Melissa Marie
Meet Melissa Marie
Founder & Owner of Melissa Marie Salon & Spa
Melissa Marie’s journey in the beauty industry is not simply a professional path—it is a story of devotion, resilience, and profound transformation. One shaped by artistry, education, healing, and lived experience. What began as a passion for hair evolved into a calling to create a sanctuary where beauty, wellness, and restoration exist together.
The Beginning: Craft, Discipline, and Intention
Melissa’s professional career began during cosmetology school, where she earned an internship at an exclusive Paul Mitchell salon. Immersed in a high-end environment from the start, she learned the foundations of luxury service, salon systems, and the importance of consistency, education, and professionalism. This experience instilled in her a deep respect for the client experience and an understanding that excellence is created long before the first service begins.
After graduating, Melissa continued refining her craft at The Barber’s Family Hairstyling, a fast-paced salon that demanded both technical precision and efficiency. There, she developed confidence, adaptability, and the ability to deliver exceptional results under pressure. This season shaped her work ethic and reinforced her belief that skill and care must coexist—no matter the pace.
These early years laid the groundwork for what would become a career defined not by trends, but by integrity and intention.
A Lifelong Commitment to Mastery
With more than 16 years of experience in the industry, Melissa has remained deeply committed to education and growth. She has completed over a decade of advanced training through Schwarzkopf and Keratherapy, mastering hair color, chemical services, and hair health while maintaining a results-driven yet preservation-focused philosophy.
Her pursuit of excellence led her into the world of hair extensions, where she became a certified Hair Extensionist with over 10 years of hands-on experience. She is also a trained PerfecTress educator, sharing her knowledge of one of the industry’s top professional extension systems. Melissa’s extension work is rooted in ethics—prioritizing scalp health, seamless blending, and realistic, sustainable outcomes.
Education, for Melissa, has always been an act of respect: for the craft, the client, and the responsibility that comes with transformation.
Honoring Texture, Identity, and Individuality
Melissa’s passion for truly customized beauty deepened through her specialized education in curly hair under industry icon Presley Poe. This training transformed not only her technical approach, but her philosophy. Curly hair reinforced what Melissa had always believed—beauty is never one-size-fits-all.
Her curl services are known for thoughtful customization, honoring natural texture, lifestyle, and identity. She empowers clients with understanding and confidence, creating cuts and routines that feel freeing rather than frustrating.
The Birth of Melissa Marie Salon
Founded September 2014
In September 2014, Melissa founded Melissa Marie Salon with a clear vision: to bring elevated, personalized salon services to the Wausau area—without sacrificing warmth, education, or integrity.
From the beginning, the salon was built on core values:
Personalization over volume
Education over ego
Integrity over trends
Care over convenience
Melissa believed clients deserved more than a transaction—they deserved an experience rooted in trust and intention. To maintain excellence, she established quarterly advanced education, bringing platform artists from around the world to educate her team and keep the salon aligned with innovation and best practices.
A Life-Changing Chapter: Health, Healing, and Awakening
In 2022, Melissa’s life—and her mission—changed profoundly.
Following her own health crisis and recovery from Stage 3 breast cancer, Melissa emerged with a deeper understanding of what women truly need. The experience reshaped her relationship with her body, her energy, and the concept of self-care. She learned firsthand how deeply healing must extend beyond the surface.
This season of survival, vulnerability, and recovery became the catalyst for transformation.
The Evolution into Melissa Marie Salon & Spa
Expanded in 2022
In 2022, Melissa expanded her vision and officially created Melissa Marie Salon & Spa, transforming the space into a sanctuary designed specifically to support women—physically, emotionally, and energetically.
This was no longer just a salon.
It became a place of restoration.
The spa was born from lived experience—from the understanding that beauty, wellness, and healing are inseparable. Melissa intentionally curated services that soothe the nervous system, support long-term health, and offer women a safe place to exhale.
