Today we’d like to introduce you to Danielle Hernesman.
Hi Danielle, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
When I was growing up I had no inclination that I would be working in the beauty industry one day. In a twist and turn of events through my junior/senior year of high-school I wound up completing my schooling a bit early with an online schooling option so when a June enrollment opened in a nearby cosmetology school, I thought, “shoot, I could spend the summer going through the nail technician course and work doing that until I decide what I really want to do when I grow up.”
That was the beginning of the big beginning of my life, I had an incredible director of the cosmetology school who encouraged me to stick around for the September enrollment for esthetician courses. I fell in love, the process of watching someone come in feeling thier absolute worst about thier skin and taking them on a transformative journey to falling in love with thier own skin, changing thier confidence levels was all I needed to know this industry was for me. Only thing was, and as the director of the school called it. I wouldn’t find a place to transition into working in my home town that would fit my vision. I was 19 and not ready to leave my home town, I love Grand Rapids. The lakes, trees, trails, activities, the space to breathe. I love it. I had no idea how I was really going to do it but I decided to take a jump into opening my own space. This was a wild and ignorantly blind ride. I was like I said 19, I had no means of securing the large loan needed to make my skincare dreams come true but I could put it in 5-10 year plan if I started with a hairsalon, nail tables, pedicure chairs, tanning beds and massage tables. So there I went, a 19 year old nail tech/esthetician opening a full operating hair/nail/tanning salon (with renters and employees.) This was great, a crazy wild ride of building codes state laws and me a stubborn, young but ambitious girl who honestly didn’t have a clue. I thank goodness for the entire staff that taught me so much from the beginning even if it was hard for me to learn and hard for them to have a 19/20 year old salon owner 😅 This arrangement lasted a while and eventually ended with every renter leaving after they opened another salon. Hard lessons are the ones worth learning though and the thing I learned the most was if I was going to have hairstylists in my business plan it was time for me to go back to school. Three years into owning my salon I was a new cosmetology student, go me. It was incredibly hard to go to school full-time an hour and a half away from my home and business but somehow me and my remaining staff who literally carried the team, we made it. I had no idea how much I would love doing hair and from then on my passion and business just grew. I dove into hair extensions, they’re my specialty now, something about the major transformation in a guests confidence still has a major tug on my heart. January 2020, 10 years into being open, I decided it was time to purchase a building and stop investing in someone else’s property. Only thing I didn’t see coming was the pandemic. We all know how much that effected everything. I also had a brand new baby. It turned up the anxiety and stress of every decision and step and paused my purchasing for the entire 10 weeks we were shut down. After re-opening in our new space it was like a new beginning and things just clicked and have been flourishing since and in 2024 just a few more years past my 10 year plan I was able to truly take on my skin care passion by opening a full second business on another floor of my building, Solace Spa. It’s amazing, things truly do happen for a reason and I have to believe that every day.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am an IBE hair extention specialist, this method is incredibly easy to wear and hide. Blending colors to be as seamless and natural as possible is impairative. I love what hair can do for a woman. The confidence change when just adding the smallest amount of new length or hitting that ultimate mermaid hair goal is absolutely stunning on everyone!
The amount of time, practice and education I put into my craft makes me completely confident that I am the stylist for anyone who thinks they may benefit from hair extensions.
How do you define success?
Success to me is having a love for what I do, the knowledge to never stop learning and setting the best example I can for my children.
Pricing:
- Consultation for hair extensions can be in salon or virtual, with each and every guests goal being so diverse I really encourage a consultation before any installment service.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.elementssalongr.com
- Instagram: Danielle.elementssalon
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/elementssalongr/
- Other: Instagram; elementssalongr
