Some people find their calling later in life; for Maggie Hancock, it has always been hair.
At just 13 years old, she stepped up as her sister’s wedding hairstylist—a bold move for such a big day. But even then, her talent was clear, setting the stage for her impressive career.
That path, however, hasn’t always been linear. “Life lifed me really hard, man,” Hancock admits, looking back on the challenges of building, losing, and rebuilding her business along the way. From selling her first small salon to co-owning a larger one with her ex-husband, every step brought its own lessons.
From what she calls “the gutter of her life”, Hancock picked herself back up and returned to the original space of her first salon, a full circle moment that felt like destiny. With a fresh vision, she remodeled the space into something entirely her own.
“Life is really hard sometimes, but it puts you where you’re supposed to be”.
And for her, that place is HIR, the salon she now owns and operates with a renewed sense of purpose.
“I also grew up in a very strict religious environment. I was raised LDS Mormon, and I never like, vibed with it as a kid. And my passion was always hair. And I was so in it. And I’m so hardcore about it that like it was almost like, no THIS is my religion. Hair is my religion”
That passion extends to every detail of her business, from creating stunning color transformations to her dedication to education with her Hair Is Religion education platform.
Hancock’s innovation doesn’t stop behind the chair—she’s also reinventing how she puts clients and models into her chair in a unique business card strategy.
For Hancock, handing out cards isn’t random—it’s strategic. She carries premium-quality cards and targets people who match her salon’s vibe, often in high-end shops or fancy restaurants like Nordstrom. With confidence, she strikes up a brief, intentional conversation, offers a genuine compliment, and leaves them with her card—for potential clients this is paired with a small gift of Olaplex oil.
Her strategy: “Confident, compliment, keep it short, walk away”
And it’s working. With this model, Hancock has been able to fill the chairs at HIR. She’s creating a salon that’s as much about connection as it is about artistry.
This is a must-listen episode, filled with laughs, heartfelt experiences, and Hancock’s exciting teases about her big moves coming in 2025.
Listen to the full episode here or wherever you stream and head over to our Instagrams, @readthetease and @volumeupbythetease, for more exclusive content.
