We recently connected with Mindy Warren and have shared our conversation below.

Mindy, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

When I was playing around with words for a name that would represent me, I immediately went to what has always occupied my imagination and happy spaces. Rainbows, unicorns, the beach and mermaids. In hair, business names that incorporate rainbow or unicorn tend to make the public think of a stylist that specializes in vivid color (purple, green, blue ect). That is definitely not my niche, so those words were out. But, the beach, ocean, and mermaids…I love to style and curl. The beach wave or “lived in” style, the Little Mermaid scene where Ariel (my favorite Disney princess) swings her hair out of the water; and Mermaid Hair by Mindy was born.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am a hairdresser and spray tan artist serving the areas of Northside, The Heights, and Downtown. I’m from the little town of Rusk, Tx; I never could have imagined living near Downtown Houston before the pandemic. When the world stopped during covid, my significant other pushed me to pursue a goal and dream. Cosmetology school here I came. After getting my license, we decided to move into the Houston area to be closer to my disabled son’s medical care. This relationship ended last fall, but I’m still here grinding and doing my thing.

Initially I wasn’t excited about formulating color and had zero interest in hair extensions. This seemed to be what everyone was gravitating towards specializing in during and post pandemic. I had interest in styling blowouts and men’s cuts. After working for nearly a year as an assistant, I began to develop an interest in color after someone actually mentored me. Specializing in red and copper is where I want to focus. Everyone is a blonde specialist nowadays.

During my time as an assistant in a salon with an older clientele; I began to see for onsite services at assisted living centers, sometimes at a residence. The mobile side of business began.

I began to work at Sport Clips to learn more fade techniques and develop those skills. I still work at a Sport Clips while I am building my personal brand and business. I still make house calls to senior citizens.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

There is an organization called The Sovereign Stylist that has been a goldmine of information and business education. Their Facebook group is my typical source for information, but they have an extensive website for building and running a successful business. Whether that is as an independent stylist or salon owner. There have been several practices that have become common place in salons for the last several decades, such as the misuse of 1099’s. Everyone in the salon industry (hair, nails, esthetician) needs The Sovereign Stylist.

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

Oh man….my whole life is a ball of resilience! Where do I start? From taking a leap of faith in pursing cosmetology school, to stepping into this industry in the midst of and post pandemic and recession, while moving to a big city where I didn’t know a soul, with a medically complex kid and processing a break up and having to “start over” in a still new career that was a “start over” from waiting tables.

I really wonder how I cope some days … humor and comedy help. I just wake up each day and keep grinding.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mermaid.hair._/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mermaidhairhtx
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/mermaid-hair-by-mindy-houston