Announcing the MODERN SALON 100 Class of 2026
Join us in congratulating this year's list of hardworking, game-changing individuals.
The MODERN Artist Hannah Mejia: Perfect Your Craft, Then Chase the Dream
Hannah Mejia believes lasting success comes from mastering your craft, embracing lifelong education and trusting that the career you dream about is within reach. A stylist, educator and content creator, Mejia has spent 15 years building a business rooted in creativity, communication and continuous growth.
July 20, 2026
"Don't wait for permission to become the person you're already proving you are." — Hannah Mejia
3 min to read
Hannah Mejia: Perfect Your Craft, Then Chase the Dream
Hannah Mejia believes great careers are built one skill, one client and one opportunity at a time. Specializing in vivid hair color, blonding and extensions, Mejia has spent 15 years refining her craft while balancing life as a full-time stylist, traveling educator and mother.
Named to the MODERN SALON 100 in 2018, Mejia says beauty professionals should never stop learning, never stop creating and never give up on the goals they've set for themselves.
Artist Snapshot
Name: Hannah Mejia
Location: San Diego, California
Years in the Industry: 15
Specialty: Vivid hair color, blonding and extensions
Instagram:@hannahdisconnected
MODERN SALON 100: 2018
Q&A
Three words that describe you?
Creative. Resilient. Passionate.
What's the best career advice you've ever received?
Don't wait for permission to become the person you're already proving you are.
What's something you wish every beauty professional knew earlier?
Focus on your craft before anything else.
Perfect whatever it is you want to specialize in. And if you want to do it all, do it! Don't feel like you have to stay in one lane. Continuing education is the key to success and one of the best ways to keep growing throughout your career.
What's one habit that's contributed most to your success?
Practicing gratitude every day.
Whether I say it out loud or quietly to myself, I always take time to appreciate my life. It's easy to get caught up in social media or the daily grind, but gratitude helps me stay grounded and remember how fortunate I am.
What's one mistake you see beauty professionals make repeatedly?
Saying yes to services they're not ready for.
Social media can make it seem like dramatic color corrections and transformations happen in just a few hours, but the reality is they require education, experience, patience and practice. Keep investing in your education before saying yes to everything.
What's one investment that paid off more than you expected?
Content creation.
Along with travel and education, investing time into creating content has had an incredible impact on my career. I still dedicate a few days every month to working with models and creating fresh content. It's helped me grow both my social media presence and my skills behind the chair.
What's something you've changed your mind about during your career?
Work-life balance.
As a mother, I used to think I had to work nonstop to be successful and show my kids a strong work ethic. Somewhere along the way, I realized success doesn't have to come at that cost. Finding balance isn't always easy, especially as a traveling educator, full-time stylist and mom, but I'm committed to doing the best I can.
What's inspiring you right now?
Color blocking.
It has my heart right now. I also love seeing bright coppers and reds, and I'm excited that soft pastel shades are making a comeback for summer.
What should our industry be talking about more?
Self-care for stylists.
Our work is physically and mentally demanding, and I think the impact it has on our bodies and overall health is often overlooked. We need to bring more awareness to taking care of ourselves.
What skill will matter most over the next five years?
Communication.
No matter where you work or what role you have, our industry is built on relationships. Strong communication improves every part of our careers—from client consultations to leadership to teamwork.
"Most You" emoji?
🫶
Karaoke song?
"Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" by Shania Twain.
One last piece of advice for the MODERN SALON community?
If a dream is planted in your heart, you can achieve it.
It may take hard work, setbacks and failures along the way, but don't count yourself out. Keep believing in yourself, keep showing up and never give up on the future you're working toward.
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