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

Laura, appreciate you joining us today. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?

Yes, I am a very happy business owner. I started my business almost four years ago with virtually no experience of being a business owner and entrepreneur. It has given me a voice, has allowed me to share my story, to inspire others, to use my skills as a hairstylist and makeup artist which plays a key role in my client’s wedding day, and has given me purpose. Seeing my clients happy and as the best version of themselves on one of the biggest days of their lives gives me happiness. It has also allowed me to pursue my other passion of creating art and going back to school for my BFA in Illustration. Being a small business owner can be difficult at times, but it is one of the best decisions, and one of my proudest accomplishments that I have made in my life. I have always had an unconventional approach to life and have followed the beat of my own drum, so I never really wondered what it would be like to have a traditional 9-5 “regular” job, because I don’t fit into a traditional box.

Laura, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I started my business in 2021 during a turbulent time in the world, and in my city of Minneapolis, Minnesota. During the pandemic I was temporarily laid off of work, and was without a job for several months for the first time in my life. Amidst a global pandemic, there was also a rise in anti-Asian hate. As a half-Korean American adoptee, growing up I struggled immensely with my identity and coming to terms with my mixed identity in a predominately White community. Finding my community, and those who accepted me for who I am have always been extremely important to me. During this time, I knew that I wanted to give back to my community, so I volunteered at a few different non-profits including Art Buddies and Adoptee Bridge. I really dug deep within myself to find a way to connect with my community using the skills and passions that I already had as a hairstylist and makeup artist. I decided to start Laurabbeauty LLC to be an option for people like me who struggled to find their community, to be an option for people of color, and for those having multicultural weddings. I knew that I had large goals; to showcase more diversity within the Minnesota wedding industry, and to work towards making this industry more inclusive.

My team and I offer on location hair and makeup for weddings and special events in Minnesota wherever you need us to be. Sean and Alyssa are my talented team members who help with hair and makeup for on location weddings. I am so thankful for both of them. I am proud to say that my team and I have been making positive waves in the Minnesota wedding industry, and in the Asian American community in Minnesota. One of my proudest moments took place last year when I was asked by the Coalition of Asian American Leaders of Minnesota to be a guest speaker for AANHPI Heritage month at the Minnesota State Capitol. I was able to share my story as a small business owner and entrepreneur, and why it is important to support Asian American entrepreneurs and small business owners in Minnesota. I am proud to say that my team of talented artists and I recently won the Best of The Knot Award for 2025, as well as The Knot Hall of Fame Award for 2025. This year I am looking to expand our on location hair and makeup services for weddings to San Diego, California. We are also in the process of rebranding and expanding our team.

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

Some of the most effective ways for growing my ideal clientele are; partnering with other BIPOC vendors in the Minnesota wedding industry which leads to quality referrals, working with the Coalition of Asian American Leaders of Minnesota to advocate for the Asian American community in Minnesota, and practicing what we preach by showcasing diversity and inclusivity in the Minnesota wedding industry.

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

Yes, I turned my side hustle into my main/full-time business and career in less than four years. Never in a million years did I think I would ever become a small business owner and entrepreneur. I always thought of myself as a follower, and not a leader. At a young age, my parents taught me some of my most valuable lessons; with resilience and perseverance you can accomplish anything, even in the face of adversity. I started my business almost four years ago as a part-time job, with virtually no experience of being a business owner and entrepreneur. During this time, I was working at a salon full-time, and also going to school part-time to pursue my other passion of creating art. In my second year of business, I was accepted into the Minneapolis College of Art and Design as a full-time student. Business was picking up significantly this year, and I realized that I needed help. It was during this time that I hired Sean and Alyssa to help me with hair and makeup for weddings. I decided to shift gears and to start working part-time behind the chair in the salon, while also going to school full-time and running a business full-time. In 2024, I graduated from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design with a BFA in Illustration, made the decision to leave the salon that I had been working at for nearly 14 years, and will be fully self-employed in 2025. I am so thankful for everyone who has supported me along the way, for my talented team of artists, and for all of the wonderful brides that I have had the opportunity to meet throughout the years. I am happy to announce that this year, more than 60% of our weddings are multicultural, and we have more Asian American brides and multicultural brides than all of our seasons combined. I am proud to say that my team of talented artists and I recently won the Best of The Knot Award for 2025, as well as The Knot Hall of Fame Award for 2025.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.laurabbeauty.com/
• Instagram: @laura.b.beauty
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-boller-9b543a162

Image Credits

Laura Alpizar
Jessica Knighton
Ceri McCaffrey
Sammy Lu
Mike Levad