CONTACT US406.671.6364 [email protected] Alpine Village 1216 16th Street West Suite 36 Billings, MT 59102 Hours By Appointment Only Please give us a call if you are interested in hair replacement services, salon services, or want to shop our wig styles! |
At Hair Because We Care, our team of CARE specialists will provide gender friendly support and service to our patrons from their vast knowledge of public service and employment when finding a wig, hair replacement system, care products, and beauty supplies. Hair Because We Care also specializes in hair care services. In 2018, HBWC merged with The Melanie Rae Salon in order to provide quality hair replacement and styling options. We are licensed cosmetologists that can cut, color, and style your natural hair and wig system. Placed in beautiful Billings, MT, Hair Because We Care will show support to our community and guests from our many years of training in the service industry, years of education and facilitation, our organizing and event planning, and our team leadership and encouragement. Professional Cosmetology, hair care, and salon ownership as well as experience providing support, education and access to volunteers and resources to aide in the battle of cancer are additional specialties our team has experience with. We are all so very excited to provide the best we can to all who visit us in search of a wig, replacement, supplies, or to support a friend. We will carry both human and synthetic hair wigs for men, women and children. We have two private fitting rooms as well as our Focus on a Friend program.
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Meet our Team
Melanie Keller/Owner & Cosmetologist
Once receiving her Cosmetology license in 1998, Melanie accepted a position as a stylist in Billings. Soon after starting, she became certified as an Independent Educator for L’anza. Melanie began educating in Montana and Wyoming and felt a true purpose for educating in the Salon Industry. By March 2000, Melanie was feeling restless and purchased The Hairport. The hair salon was located in the Alpine Village just as it is now, however with many updates over the years. In 2003, she enrolled in the undergrad program at University of Mary-Billings. Melanie graduated in December 2007 with her Bachelors of Science in Business Management and has served 2 years now as an active member of the University’s Advisory Board for the Billings School of Accelerated and Distance Education. Melanie continues to be the proud owner and stylist at her salon in Billings. The next step to greatness for Melanie was opening up Hair Because We Care to meet the needs of the community.
"Opening a wig, replacement and supply store has been on my mind for many years. It seemed the opportunity continued to present itself, numerous requests and comments were mentioned in the interest of this type of service, and the circumstances started to fall into place. I truly began to feel it was my calling to provide a friendly, caring and safe environment for men, women and children to come who are experiencing or have experienced any type of hair loss. So here we are!"
-Melanie Keller, Owner
Once receiving her Cosmetology license in 1998, Melanie accepted a position as a stylist in Billings. Soon after starting, she became certified as an Independent Educator for L’anza. Melanie began educating in Montana and Wyoming and felt a true purpose for educating in the Salon Industry. By March 2000, Melanie was feeling restless and purchased The Hairport. The hair salon was located in the Alpine Village just as it is now, however with many updates over the years. In 2003, she enrolled in the undergrad program at University of Mary-Billings. Melanie graduated in December 2007 with her Bachelors of Science in Business Management and has served 2 years now as an active member of the University’s Advisory Board for the Billings School of Accelerated and Distance Education. Melanie continues to be the proud owner and stylist at her salon in Billings. The next step to greatness for Melanie was opening up Hair Because We Care to meet the needs of the community.
"Opening a wig, replacement and supply store has been on my mind for many years. It seemed the opportunity continued to present itself, numerous requests and comments were mentioned in the interest of this type of service, and the circumstances started to fall into place. I truly began to feel it was my calling to provide a friendly, caring and safe environment for men, women and children to come who are experiencing or have experienced any type of hair loss. So here we are!"
-Melanie Keller, Owner
Austrin Martens/ Technology Developer
Austrin Martens entered into this industry in 2008 as a Salon Assistant for Melanie at The Melanie Rae Salon in Billings, MT. She learned quickly how to multi-task in a fast paced environment. She is now a math teacher at Billings Senior High School. The many areas of service have given Austrin a vast experience to draw from as she moves forward on her new paths. She hopes to join a team of educators and begin teaching this fall at one of our local or surrounding area schools. Although Austrin has family ties to Simms, Montana and enjoys the agricultural world there, she is not ready to pack away her city life for Muck boots just yet.
"I’m not sure where our lives would be without this remarkable young lady. I would have never guessed (nor she I believe) that she would become such a huge part of our family. Austrin or "Peggy", as she is known to us, has not only been a part of the salon and now helping as we start Hair Because We Care, but she also provides superior care, guidance, and education to our kiddos. This role she sort of fell into after the boys were born and I began bringing them to work. Peggy stepped right up and without batting an eye took in our twin boys with such love they’ve now captured her heart and they too have much love for her. We are excited and very blessed to have Austrin on our team and look forward to all of you having a chance to meet her too.“ – Melanie Keller
Austrin Martens entered into this industry in 2008 as a Salon Assistant for Melanie at The Melanie Rae Salon in Billings, MT. She learned quickly how to multi-task in a fast paced environment. She is now a math teacher at Billings Senior High School. The many areas of service have given Austrin a vast experience to draw from as she moves forward on her new paths. She hopes to join a team of educators and begin teaching this fall at one of our local or surrounding area schools. Although Austrin has family ties to Simms, Montana and enjoys the agricultural world there, she is not ready to pack away her city life for Muck boots just yet.
"I’m not sure where our lives would be without this remarkable young lady. I would have never guessed (nor she I believe) that she would become such a huge part of our family. Austrin or "Peggy", as she is known to us, has not only been a part of the salon and now helping as we start Hair Because We Care, but she also provides superior care, guidance, and education to our kiddos. This role she sort of fell into after the boys were born and I began bringing them to work. Peggy stepped right up and without batting an eye took in our twin boys with such love they’ve now captured her heart and they too have much love for her. We are excited and very blessed to have Austrin on our team and look forward to all of you having a chance to meet her too.“ – Melanie Keller
