Expressions Salon Owners Moving Onto New Things

Since  opened in College Park 20 years ago, it’s become a well-known and beloved shop. 

But on Thursday, June 26, co-owners Dona Mistichelli and Megan Allen say Expressions will . 

“Megan and I decided that 20 years is just long enough, and we want to do something new with the second half of our lives,” Mistichelli told Patch. 

Allen, who also served as the salon’s nail technician, will be taking time off to be with family in Annapolis and Florida, while Mistichelli says she plans to continue working as a hair stylist for the time being at Dominick’s Hairstylists (6100 Westchester Park Dr.). 

But Mistichelli will miss running a business and having a place to call her own.

“Expressions has become like a second home to me here,” she said.

The decision to close was not due to any economic reasons but because of their desire to explore new options, Mistichelli explained.

“We’re sad to go, but it’s time to do something different,” she said.

Sara West, a 2009 graduate of the , said she's been going to Expressions for the past eight years since she was a freshman in college.

“When Dona told me they were closing, I’m not gonna lie, I cried a little bit,” West said.

Mistichelli said she and Allen wanted the salon to be a comfortable place, so they created a warm and homey atmosphere where clients could feel like they were just visiting and hanging out.

“The experience is something I’m definitely going to miss,” West said. “It’s a happy place there. There aren’t many places where you can just walk in and be yourself and not be judged.”