Today we’d like to introduce you to Danielle Knapp.
Hi Danielle, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I became a mom at 17, so when I started thinking about my future, I knew I needed a career that could give me flexibility while still allowing me to provide for my daughter and be present for her. That’s ultimately what led me to the beauty industry.
My husband is in the Coast Guard, which meant that moving would always be part of our lives. Hair ended up being the perfect career because it was something I could take with me wherever we went. Over the years, we’ve lived and traveled all over the U.S., and each place gave me new experiences, new clients, and opportunities to learn and grow that I probably never would have had otherwise. Every move taught me something—both as a stylist and as a person.
When we eventually moved to Sault Ste. Marie, things really started to fall into place. I was able to build an amazing clientele, put down some roots, and finally take the leap I had dreamed about for years: opening my own salon.
What started as a teenage mom trying to find a career that worked for her family turned into something I genuinely love and am incredibly proud to have built. Looking back, even the uncertainty and constant moving played a part in getting me exactly where I am today.
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 hasn’t always been a smooth road. One of the biggest challenges that came with being a Coast Guard family was having to start over every time we moved. As a hairstylist, your clientele is such a huge part of your career, so leaving behind a client base I had worked hard to build and starting from zero in a new place was never easy.
Beyond work, each move also meant rebuilding our lives socially—making new connections and friendships, learning a new area, and finding a sense of community all over again. We were also moving farther away from both my husband’s family and my own, so we didn’t always have the support system nearby that we would have had back home.
As difficult as those experiences could be, they pushed me outside of my comfort zone and taught me how to adapt, connect with people, and build something from the ground up. Looking back, having to start over so many times gave me a lot of the confidence and resilience I eventually needed to open and run my own salon.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialize in curly hair, extensions, and blonding, and over the years I’ve been fortunate enough to build a career and clientele around doing what I genuinely love.
One of the things I’m most proud of is being voted among the top five salons in my area every year since opening. GlossGenius has also recognized my salon as a top business on their booking platform, with more than 200 five-star reviews. Those accomplishments mean so much to me because they reflect the experiences my clients have had in my chair, not just the work itself.
I’m also incredibly proud of the opportunities I’ve had to teach and mentor others. I took on an apprentice who went on to pass her state boards and become one of the top nail technicians in our area. Watching someone I helped teach build a successful career of her own has been one of the most rewarding parts of mine. I’ve realized that I really love sharing what I’ve learned and helping other people grow in this industry.
I think what sets me apart most, though, is the relationship I have with my clients. I genuinely care about the people who sit in my chair, and I tend to build relationships with them pretty quickly. Of course I want them to leave loving their hair, but I also want them to feel comfortable, heard, and excited to come back.
I always joke that doing hair is really just my side gig—my actual job is talking to my best friends all day. And honestly, that’s probably my favorite part of what I do.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I think the beauty industry will continue moving toward specialization and independence. Clients are looking for stylists who really understand their specific hair needs, while more stylists are building personal brands and creating careers on their own terms.
Social media and technology will continue to change how we market, educate, and connect with clients, but I think the personal connection will always be the heart of our industry. At the end of the day, people want a stylist they trust and an experience that makes them feel good.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Luxehairco.glossgenius.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luxe_hair_company
