Check Out Mary Landers’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Landers.

Hi Mary, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I always knew I wanted to work in a creative industry but I wasn’t sure exactly what kind of career I wanted. I think for a lot of people the high school to college to 9-5 pipeline is really pushed on us from a young age and venturing out into a career that’s different from the academic paths of your peers is scary. Although I started in the industry at 19 I would go on to try college and a “normal” 9-5 path three more times before I fully took that leap. I worked under three different artists across the state before finally landing at Melrose & McQueen in 2022. I came to Melrose as a lost kid, I knew I wanted to do hair but I also wanted to work in fashion, but I also wanted to bartend and party (who didn’t?), what I found was a salon full of unique individuals with their own stories and successes ready to take me under their wing and guide me. In the fall of 2022 I had the privilege of beginning to work under Jessica Wright and through my year of assisting her I gained the confidence that I bring to my chair today, how to really focus my skillset, and how to become truly successful in this industry. A big thing that has helped me get to where I am today is outright delusion, telling myself everyday I can do whatever I want and set my mind to and just figuring it out as I go (with a lot of education backing that delusion of course).
I love being in a career where every day that I come in to work is completely different than the next and every day I get the opportunity to meet people where they are and help them to leave my chair feeling better than before. I am so thankful to be where I am today and have the opportunity to continue to grow in such a beautiful, chaotic industry and truly couldn’t imagine myself anywhere else.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. I started in the industry right before covid and I was trying to gain confidence in myself and my skills while also navigating a world that was completely different than anything we had ever known before. It’s also a super competitive industry so you really have to want it and love what you’re doing to truly reach success.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
On a typical day in the salon I do lots of blonding services as well as styling services. I think something that sets me apart is just the safe space that I create for people in my chair. Coming into the salon especially one as buzzing as MMQ can be super overwhelming to some, so my goal is to make sure everyone feels safe and comfortable to be themselves. My clientele consists of anyone from your average college student to lawyers to stay at home moms and I love it. Sitting in my chair feels like yapping with the your friends, we talk about what book you’re reading (TOG girlies unit), the newest episode of your favorite show, and what crazy thing your mom said last week. At the end of the day what I can hope for is that you’ll always leave my chair feeling confident, beautiful, and maybe a little buzzed (did I mention the open bar?).
Aside from my average work day there is a whole different side to my work. The fashion industry and the creativity that goes along with it has been a huge part of why I got into doing hair. I’m super lucky to have been able to work with artists such as Ryo Sato as well as being creative director for shoots at Melrose and outside of the salon. Im also apart of the editorial team at Melrose and McQueen which is a new venture for us and I can’t wait to see the growth that comes with that.

Pricing:

• Base Color- $105
• Partial Lightening- $172+
• Full Lightening- $229+

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @Mary_landers
• Other: marylandershair@gmail.com

Image Credits
Ryo Satos
Rachael Nicole Photography