Melissa Hanson
I have always seemed to have an infatuation with hair and nails since I was a little girl. All my dolls seemed to have red nail polish and newly styled, sometimes even cut hair. In sixth grade I decided I was going into the beauty industry.
I attended Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational High School in Massachusetts and in my junior year I was blessed with my first choice of the Cosmetology/Esthetics program. There were only 20 spaces and a very long list of girls wanting this course. You had to have the best attendance and grade point average to be accepted into this 2 year program. Also within that year I got my first job in the industry as a Sales Associate for a beauty supply.
I graduated in 1993, in the top of my class, with both my Cosmetology and my Esthetics Licenses. I had a job interview a few hours prior to graduation and started my salon career the following Saturday.
I worked in 3 salons before opening my very own business in 1998. Then moved to New Hampshire in 2002 and opened yet another salon. Was introduced to the world of Spa in 2006 and the sky was the limit. I was employed at 2 different well known spas in this time span and extensively expanded professionally, hours of training in techniques, various product lines and endless hours of service behind the chair and in the treatment room.
In 2013 I ventured into my own Spa creation. I get asked often what part of my profession I enjoy the most. I LOVE all aspects of my career. I can not narrow it down to one. I love making people feel happy with them selves and it makes me happy as well.