WHITE – Cierra Murphy learned life is unpredictable, so she followed her dream and opened Salon 629 in White.

Salon 629 had an open house Saturday and opened for regular business on Tuesday. It is located in Suite 105 in The Farmstead in White.

The name is unique to White.

“(The number) 629 is the first three digits in White’s phone number,” Murphy said.

Salon 629 will fulfill a variety of beauty needs.

“I can do anything hair, skin or nails,” Murphy said.

Learning along the way

Murphy grew up in Badger and was two years into earning her sociology degree at South Dakota State University when a significant event made an indelible impression.

“While I was going to SDSU, my best friend – she was my roommate at the time – passed away, and when she passed away, I just decided I needed to do what I love because that kind of just put things in perspective,” Murphy said.

“I love doing hair … I’ve always loved fashion … I like making people feel good,” she said.

While still attending SDSU, she enrolled at Stewart School in Sioux Falls for cosmetology.

“Then did ‘em both for that third year,” Murphy said.

She earned that degree in sociology with a human resources emphasis from SDSU, and a cosmetology degree from Stewart. She also has a microdermabrasion license.

She got a job at The Carousel in Brookings, working for the late Jan Anderson for 11 years; eight years doing hair and three years as a receptionist.

“I learned a lot from her,” Murphy said.

But after a while, she felt the need to open her own salon.

A family affair

Salon 629 was a family affair even before it opened.

“My biggest reason (for opening her own salon) was to be close to my girls and to be more accessible to my family, but also to help the community grow, both professionally and economically,” said Murphy, who has two daughters, Crue and Curri.

Her husband Forrest Murphy has put a lot of labor into the small salon. 

“I would credit most of this to him. I could not do it without him,” Murphy said of her husband, who didn’t lay the floor, “but he did everything else, I think.” 

Murphy said her sisters-in-law, Falon Murphy and Brooke Murphy, and sister, Chellsy Chapin, “have really helped to make this feel like a homey … warm feeling for people in this area to come and feel relaxed.”

She got a little more help, too.

“Grandma (Marlys) helped as well,” Murphy said.

What she offers

Murphy has an idea of what people need to feel good.

She offers “everything basically you can do with your hair,” she said, including highlighting, color, waxing, and cuts for men, women and children.

She can do the whole special occasion package for prom and weddings with hair, make-up application, and manicures and gel nails. 

And if you want to do some styling at home, she’s got you covered there, too.

“I do offer products for that: hair products and skin products,” Murphy said, as well as nail polish.

She’s looking forward to the future of her shop.

“I just think that it’s going to be something that everybody can come to and feel welcome and feel pampered,” Murphy said.

Contact Jodelle Greiner at jgreiner@brookingsregister.com.