Today we’d like to introduce you to Andi Hanson.
Hi Andi, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started cosmetology school in 2012, having no idea what I wanted out of life other than being sure I wanted to be a part of the beauty industry. I was fascinated by nail polish, hair accessories, and makeup from a young age. My father owned his own business, and I have always been fascinated by the idea of having my own. I graduated with my cosmetology license in 2014, certifying me in hair, skin, and nails. I then joined a facial and body waxing studio for a few years and transferred to a Denver, CO, location before working part-time at a nontoxic nail salon called Base Coat Nail Salon. In 2017, I began my business, Mindful Practice, as a pop-up brow waxing cart. Later that year, I moved back to my home state of Minnesota and brought Mindful Practice with me. After a few locations, we finally found a longer-term home in a beautiful home that turned into a salon in Hermantown, MN. Mindful Practice has become more than a location; it is a brand that has developed many hats. I offer eco-conscious beauty services out of a collective space with other likeminded wellness businesses; I help run multiple social media accounts, work part-time as a brand manager and esthetician for a local med spa called Synergy Aesthetics, and continue to provide safe and healthy beauty services a few days a week on top of handling brand and business projects. Although Mindful Practice has been independently owned for 7 years, I’ve collaborated with many talented women entrepreneurs over the years, and I am so grateful for where it’s gotten me today.
It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
This question always makes me laugh because my answer is always absolutely not. Anyone who has owned a business during 2020 and somehow survived the pandemic would say it hasn’t been a smooth road. Not only did my business, among many others, get shut down for many months during that time, but we also had some construction issues in the current building where MP resides and had to shut down for many months for that to be fixed. When I am not present in my workspace, there is no income. Taking any time off results in a loss of revenue, and I’ve been forced to be resilient and creative with my time during those shutdowns. Though stressful and difficult, it allowed me to expand my mind into a direction I never thought I’d end up in.
As a result of those shutdowns, I reached out to many different business coaches and job opportunities. I landed a training position with a reputable brand called Elleebana and am now one of their 2 Minnesota lash lift trainers. It’s been a blast getting to train new students and be in a teaching role. I’ve also been allowed to work part-time on a local farm as a social media manager and at a local IV clinic. Many opportunities came from my forced time off, things I may not have ever gotten to do without it.
I am a big believer in what’s meant to be will be, so ultimately, despite the bumpy road, Mindful Practice wouldn’t have expanded so much without the setbacks.
I appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I like to label myself as creative, more than a business owner or entrepreneur. Most of what I do is rooted in my passion for creating. I love the immediate gratification of a freshly shaped brow or lash lift. I also love the aesthetics of making an eye-catching Instagram feed or story. My favorite part about what I do is the variety; I’ve never been meant to do one thing forever, and I thrive when I have my hands in many places. I specialize in esthetics, skincare, lashes, brows, and all things beauty industry-related. I fell into brand marketing and social media; it came with running a business, so now, it’s become a skill I enjoy. There’s a lot of creativity in marketing and branding. I’m most proud of my ability to adapt and eye for keeping things unique and original. I try to avoid looking into what others are doing or using templates to create. I enjoy developing new ideas and trying to see if they stick. I like the idea of being a trendsetter, but I also love supporting others in setting the trends. That sets me apart; I’m not afraid to try something no one else is doing, and I’m humble enough to stay current on the latest education and trends.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson I’ve learned along this journey is to be smart about who and where I invest my time and energy into. Most of the time, we are all out here trying our best to survive. Most people cannot look out for anyone but themselves, and that’s been a challenging but valuable lesson. It’s allowed me to move differently, attract like-minded individuals, and land me in spaces where I feel truly valued. A sense of belonging can be hard to find in an otherwise competitive and cutthroat industry. I feel very blessed to be a part of teams that I know care about my well-being over my production but also hype up my work and make me feel less imposter syndrome. Shout out to my Synergy + MRD family for making me feel seen.
Contact Info:
- Website: mindfulpractice.co
- Instagram: @mindfulpractice_
Image Credits
Space & headshot photos: Lovdahl Photography
