Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Hannah Helton. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hannah, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

Starting Aire – A Blowdry Bar was a bold leap of faith in a city already filled with hair salons. Quitting the stability of a 9-to-5 job to pursue entrepreneurship meant betting on a vision that stood out—offering a specialized, blowout-focused experience that Hattiesburg hadn’t seen before. It was a risk stepping into a saturated market, but one driven by a passion for beauty, a belief in quality service, and the desire to fill a gap in the local industry. This journey has been about trusting instincts, embracing uncertainty, and committing fully to building something unique from the ground up.

Hannah, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My journey into this industry began with a lifelong passion for beauty and self-care, paired with a desire to create a space that felt fresh, modern, and focused entirely on making people feel confident and polished. After working a traditional 9-to-5 job, I took a leap of faith to follow this dream, even in a market already full of salons. We take pride in using only the best quality hair products, so no shortcuts here. What sets Aire apart is our singular focus on blowouts—we’re not a full-service salon, which means our stylists are experts in what we do best: styling hair to perfection, whether it’s for a special event, a night out, or just a boost of confidence.

We solve a simple but overlooked problem: the need for consistent, professional, and affordable styling without the full salon experience. I’m most proud of creating a space where clients can come in, relax, and leave feeling like the best version of themselves. For anyone considering visiting or following us, I want you to know Aire is all about experience, attention to detail, and celebrating your beauty in a way that feels effortless and empowering.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

My partner in life and business, Sarah, and I worked our tails off to bring Aire – A Blowdry Bar to life, fully funding it ourselves without taking out a single loan. Every dollar came straight from our pockets—long hours, sacrifices, and a whole lot of determination went into making this dream a reality. We believed so strongly in what we were building that we poured everything we had into it. Even now, we’re still in that early phase where we sometimes have to reach into our own pockets to cover expenses, but we’re pushing hard every day to grow our clientele and increase our revenue. It’s not always easy, but our commitment and passion to this business and to each other keeps us moving forward.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

There have been plenty of times in my life when it felt like no matter how hard I tried, life kept knocking me down. Every time I took two steps forward, I seemed to get pushed three steps back—whether it was personal struggles, financial setbacks, or just the weight of trying to find my place in the world. But everything changed the moment my son was born. His arrival was like a reset button on my life; suddenly, everything had purpose. He gave me strength I didn’t know I had and a reason to keep fighting, even on the hardest days. Becoming a mother didn’t just make me stronger—it made me better. He saved my life in every way that truly matters, and now, everything I do is for him. He is my reason, my light, and the heart behind everything I’m building.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://aireablowdrybar.glossgenius.com
• Instagram: aireablowdrybar / hghelton
• Facebook: aire – a blowdry bar / Hannah Grace Helton
• Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/hannah-grace-helton-88030422b

Image Credits

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