Sisters at The Salon

At 21 years old, Hannah Fogle opened her hair salon, H & Co., on Adams Street. Just one month in, COVID hit and shut her business down.

“I didn’t have any unemployment or got any financial help. I didn’t have a clientele built up,” Fogle said. “I was shut down longer than I had been open.”

Nearly three years later, her business is expanding and moving from Adams to Pine Street. Her new business partner has a lot in common with Fogle - in fact, they’re sisters.

Just like her big sister, Billie Fogle is launching her business at 21. Fortunately, she has Hannah for guidance along the way.

The new space at 230 N. Pine St., is called The Salon and features both businesses - H & CO. at the Salon and Polished at the Salon. The soft opening is set for Tuesday, Oct. 3.

Hannah is a licensed cosmetologist and offers hair and makeup services. Billie is a licensed nail technician and will offer nail services.

“I’m ready for the growth,” Hannah said. “The space is great, but it’s also kept me stuck.”

While Billie just recently earned her license from La’James International College in Johnston, she’s been doing nails for many years.

“I just started doing mine when I was younger,” Billie said. “Salons can be expensive and I was 14 with no money.”

It wasn’t until she saw Hannah open and run her salon successfully that Billie realized she could pursue this career, but they both had their setbacks to get to where they are now.

“Hair was always something I liked,” Hannah said. “But people don’t push trade schools as an option.” Both girls started by getting their associate degree because they felt that’s what they were supposed to do.

When Hannah decided to attend Aveda Institute Des Moines for cosmetology, she was determined to win a scholarship. “There was a scholarship where you made a post about hair and makeup and whichever post got the most likes in two weeks won,” Hannah said. “It was the last day, I was in second place and we walked around Walmart asking strangers to go like it.”

Hannah ended up earning the $21,000 scholarship by 72 likes. “I’m all about hard work and putting everything into your craft,” she said. “We didn’t have anyone helping us with this.”

The sisters are proud to share the block with their aunt, Wendy Sticken, who owns Shear Magic, and with 19-year-old Alison Travis, who recently opened the Paisley Rose Boutique.

In the future, Hannah and Billie hope to partner with other young women to market their businesses. “I just want to get the word out more about younger, local women starting their own businesses,” Hannah said.