Hair stylist travels for her Christian faith

She has a black belt in karate. She drives a Harley Davidson motorcycle and she’s traveled the world following her faith.

Novalee Hutchens is the owner of Planet Hair on Nucleus Avenue and a devout Christian.

Hutchens last month gave herself a birthday gift and attended the “A Million Women: Day of Atonement Solemn Assembly” at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. 

“God had been speaking to me for months,” Hutchens said in a recent interview.

She said the event included a day of fasting, which quiets the body down.

“So we can hear the Lord at a different level,” she said.

The event’s slogan was “It’s not a festival, it’s fast,” led by Pastor Lou Engle.

“God will shift history and save a nation,” Engle preaches in a video promoting the event.

As an example, Engle points to the movie the Lord of Rings as inspiration, when a woman, Eowyn,  kills the wraith Nazgul after the wraith says no man can kill him.

For Hutchens, the event was about repenting and praying for the nation. 

“Our nation was headed in a poor direction,” she said. “I feel like (now) we’re in a better place.”

She grew up in Columbia Falls and has been a hair stylist here for about 30 years.

Growing up she said she was “that kid that never fit anywhere.”

But she discovered “I always fit in with God.”

She said the event at the Washington Mall was just one of the places she traveled to follow her faith in Jesus. She’s been to Israel twice and other foreign countries following in the footsteps of the Apostles.

Closer to home, she attends The Rock church in Kalispell. She said her favorite book of the Bible is the Gospel of John.

“It’s a powerful testimony of the deity, authority and love of Jesus Christ,” she said.

She points to John 3:16.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

She has no qualms about preaching her faith to customers.

“My salon is a place of, yes, hairstyle and colors. Beauty alongside that is hopefully a place of peace, encouragement and a place to be heard if you would, like joy and hope,” she said.

Her favorite verse in the Bible?

She cites Deuteronomy 31:6, when Moses is speaking to Joshua and the people of Israel.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

She has two grown sons, Jacob and Daniel. Jacob is a preacher. Daniel owns “Dan’s Digs and Rigs.”

She has two daughters-in-law and five grandchildren. The entire family rides Harleys and she is now taking her grandchildren to karate lessons, she said.

The other day her grandson called her a “cool grandma,” she said.