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

Hannah, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

The most daunting risk I’ve taken on with my business was probably starting it in general. When I took the leap into self-employment, I had no clientele or money to invest into it. There was also a huge lack of confidence that came with being out of the industry for a couple years due to Covid. The whole endeavor was a huge “Well! Let’s just go for it!” vibe. I’m so glad I did. It ended up being the best move I could have made and it’s created so much opportunity and happiness in my life.

This past year, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting so many inspiring people, attended incredible classes, built up a brand, booked myself solid months in advance, and even did hair on set for a Hulu special! I’ve dedicated myself to reaching out of my comfort zone within my career and trying new things while maintaining authenticity. The rewards that have come with that are abundant, even if it’s just a lesson learned or proving to myself that I could do it and do it well.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I got into the industry by racking my brain trying to find a career that was sustainable, with people, and creative at the same time. Hair was the landing spot. I graduated from Aveda Institute of Arts and Science Northeast Minneapolis in 2018. I opened my LLC and started renting a chair in South Minneapolis in Fall of 2023.

The big things that get me stoked up are razor cuts, amplifying natural textures, big changes, and hand-painting dimension. Things you don’t have to style if you don’t want to. Color you can get done twice a year if thats your thing. Scrunch – and – go. I love fringes. Tiny bangs. Shags. Mullets. Blunt bobs. Someone wanted a rat tail the other day – that was great news for me. Honestly, it’s all fun when someone’s excited about the direction! If someone leaves my chair feeling more like themselves than they did when they came in, I did my job well.

I like what hair can do for confidence and identity. I like that I can give that to someone. More than anything, my love lies in making sure the experience is customized for everybody, every time. Every person has a different goal and perspective and I enjoy collaborating on that. That way, someone can leave feeling like they have something they understand and had a part in curating.

The best part about my job is that I can be myself through and through and so can my clients. That was a big selling point on running my own show and being within the hair industry. We can gab and laugh and have a good time. It makes me happy that this can be my job. I feel so lucky to be doing what I’m doing.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

Word of mouth and the fact that folks wear my work around! Hands down. I ask every new client that comes in how they got here. More times than not, it’s a recommendation from a friend, coworker or family member. It’s a huge reason why it’s so important for me to show up in a real way, get to know everyone who sits down, and take the time to be thorough. Not only because it’s a good business model, but because authenticity and caring is cool and hits home. I really think people pick up on that.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My mission in working within a creative industry is to keep my days and life feeling like my own. I think what scared me about growing up and getting a “big job” was losing a sense of identity and individuality. Looking around, the perspective of the working world being often sedentary and monotonous put the fear in me. A full time job is a huge chunk of your life. The big goal is doing something that not only makes money but feels purposeful and fulfilling. Something that keeps me on my toes and something I can create with my hands. Something that keeps me connected to others. Having a job that’s creative feels like breaking the rules without breaking the rules. It sounds super corny but it feels real. Sometimes the path less traveled has the best landscape.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.honeycombmpls.com/hannah
• Instagram: mpls.hair.gal