Studio Maven

Follow the new page for updates! This page will no longer be active!

Hello- I’m glad you’re here!

Im thrilled to announce I will now be located at
📍203 Sweden Street, Caribou.

That’s right, Joshua Cyr and I are back together and I couldn’t be more ecstatic!

Clients who have been with me for a while will remember him from the few times we’ve gotten to work together in the past. He’s a friendly and familiar face to many and I am happy to be joining him in the beautiful home salon he has built with his husband, Lucas. These guys are truly life savers and I am forever thankful to have them in my corner.

I recognize this move is a big one and travel time may impact some appointments. Please do not hesitate to reach out if your next appointment time no longer works for you so we can adjust as needed.

My online booking is now live to existing clients and reflects my new working hours and availability.

🗓️ In salon hours are now
Wednesday 9-5, Thursday 9-4 and Friday 9-5

Part of this next chapter is truly having the flexibility and freedom to make my schedule what it needs to be while prioritizing Mavis and Chance.

That being said a boundary I am setting with myself moving forward is sticking more closely to those set hours. The people pleaser in me is screaming, believe me, but I have to do what’s right for myself.

I love what I do and I want to keep it that way. Burn out is no joke- especially in Mom world. I want to be able to give my guests my best self and my best abilities so I have to make sure my cup is full.

I’ll be making some more in depth posts later but I wanted to get the big news out so everyone can start booking and we can get back to the important part of all this.

Getting my clients in my chair so we can collaborate and get you feeling your best.

That’s always my number one goal.

Happy to be getting back to basics.

Talk soon!
Mikaela

✨Hey guys, quick update!✨

I will be taking this week (9/1-9/7) off to get things taken care of at my new location.

All appointments for this week will be cancelled and I will be reaching out to reschedule!

My online booking will also be turned off while I get things settled.

I will be announcing Sunday (9/8) my whole new set up and basically- I’m starting from scratch.

New branding, new services and service menu, new page, new location- all of it will be more representative of me and us and I am so excited to share!

I appreciate how kind and compassionate everyone has been while I get things figured out. The messages have been pouring in and they’ve been nothing short of lovely and encouraging. I am so thankful.

This was all very unplanned and very last minute so there most likely will be some snags in the road but we’ll get there.

Fun fact- I had Kay-Lee scheduled to do this photoshoot for a couple months. The night before the shoot ended up being the night I recieved news that my rent was going to be increased again and I had about 2 weeks to figure out a plan. I spent the whole night prior to the shoot sobbing and frantically planning how I would be able to figure things out and save my business. Kay-Lee made things so fun for me and I’m so glad I planned the shoot for when I did because now I have a stunning gallery of photos representing my time in my old building. I will be sharing some here and there.

Thanks again everyone!
Have a safe long weekend!
Mikaela Henninger

Photo Credit: Kay-Lee @ K.Parker Photography

Well, this sucks.

It’s with the utmost devastation I am announcing that Studio Maven will be closing its doors effective immediately.

It feels unfair.
I’m hurt, I’m angry.
I’m sad.

I worked hard to make Studio Maven the beautiful, safe space it became. I am proud of what I accomplished within those walls and I will carry that pride with me always.

The physical place of what I built may be gone but the community that came from it is something that remains no matter what.

And that’s the important part. Thats something that no one can take. It’s not an extension of the building, it’s an extension of me.

My heart is broken that this is how this chapter is ending but sadly I cannot continue to exist in my current location in a way that feels comfortable and safe.

The growing I have done here includes knowing when it’s time to call it quits and all signs have pointed to that being the best choice for myself and my family.

Please do not worry, though!

I am far from calling it quits on being the best hair stylist and lash artist that I can be for you guys.

Right now I’m taking time to grieve this loss. I will be taking a week off so I can focus my energy on celebrating my sweet baby girls 3rd birthday and getting my new space ready to share with you all.

I appreciate everyone understanding and showing grace with me during this chaotic time.

I’m looking forward to what this next phase is going to look like for me and I have a feeling, like all the times before, I’ll end up being just fine.

Thanks guys!
Talk Soon.
Mikaela Henninger
Owner/Stylist 🐝

✨Hey Guys! ✨

I just wanted to hop on here to make some updates and share some of where I am at.

This is a vulnerable post for me but if you know me at all you know how much I value honesty and transparency.

In light of that.. here it goes.

Last November the space that I rent at 55 State was purchased by a new owner.

I was not made aware he was purchasing it until he showed up with a clipboard and another gentleman I assume to be a surveyor of some sort.

We had a chat and things seemed to go well. He assured me he had no plans to change anything or kick me out of my space. I appreciated this reassurance as I had been put in that predicament before.

A few weeks later we met up again and had a brief discussion about logistics. He raised my rent $200 a month but offered to include plowing where my previous landlord did not so it seemed fair to me.

Looking back I should have looked more closely at my numbers because the math doesn’t add up but at the time I was just happy I wasn’t being kicked out. I worked so very hard to build Studio Maven and the thought of losing it is something I can’t even begin to fathom.

Cut to this past Thursday- I got a letter notifying me that my rent would be increased again another $300 monthly starting in September.

This means my rent has almost doubled in the last year.

I am responsible for the maintenance of the outdoor garden area, shoveling, plumbing issues, electricity, hot water etc. in addition to this increased rent.

