Salon Has a Heart for Giving

BA Highlights Salon will provide free haircuts and other cosmetology services to the young women of Project Manna Girls’ Home.

BA Highlights Salon recently began a partnership with Project Manna Girls’ Home, an initiative to establish the first girls' home in the Tulsa area. A development of Launch Ministries Inc., Project Manna Girls' Home is a foster and community home that focuses on transitional ­living. The goal is to assist DHS with preparing young ladies for adulthood, ­providing stability and an environment that will offer safety, encouragement, ­support and healing for girls ages 12 through 21. The home can house up to six young ladies. They currently have three living in the house, and anticipate two more and a newborn by Christmas. One of the young women is ­pregnant and expecting a baby girl any day now.    

    Elaine Collins, hairstylist at BA Highlights Salon, was watching the news recently and saw a segment about the Project Manna Girls’ Home. “I’ve seen firsthand how harsh life can be for kids who have aged out of the DHS ­system. This story really touched my heart and I knew I wanted to be a part of this project.” Elaine immediately had the inspiration to help by ­offering hair and nail services to the young women. She ­discussed it with BA Highlights owner Michelle Whitney, who loved the idea. The salon contacted Ashley Walker, and a partnership was formed.

    BA Highlights Salon will provide the young women with free haircuts, eyebrow waxing, shampoo and ­conditioner, and nail services for special occasions. “It’s exciting to see the confidence boost the girls had after their first real salon experience,” says Ashley, who developed the Manna project. “These are young women  who are or who were once in DHS ­custody and ­considered at risk, and they never really had opportunities like this before. It’s ­wonderful to see the change in them, especially in one young lady who had not cared very much about her appearance. She is now ­excited about her doing her hair every day, and has ­developed a great sense of confidence and poise because of the experience.”

    BA Highlights Salon will have an ongoing partnership with the Project Manna Girls’ Home, which is undergoing a capital campaign for expansion in January. If you would like to help these young ladies, BA Highlights Salon will be a drop-off location for items on their Christmas wish list. A few of the items the girls need include pre-cooked meals, gift cards to Wal-Mart and Target, diapers and other supplies for the baby on the way, hygiene products, ­clothing, shoes and jewelry, and headphones. For a ­complete list of items or other ways to help, contact Ashley Walker at (918) 688-7100 or eat0@eau0eav0eaw0.

    While you are dropping off items for the Christmas list, be sure to make an appointment with one of the talented cosmetologists at BA Highlights Salon to spruce up your look and dazzle this holiday season. The salon offers a full range of services including haircuts and styling, color and highlights, skin care, makeup, waxing, massage therapy, manicures and pedicures, acrylics and nail art.

    Owner Michelle would like to welcome three new stylists to the BA Highlights team: Belinda Fleming and sisters Christina Johnston and Kelley Mitchell. “We’re ­excited to have these talented ladies become a part of our family.” She also extends well wishes to one of their team members, Claire Parker, who has been out sick for about a month. “Claire, your BA Highlights family hopes you get well soon and misses you very much – especially your clients!”  

For more information, contact

BA Highlights Salon

1823 S. Aspen

Broken Arrow, OK 74012

(918) 258-4020