Opening up a salon in Onset was her lifelong dream, fueled by determination and hard work.

"I had a vision," said Katherine Pires Lammers, owner of Onset's Finest Hair and Beauty Supply, located at 1 West Central Avenue in Onset Village. "My dream was to own a business in my hometown."

After spending a decade in the banking industry, Pires decided it was time for something new.

"I found [banking] to be very stressful," she said. "All the energy, the motivation from banking, I thought I'd put that into my own business."

Pires opened Onset's Finest in 2008. It first operated as a nail salon and beauty supply, but Pires later expanded to a full salon. She now offers hair, nail, and waxing services. She sells wigs and offers hair extensions, weaves, and braiding.

"In these hard economic times, people can get the same service as in a high-end salon," said Pires, who garnered additional skills as her salon's offerings expanded. She began as a nail technician and in the past year became a licensed cosmetologist.

"I work well with thick, curly hair," Pires said, adding that she continues to build her skills. "I want customers to be comfortable ... [and] just know that they're 'number one.'"

Pires said she enjoys working on nails by hand, rather than with power tools.

"It takes longer, but it's more beneficial in the long run," she said. "It's less damaging to the nails than using the nail drill."

With her positive, can-do attitude, Pires said she hopes to encourage children and teens growing up in Wareham that they, too, can achieve their dreams.

"I tell them, 'You can do something with your life.'" she said. "There's nothing better than getting up in the morning and doing what you love."

That's something that Pires also instills in her own children, daughters Ericka, 18, Aleah, 17, and Domonique, 14, and son Paris, 11.

"My parents always built that foundation of working hard," Pires said.

If running a business and raising a family with her husband, Carl, weren't enough to juggle, Pires and daughter Ericka are attending Massasoit Community College, aiming to become registered nurses.

Pires, an E-4 specialist, is also entering her 9th year in the Army National Guard. She likes to get involved with festivals in the community and said said she hopes to help out with the Oak Grove Cape Verdean Cultural Center.

"Whatever you put into life," Pires said, "that's what you get out of it."

Onset's Finest Hair Salon's winter hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. It's open seven days in the summer. For more information, call 508-273-2355 or search for "Onset's Finest Hair Salon" on Facebook.