My previous landlord was great about popping in if I needed a hand. He was helpful and I was thankful. The current landlord has made it clear that these responsibilities are entirely my own. Unfortunately he did not have me sign current lease so I have nothing to cite.

I want to be abundantly clear that I am not making this post to put blame or to shame my current landlord.

While I find the whole system exploitative he is just one of many people who use this system to their advantage. He has a right to charge what he wants. My issues and grievances are with the broken system that allows this to happen to people like myself.

A single Mom who is trying to provide a life for herself and her children all while keeping her dream afloat.

In addition to the added financial stress- I am trying to navigate a very full schedule as my kiddos start doing more activities.

Chance is 8 (crazy and should be illegal, I know) and he’s currently beginning his first soccer season. Games are Wednesdays which is typically the day I work evenings. Mavis is 3 (also insane, also illegal in my opinion) and she is doing dance lessons on Thursdays at 5 where I am normally working until 5:30/6 as well.

I chose this career as a way to not only pursue the passion I have for it but to make an honest living for myself and to have the ability/freedom to be there for my kids’ activities.

My little family has always been and will always be of the utmost priority to me. And while it’s one of my favorite things my career is a means to an end.

That being said there is a lot going on behind the scenes at Studio Maven as I navigate these waters and I may need some grace in the coming months.

Being a business owner is hard.
Being a Mom is hard.
Being an adult is hard.

But here are the take aways

✨ I will be updating my working hours once I receive Chance’s soccer schedule which should be this weekend. This may impact my ability to continue my later afternoon and evening appointments but I am trying my absolute hardest to maintain my current clients and will be reaching out as soon as I have things sorted.

✨ Be on the lookout the first week of September as I will be launching my mini rebrand! This rebrand includes updated guidelines and pricing structures, new services I will be offering as well as some other very exciting things that I have been working hard on bringing to you guys!

Thank you all so very much for allowing me to use this platform and this space to be authentic.

As a small business owner the pressure to be perfect is often overwhelming. And as someone who struggles with OCD and perfectionism uncertainty is one of my biggest triggers. As are injustices.

Navigating my entire journey candidly has been so healing for me. It’s allowed me to build the community I have with you all which has been nothing short of supportive and positive.

Thank you all for allowing me the space to continue being real. I hope Studio Maven continues to be that space for you too 🫶🏻

Mikaela 🐝

Happy Mother’s Day to all my beautiful clients! I hope today is a special as you are 🫶🏻🩷

Camden S. 🐝

Hi, I’m Mikaela and I ✨can’t✨do it all.

Most of my clients are aware of the fact that I am a single Mom on top of independently running Studio Maven.

As a recovering people pleaser and perfectionist I have taken on a lot that’s not mine. I’ve come to know that this all came from fear. If I make everyone happy and do everything perfectly then no one could ever dislike me. No one will think that I’m a bad person. Something that my OCD makes me question every opportunity it gets. I have a strong sense and need for justice and fairness. Life rarely is either of those things. People pleasing and perfectionism helped me feel like I had some control over the things we don’t have control over. Other people’s perception of me being a huge one. It protected me for a long time and I am so appreciative that I was able to find a way to keep myself safe during unsafe situations. Survival mode got me through it, but I don’t want to live there forever.

Through these last few years life has thrown a lot my way. I opened my own salon, became a mother, got out of a toxic marriage, lost and gained friendships, found steady love with an authentic partner, maintained a relationship with my step son, battled mental health and honestly it’s all been very, very heavy. It’s time for me to sit it down.

The growth I have done internally has been necessary, fulfilling and painful. I’ve come so far and I’ve got so far to go. I want enough to be enough.

So that’s why I’m taking a little step back.

I’m going slower. I’m being more intentional. I’m trying to find my balance, my flow.. my me.

Now please do not get any part of what I am saying twisted. I love what I have built. My family, my business, my brand. Studio Maven is and will continue to be a safe space and fully operational salon.

I am just at the point where I want to enjoy the work I’ve put in. I want to be present in this next phase of my journey.

So moving forward what does that mean for the future of Studio Maven?

Honestly, I don’t know. But I do know that I can trust myself to get me exactly where I need to be.

I will be restructuring a few things over the next couple months. My hours will start to be a little different as I find what works for me. Online booking will still be available to existing clients but will only book one month at a time. New clients are still welcome to message me as I will be taking on projects here and there.

Old and new clients alike please do not take it personally if I cannot get you in. I am just learning how to say “no” to others when it means saying “yes” to myself and things I consider priorities.

I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for everyone who has ever even wanted to sit in my chair but I am a one woman show who is learning to hold space for her own needs. I’m surly going to make mistakes along the way. Honestly I already have as I’ve started learning but that’s part of it. The living part.

I want to thank everyone who has shown me grace during all of this. I’ve had to take a lot of time to myself on top of all the sickness that comes with working with the public and having a child in daycare. Your patience and kindness does not go unnoticed or unappreciated.

I’ve lost a few people along the way I truly hope that you know I’m rooting for you the same as I did when you were in my chair. There is no hate here.

Releasing clients to find stylist that can cater to their needs is, in my opinion, the kindest thing a stylist can do for their clients. I’m not the stylist for everyone. I’m working on being okay with that.

Thanks for reading this and allowing me to be open and honest while I manage my brand moving forward. I have a lot of exciting things planned upcoming. I am excited for the future of Studio Maven and for Mikaela Sue.

I hope you are too 💖