More Than a Salon: A Legacy of Craft, Care, and Community

At just 19, Bernie Koch Jr. graduated from Barber College and stepped into my father’s barbershop at 4th and Monroe in downtown Springfield, Illinois. Our strained relationship shifted the moment I became his employee.

From 1969 to 1974, my father mentored me daily—teaching not just technical skill, but how to carry myself with integrity. He laid the groundwork for everything I would one day build.

He once told me, “Soon you’ll be good enough for anyone who walks through that door. I just hope you’re never good enough for yourself.” That line became my compass for excellence.

By the late 1970s, I had a vision: to create a salon where young professionals could grow safely, learn freely, and turn mistakes into mastery. That vision was Appearances.

Since opening in 1986, I’ve looked for teammates who light up around others, who are hungry to grow, and who carry the grit to keep going. That’s who makes Appearances what it is.

I never wanted my name on the door. I chose “Appearances” because our work speaks for people before they ever say a word. We help them speak that visual language with grace.

We don’t dictate style—we translate self-expression. Our goal is to help each guest show up in the world as the truest version of themselves.

Designed in 1996 by Eldon Stromberg, our logo is a visual story. The square nods to our roots (my dad’s first salon opened in 1932). The cursive script reflects personal care, and the rising, bold lines symbolize the confidence we hope every client feels walking out our door.