The Lovable Salon @ Mount Vernon Towers

06 Dec The Lovable Salon @ Mount Vernon Towers

Denise Murray and Cathy Hansen, The Loveable Salon at Mount Vernon Towers

“When you look good, you feel good!” says Betty Birdsong, one of the many residents at Mount Vernon Towers who enjoys her regular visits to The Lovable Salon, the senior community’s private hair salon.

Year-round, but especially around the holidays, The Lovable Salon, owned by Denise Murray, does a brisk business styling many of the 300 senior residents who live here independently in the heart of Sandy Springs. Denise, who has lived in Marietta since she was 8 years old, started her cosmetology career in 1979. Her family, including two children and three grandchildren, all live nearby.

In addition to Denise’s happy smile and professional expertise, one of the other reasons that Mount Vernon Towers residents keep coming back to the Lovable Salon is Catalina “Cathy” Hansen, who has lovingly styled hair in this salon for 26 years, first as an owner and now, after selling it to Denise in 2012, as a stylist.

Born in Columbia (South America) and raised in Venezuela until she was 16, Cathy, together with her mother and sisters, were sponsored by an American woman to move to Atlanta. There, Cathy and her sisters enrolled in ‘beauty school’ at Dale Strebell University on Ponce de Leon Avenue.

Almost 40 years ago, Cathy met her husband, who was the son of a friend of her family’s sponsor. They have now been married for 37 years and have two sons, ages 36 and 34, and four ‘grand-dogs.’ Her husband is retired from the police force.

Cathy, her sisters and her mother fulfilled a major dream and became USA citizens 15 years ago. When she is not making people beautiful, she takes care of her mother, is active in church, or is out dancing.

“Many of my clients at Mount Vernon Towers have become dear friends over the years,” says Cathy. “I love working at The Lovable Salon, and I love Atlanta. Every day, I’m proud to be an American!”

Thank you to Denise and Cathy for bringing joy and beauty to the Mount Vernon Towers community!