Skin, Wellness, and the Whole Woman
Melissa pursued advanced skincare education through Skin Script, offering results-driven facials that balance science with luxury. Her skincare philosophy centers on education, skin integrity, and long-term vitality—never aggressive, never rushed.
Her passion for healing led her to become a certified Reiki Master over eight years ago, blending energetic work into the spa experience. Reiki allows Melissa to support clients on a deeper level—helping release stored tension, stress, and emotional weight.
She is also a trained aromatherapy expert, intentionally incorporating essential oils to enhance emotional regulation, grounding, and relaxation. Each scent is chosen with purpose, supporting both physical and emotional well-being.
Headspa: The Heart of the Sanctuary
Melissa is widely known for her signature Headspa experiences. As a trained Headspa Guru, she specializes in scalp, neck, and shoulder massage techniques rooted in both Eastern and Western traditions.
These treatments nourish the scalp, support hair health, and calm the nervous system—often becoming a deeply emotional and restorative experience for clients.
For Melissa, the head and scalp are sacred. Caring for them is an act of healing, not indulgence.
Leadership, Legacy, and Vision
Melissa is also a proud ambassador for Maribella Beauty, attending annual conferences in Kansas City to stay current on makeup trends, education, and ethical marketing practices.
As a leader, Melissa is deeply committed to mentorship, education, and cultivating a culture where artists and clients alike feel supported and valued. She believes a successful business is built on heart, transparency, and care.
Her Mission
Melissa’s mission is simple, yet profound:
To create a sanctuary where women feel safe, seen, restored, and empowered—where beauty becomes a pathway back to confidence, self-trust, and healing.
After more than 16 years in the industry—and a life-altering health journey—Melissa leads with empathy, intention, and resilience. Melissa Marie Salon & Spa is not just her business. It is her legacy, her healing space, and her way of serving women—one experience at a time.
During the height of her career, Melissa received life-changing news in June of 2020 when she was diagnosed with Stage III Breast Cancer. In the face of treatment, uncertainty, and the challenges of leading a business during the COVID pandemic, Melissa chose resilience. She continued forward—not because it was easy, but because she believed deeply in purpose, hope, and the power of showing up.
Cancer transformed Melissa in ways that reshaped both her life and her mission. Through her own healing journey, she gained a profound understanding of the strength women carry—often quietly—while navigating illness, recovery, hormonal shifts, fatigue, and emotional change. She became deeply aware of how many women are striving to meet their beauty goals while also honoring bodies that have been through trauma, treatment, or long-term health challenges.
This experience awakened a new vision: beauty care that adapts, supports, and empowers. Melissa recognized that women deserve more than surface-level services—they deserve compassion, patience, education, and a space where their stories are honored. A space where beauty is not about perfection, but about reclaiming confidence, identity, and self-worth.
Cancer did not diminish Melissa—it expanded her purpose. It strengthened her commitment to creating a sanctuary where women feel seen, supported, and empowered at every stage of their journey. Today, her work is guided by empathy, resilience, and the belief that healing and beauty can coexist.
Melissa’s mission is to remind women of their strength—to help them reconnect with themselves, feel confident in their skin, and move forward feeling restored, empowered, and deeply supported. Because every woman deserves to feel beautiful, capable, and whole—especially after all she has overcome.
Piper
Meet Piper — a leading stylist at Melissa Marie Salon & Spa known for her expertise, precision, and client-centered care.
Piper began her professional journey at the salon in early 2025 and has quickly earned recognition as one of our top stylists, thanks to her advanced training, dedication to excellence, and ability to consistently deliver elevated results. Beginning in 2024, Piper trained directly under salon owner Melissa Marie, receiving in-depth, hands-on education from an industry veteran with over 16 years of experience. This mentorship accelerated her growth and shaped her into a highly skilled, well-rounded professional.
Piper specializes in expert hair color, professional hair extension services, and detailed nail care, offering a comprehensive approach to beauty. Her color work is intentional and customized, her extension services are seamless and health-focused, and her nail services reflect a refined attention to detail. Each service is designed not only to enhance appearance, but to support long-term hair and nail health.
