“I walked on eggshells the first year of business, as statistically 50 percent of all salons close after the first year,” Masters said. “By our five-year anniversary, I was able to breathe a bit easier, just as my personal life suffered some dark times.”
Those dark times included a car crash, a divorce after 18 years of marriage and the tragic death of an employee in a jet ski accident.
Masters said despite the odds being against her — including two non-defunct salons in the Dayton area — she pressed on. She has remodeled the Fairfield Twp. business four times and expanded it twice, including last month following a flood earlier this year.
“After much prayer and dependency in my faith in God, my husband and I remarried two years later, and since have adopted two children,” she said. “When it could’ve, should’ve failed, God sustained us.”
Over the years, the business has been able to expand its offerings from hair coloring and cutting to extensions, a barber, airbrush makeup and bridal/formal hair, skincare including waxing, chemical peels, microdermabrasion and a certified nutritionist.
It’s also given back to the community in a big way, providing gift cards and gift baskets to charities and fundraisers of all sizes, participating in back-to-school haircuts and fundraisers at One Way Farm in Fairfield, and hosting an annual Missionary Ladies Day of Pampering for women who serve around the world.
Masters Touch also donates to the annual Christy Dennis Alumni Game, KylerStrong, Haven House, Open Hands Pantry, and also has hosted Lily’s Locks, which Masters said was “a huge success” to raise funds for chemotherapy patients in need of wigs.
“Community, especially Fairfield Twp., means so much to me because I was born and raised here,” she said. “My husband and I raised our two adult sons here and (we) plan to stay in this community for our preschool-aged daughters.”
Masters said she’s also mentored numerous women over the years, including Dawn Singleton, owner of Sterling Seraph, which recently opened at Bridgewater Falls.
“I had left an abusive marriage in Texas and came here … to start fresh,” Singleton said. “(Deya) offered for me to come paint some murals in her salon. Over the past 10 years I’ve had the privilege to see her dreams coming true and now, 10 years later, I’ve created my own local business … and I kind of feel like I’m following in her successful footsteps as a strong, successful, Christian businesswoman.”
She said Masters has been an inspiration to her in creating her own business.
“She’s shown me that with God’s grace, hard work and determination, the sky’s the limit,” Singleton said.
Masters Touch Salon open house
WHERE: 5589 Eureka Drive, Fairfield Twp.
WHEN: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 7
DETAILS: Features giveaways, raffles and special deals, plus food, beverages and hair care and skin care demonstrations.
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