair Parlor, Provo said she offers a full spectrum of hair services, including haircuts and color – most notably, bold and vivid hair color, an area that has become her signature among a diverse client base.
“I’ve been doing hair for 20 years, and I am known for my vivid colors – the real brights,” she said. “Coloring is definitely my thing, and I also do haircuts. I have a nice mix of clientele.”
Provo said her passion for hair began early.
“When I was in middle school, I knew I wanted to do hair [for a career],” she said. “I did hair for all my friends for dances.”
Originally from Horicon, Provo said she moved to Central Wisconsin when she was 18 and has spent her entire career in Stevens Point.
Provo said she began her career at the JCPenney Hair Salon in the former CenterPoint Mall/CenterPoint Marketplace, later working at the mall’s Regis Salon before spending several years as a stylist at Radiant Salon.
With her work, she said she always gravitated toward downtown Stevens Point.
“I have always been downtown,” she said. “Downtown Stevens Point is gorgeous, being right by the river and with its historic buildings. I think once you work downtown, you will always want to. All the business owners know each other and have a nice little community.”
Provo said her connection with the community runs deep, beginning with her dad’s establishment, Mother’s Approval Tattooing.
“He’s been downtown for more than 25 years now, and that’s where my love for owning my own business and the community really started,” she said.
Honoring history, while creating something new
The location of Lily’s Hair Parlor, Provo said, was a major factor in her decision to open her own shop.
Jim’s Barber Shop – which was founded by Jim Grabowski, who began cutting hair in 1956, purchased the shop in 1961 and operated the barbershop for 58 years before retiring at the end of 2012 – she said, was a Stevens Point institution.
Provo said the shop later passed briefly to Jim Call, but much of the interior remained unchanged as it sat dormant for years.
Though she was aware of the building’s availability, Provo said she also recognized that launching her own venture required the right moment.
“I knew it had to be something I could afford and felt right, and this shop has a lot of history to it,” she said.
During the leasing process, Provo said she connected with members of Jim’s family and discovered the shop’s place in Stevens Point history, even being featured in a Stevens Point Brewery commercial.
With the renovations, she said her goal was to respect the shop’s legacy while making it her own.
“It was very iconic, with some [Green Bay] Packers signing the wall, which I had to cut out before redoing it,” she said.
Transforming the space from a traditional barbershop into a modern salon, Provo said, required significant work and patience.
Because the building is historic, she said renovations came with a learning curve and some limitations.
“There were a lot of interesting things we learned, such as not being able to move a wall,” she said.
Some of the major updates to the salon, Provo said, included installing washer and dryer hookups and a shampoo bowl and introducing more color to the walls.
A space that reflects creativity
Provo said the salon currently features two styling stations, with plans to add a nail area.
She said she is actively seeking another stylist to rent a chair and is open to collaborating with a nail professional.
The salon’s name, Provo said, is personal, both a nod to her dog and her side business.
“Lily is my 14-year-old Yorkie Poo, and I also have a little crafty business named Lily’s,” she said. “I thought it was fitting to carry the name over [to the salon].”
Provo said the salon’s interior design reflects her aesthetic: bright, welcoming and filled with earth tones.
“I like color and didn’t want it to be too dark,” she said. “I wanted it to feel like [clients] are walking into my living room.”
Provo said the color scheme includes a green wall, a white wall and plenty of earthtones incorporated in between.
In keeping with the downtown’s independent spirit, Provo said alongside professional hair care, she carries a mix of local and small-batch products, including Wella haircare, Bonafide soap bars, her own beeswax candles and lotion and even select items from customers during the holiday season.
“I like the local aspect,” she said.
Built on relationships, word of mouth
Though Lily’s Hair Parlor is new, Provo said her client relationships span decades, and clientele and word of mouth are built-in advertising for the salon.
“Because I have been doing hair for so long, I’m not worried about advertising,” she said. “For most stylists, word of mouth is the best advertisement. [When customers are asked], ‘Who did your hair?’ – and they say me, that’s how I have gotten most of my customers over the years.”
Provo said her clientele runs the gamut from longtime regulars to trend-driven newcomers, many drawn to her expertise in vivid and edgy styles.
“I have a lot of customers who like their hair to be blue, yellow – colors like that and edgier haircuts and styles,” she said.
At the same time, Provo said she emphasizes versatility.
“I do everything [hair],” she said.
Staying current with trends, Provo said, is easier than ever, and more timely than during the days of printed style books that sat on salons’ coffee tables.
“Now, it’s easy, and I watch [hair] videos all the time,” she said. “That’s how I keep up on trends. And my younger, trendier customers come in with cool ideas, too.”
Provo said for her, hair styling is as much about people as it is about technique.
“Many of my clients I’ve had for years, and they’re family,” she said. “We care about each other, and you have to be someone who cares about people to do this job. You learn about their lives – births, deaths, happy moments, terrible moments. I’m there for it all. That’s a special part of my job.”
Provo said the response to the shop’s reopening has been overwhelmingly positive.
“What’s really been great is the immense support everyone has had for me and how proud and happy they are for me,” she said. “[People keep telling me] it’s so nice to see lights on in there again or life in [the shop] again.”
Looking ahead, Provo said she sees Lily’s Hair Parlor as her long-term home.
“I want to finish my career out here,” she said.
For more on Lily’s Hair Parlor, find the salon on Facebook.