Beyond technical skill, Piper is deeply committed to self-care and goal-driven beauty. She believes that every appointment should support both confidence and well-being. Through thorough consultations and thoughtful planning, she works closely with each client to understand their lifestyle, concerns, and desired outcomes—then creates a clear, achievable path to reach those goals.
Piper is also highly trained in head spa treatments and advanced skin care facials, blending results-driven techniques with a calming, restorative touch. Her services are designed to help clients slow down, reset, and leave feeling both refreshed and confident.
Known for her professionalism, ongoing education, and genuine care for her clients, Piper creates an experience that feels elevated, intentional, and supportive. Clients trust her expertise—and return for the way she makes them feel.
Whether you’re seeking transformation, maintenance, or a restorative self-care experience, Piper delivers expert results with heart.
Amanda
Meet Amanda.
Amanda is a thoughtful, highly attentive stylist who offers a personal, one-on-one beauty experience centered on care, confidence, and well-being. With years of experience across independent styling, salon leadership, and hands-on client service, she brings professionalism, consistency, and genuine connection to every appointment.
Having worked independently as a stylist as well as in leadership roles, Amanda values focused attention and meaningful consultations. Her approach is intentional and unrushed, allowing her to truly understand each client’s goals and create results that feel authentic and achievable.
Amanda’s own health journey has shaped her belief that beauty plays a powerful role in how women feel about themselves. She understands that confidence can be deeply connected to self-care, and she brings empathy and patience to every service—especially for women navigating stress, health challenges, or life transitions.
She specializes in creating healthy, manageable hair that supports a woman’s lifestyle while enhancing her natural beauty. Amanda works collaboratively with her clients, setting clear goals and offering honest guidance so each visit feels supportive, empowering, and results-driven.
Before entering the beauty industry, Amanda worked in early childhood education, strengthening her nurturing nature and calm presence. That same care carries into her work behind the chair, where clients feel heard, comfortable, and valued.
Educated at Mid-State Technical College and licensed in cosmetology, Amanda blends professional knowledge with heartfelt care. Her passion lies in helping women feel confident, refreshed, and truly themselves—inside and out.
Molly
Meet Molly.
Molly is a spa-focused beauty professional who believes self-care is essential—especially for women navigating the demands of motherhood and everyday life. As a young mother, she understands how easily personal care can fall to the bottom of the list, and she is passionate about creating a space where women feel supported, refreshed, and truly cared for.
Molly specializes in spa-inspired beauty services, offering calming treatments that help clients slow down, reset, and reconnect with themselves. Her approach is gentle, intentional, and rooted in listening—ensuring each service is customized to meet her clients’ needs, comfort level, and wellness goals.
With a background in caregiving and healthcare scheduling, Molly brings a naturally nurturing presence to every appointment. She is patient, attentive, and deeply considerate, making clients feel safe, relaxed, and understood. Her experience caring for others has shaped her belief that healing and beauty often begin with simple moments of calm and care.
Molly’s training in cosmetology, combined with her dedication to cleanliness, organization, and thoughtful service, allows her to create spa experiences that feel both professional and restorative. Whether you’re seeking a moment of peace, stress relief, or gentle beauty care, Molly’s services are designed to support balance and well-being.
Her mission is to remind women—especially busy moms—that taking time for themselves is not selfish, but necessary. Through spa-focused care and genuine compassion, Molly helps clients leave feeling lighter, refreshed, and more connected to themselves.
What you’ll experience in the salon
A unique salon to relax and feel like your radiant, beautiful self.
Amenities
A space to truly relax and let me take care of your beauty requests. On certain services I include extra conditioning treatments, hand paraffins and we have a fully stocked beverage bar.
Beauty & Products
In the salon you can find hair and makeup beauty lines so you can see in person what will match your overall esthetic best. You can also shop all products online at any time.
