Life & Work with Anna Parks of Ypsilanti, MI

Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Parks

Anna, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Like many people, during the first big shutdown from Covid-19, I had nothing but time to think about where I was at in life and where I was going. I realized that I had gotten as far as my barber shop job could take me, and that I was ready to transition into doing something more meaningful with my career. By the time my place of work opened back up a few months later, I felt ready to take the leap into following my own path as both a stylist and business owner. By the start of 2021, I was taking clients in my home hair studio under the name “Anna Mopchopper.” Admittedly, I didn’t anticipate this name sticking. I made it my instagram handle a few years prior because I needed an account to showcase my work at the shop. As you can imagine, there are several moving parts when it comes to starting a business, so I just went with the goofy instagram handle until I came up with something better. Now going on four years later, I am still getting compliments on the name from new clients. I’ve thought to myself many times “maybe I should operate under something more serious,” but I’ve since come to the conclusion that I myself am not that serious- and though I do take my business seriously, the vibe Anna Mopchopper brings is purposefully not so serious either. Above all, I operate as a comfortable space. I pride myself on providing an environment that feels friendly and casual. Haircuts can be a really anxiety-inducing affair for many people, and I do my best to minimize that, creating an experience that feels more like a visit with a friend. The relationships I have with my clients mean the world to me, and so the silly unserious name lives on.

My business prioritizes supporting the lgbtq+ community. It’s extremely important to me that I provide a safe space for my community, alongside remaining affordable. The world of hair is so incredibly behind the times of today when it comes to gender inclusivity. If you’re a girl you go to the salon, if you’re a boy you go to the barber, and if you identify with anything outside of those two genders you reluctantly choose one, or cut your hair at home. During my time as a stylist (and as a member of the queer community) I’ve heard countless disheartening stories from my peers. You maybe wouldn’t think that getting a bad haircut could be such a traumatizing experience, but the potential is certainly there. Transgender men asking for a fade at the salon but leaving with a pixie cut after being charged the “women’s cut” price, butch lesbians feeling unsafe in barbershops but the salon won’t use clippers, nonbinary people not feeling like they belong in any available setting, and unable to find someone who understands the cut they’re asking for. Getting a haircut may seem like a simple task for some, but there is a whole community of people out there who don’t have access to a place that makes them feel seen, or at the bare minimum just safe. Over the years as the lgbtq+ community has gained more visibility, a lot more options have opened up and I am so happy to be a part of that wave. However, it seems that in many places that have the “gay seal of approval,” safety and knowledge comes at a high cost. It seems that queer-friendly shops are currently considered specialized, which often means a higher price point. That is why I do my best to keep my prices reasonable. I think that everyone deserves the expertise that goes into a gender-affirming haircut, at a place where they feel safe and comfortable. Though I attract many members of the queer community, my values stand true for anyone who has had trouble finding the right stylist for them. Neurodivergent people who have trouble in large crowds, straight cisgender men who don’t appreciate the hyper-masculinity of barber shops, women who just prefer to have a clipper cut. My studio is welcome to all that support the mission of inclusivity.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
In the beginning I was definitely nervous about going out on my own. Truthfully not many clients followed me from Ann Arbor to Ypsilanti due to inconvenience, so I was super afraid of how long it would take to rebuild my clientele and start making decent money again. I did my best to market myself from the start so that people would be able to find me with ease, and to this day I’m astonished by how quickly word got around. The growth I’ve seen since those first few months is absolutely incredible. Within the first year I started seeing my books filled for the week, and being an independent stylist who does about 11 cuts a day, that’s pretty huge. Honestly, it’s been pretty smooth sailing for a long time now and I am so grateful for the growth I continue to see.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in haircutting, particularly in “androgynous” hairstyles. Graduating from cosmetology school and then going on to work at a barber shop for 5+ years, I am very well rounded when it comes to “masculine” vs “feminine” hair. Given my experience in both fields, I am able to provide clients with thorough consultations- asking all of the right questions. I’m very confident in my ability to pinpoint the small details that go into a customized haircut. I believe that my skillset along with my attention to detail are really valuable in my field, especially when it comes to clients who are unsure of what to ask for because they’ve never gotten a haircut they felt good about. I pride myself on being able to make sure my clients leave the chair happy and feeling like the best version of themselves.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Straight up just being a caring human. It’s really important to me that clients feel welcome, safe, and understood. Though a great haircut can truly be life-changing, at the end of the day I think the experience and the connections I build with my clients is the most important to me. I just want to make sure that people feel cared for.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Annamopchopper.com
• Instagram: @annamopchopper
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/annamopchopper