Bethany Neece

By Steve Gamel

The year was 2005, and Bethany Neece was a junior in college. She was and well on her way to getting a business degree but something didn’t feel right. It took surprising advice from her parents to realize what her career path needed to be.

“I wasn’t happy, and I was terrified at the thought of talking to my dad,” recalled Neece, whose parents were big on the importance of college. “I remember my dad saying, ‘Well, you’ve always been good with hair.’ I said, ‘Yes, but that’s just with friends for fun.’ They suggested that I go to beauty school, and if I didn’t like it, go back to college. So I did, and I loved it. I’ve never looked back. I have clients today who went to high school with me, and they’ll say, ‘I always knew this was what you’d end up doing.’ I laugh and say, ‘I wish you would have told me back then!’”

The time spent at Dallas Baptist University and eventually Texas A&M wasn’t a waste of time, though. On the contrary, it taught Neece how to be a savvy business owner. And today, she owns one of Dallas-Fort Worth’s more talked about and well-respected salons — Lavish Hair Lounge at City Salons in Rockwall.

Finding the right salon and team of stylists can be quite a chore when you’re surrounded by options that don’t quite measure up. Time and time again, Lavish Hair Lounge has bucked that trend since Neece went out on her own six years ago. Not only are Neece — now a 15-year veteran — and stylists Regan McClain, Alexis Crofton, Alexis Nay, and Alle Lindsey IBE-trained and certified in color, cuts, extensions, Brazilian blowouts, and more, but they pride themselves on delivering a one-of-a-kind client experience. You and your family can walk into Lavish Hair Lounge, work with a stylist who listens and gives you the exact look you hoped for, and leave 100% satisfied and willing to tell all your friends.

“It’s all about the client,” Neece said. “We have clients come to us looking to switch and we try our best to meet their needs. We pride ourselves on being attentive, on time, and a professional salon where all their needs are met. I have clients who have been with me forever, and it’s almost like we’re part of their family.”

When Neece isn’t working with a client or helping her stylists succeed, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Chris, and bonus kids, Stella, age 10, and seven-year-old Jaxon. The happy couple has been together since 2016.

Not bad for a salon owner who started small but continues to reach new heights — one scissor snip at a time.