Conversations with April Hanley

Today we’d like to introduce you to April Hanley

April, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started this journey 21 years ago. However I remember the first time I knew I wanted to be a stylist. I was 13 and my mom had taken me to a professional salon and I loved the energy in the space and how I felt when I left the shop that day. It felt like magic and the stylist had listened to me and made me feel special and beautiful.

After years of attempting to follow other paths such as hospitality, random office jobs, health insurance, bartending etc I finally decided to go to Cosmetology school. Once I was done and could apprentice, I knew I’d found my place and it’s been (mostly) upward momentum since.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There will always be struggles in any craft. Building a truly strong clientele takes 5 years average, and that can be daunting and exhausting. Taking every single service that walks in feels demoralizing but it has its place. Then there’s constantly honing your craft. I never wanted to be the stylist that graduated in 2004 and is still doing those styles. You have to evolve and grow. But if you see it as a challenge and a blessing that you’re still working strong 20 years in, it shifts your paradigm and makes it fun 2 decades in.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in the art of people. That might sound pretentious but everyone who sits in my chair is so unique and their needs are so varied you have to listen and really hear them. They may be showing me 20 photos of things they want and all 20 photos are completely different so you need to figure out what they’re actually seeing and what their style goal is. That’s where my intuition comes in and my ability to talk them through their service and showcase their own unique brand. Thats my specialty, listening, translating, then executing. My client and I are a team.

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Prepare, prepare, prepare. I was so shook when my industry was shut down overnight and admittedly I did not have enough of a savings to make that time comfortable. Have a savings. Have a plan. Oh and don’t panic. The pandemic was completely out of our control so you hang on and worry about damage control when the smoke clears,

Contact Info:

• Website: https://aprilhanley.glossgenius.com/
• Instagram: @thevelveteenhair