Today we’d like to introduce you to Katelyn Verley.
Hi Katelyn, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
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It was my senior year of high school, just a few months before graduation, when teachers started asking the question everyone expects: What are your plans after school? Most students already knew what college they were going to—even some of them had decided as early as freshman year. That wasn’t my case.
What people did know me for was my hair. I always had bright, colorful, creative styles—it was how I stood out among my classmates. Hair and makeup had always been something I loved, but I never seriously thought about turning it into a career.
As graduation got closer, my mom asked me, “Why don’t you try cosmetology school? You already love doing your hair and makeup—what could it hurt?” I hesitated at first, like most 18-year-olds do when making big life decisions, but eventually we scheduled a tour at the Temple: A Paul Mitchell Partner School in Annapolis. That tour changed my life.
I signed up the same day.
From 2018 to 2019, I attended cosmetology school three days a week while also working four days at a part-time job. I was busy seven days a week—but it was worth it.
Halfway through my program, the school encouraged us to start gaining real salon experience. I emailed several salons in my area to ask if anyone was hiring assistants. One salon responded and scheduled an interview with me in St. Michaels.
On my way there, my GPS kept telling me I had arrived—but I was still in the middle of the road. I knew the town fairly well, but not well enough to figure out where I was supposed to be. I turned around and pulled into a random parking lot.
That “random” parking lot turned out to be Hidden Harbor Salon.
At the time, I had bright blue hair, and the previous owner, Anna, happened to be there doing a few haircuts. She came outside and asked if I needed help. I explained that I was trying to find another salon for an interview. She asked if I did hair, and I told her I was currently in school. She pointed me in the right direction—but before I left, she told me that if the interview didn’t feel like the right fit, I should come back and talk to her because she was looking for an assistant.
I went to the interview, but something told me to go back and talk to Anna afterward.
We clicked immediately. She asked what I was struggling with in school and what I wanted to improve. Right then and there, she pulled out a mannequin and showed me a technique to help strengthen my skills. No one had ever taken that kind of time with me before.
Two weeks later, I made the decision to become her assistant. She saw something in me that I didn’t yet see in myself.
At that point, I was going to school three days a week, assisting at the salon two days a week, and still working three to four days at my part-time job. It was a full schedule—but I was determined.
My final clock-out day from cosmetology school was January 30, 2020. I was one step closer to being behind the chair and starting a career I never imagined for myself.
Then COVID happened.
Like it did for so many people, everything suddenly changed. During that time, the salon was preparing to move locations to expand services, and shortly after that, the beauty industry shut down completely. It was an uncertain time—but eventually things reopened, and we were able to move forward with rebranding the salon while I worked toward getting licensed and building my clientele.
The beginning wasn’t easy. There was a lot to figure out and a lot of hard work ahead—but slowly, I started building my client base and creating a name for myself.
Then one day, my life changed again.
Anna approached me and asked if I wanted first refusal on purchasing the salon. She was ready to do something different and step away from the industry.
I was only 22 years old and had just about a year of experience behind the chair. I had no business background. It was a scary decision—but it’s one I’ve never regretted.
I knew there would be challenges. I knew some people might think I was too young. But I also knew I had incredible support from my family, my friends, and my clients—and that made all the difference.
Looking back now, I realize that if I hadn’t taken my mom’s advice and toured cosmetology school, I never would have ended up in that parking lot. If I hadn’t committed to becoming Anna’s assistant, I never would have had the opportunity to take over Hidden Harbor Salon.
This April marks my four-year anniversary as a business owner, which still feels surreal to say.
I’ve grown so much—not just as a stylist, but as a person and a leader. Being a young business owner isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. There are ups and downs, trial and error, and constant learning—especially in the beauty industry, where things are always evolving. But I’ve built something I’m incredibly proud of with the support of my family, my clients, and the team around me.
Lauren, our aesthetician, joined the salon shortly after I took ownership and has been with me ever since. We’ve grown together through so many changes, and I truly couldn’t have done this without her.
My goal for 2026 is to continue building something that feels authentic to me. I’m currently renovating the salon to make the space more comfortable, welcoming, and reflective of my personality. I’m also focused on growing my team—my assistant graduates in April, and I’m excited to help her start her career. I’m actively looking to add another stylist and a nail technician as well.
I’m excited to see where this next chapter leads. It’s hard work—but it’s worth it.
And most importantly, I want to thank my clients who have supported me over the past four years. I once heard a quote that really stayed with me: it’s not the license hanging on the wall that makes me a provider—it’s the clients who choose to sit in my chair every day.
They’re the reason I’m here
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it has not been an easy road along the way I’ve.
I’ve had to really learn to not let clients and people take advantage of my age because I was so young.
One of the biggest circles is knowing that clients have to show up for you to go run your business, each week my schedule is different. I could be completely booked out and then the other week, I could have two clients, so just add an alone makes it challenging not knowing what you’re gonna make each week, but I’m also not someone that easily gives up. I’m a heartbreaker and I’m determined to give it on my all., and I’d rather fail, knowing that I tried then not try it at all
With that being said I’ve had to get secondary jobs along side of owning business, to keep myself float, because it takes time for a business to build, plus there was a learning curve to being financially, self disciplined, and I’m still working and learning on that.
Plus, there’s such normal life challenges that no add to that pressure, but it has such a great support in my life that it makes it all worth it
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I create art on hair and nails! I wouldn’t I wouldn’t say I necessarily specialize in any particular field of hair. I enjoy all of it. I enjoy blonde work, brunettes, vivid and haircut haircuts in men’s cuts anything that comes to hair. I’m always excited to learn something new, which is why I added doing nails to my skill set it. It’s something else I’m still working on but I get to learn from it.
I feel like I’m mostly known for my personality. I’m a very easy-going person and I’ve always wanted to make someone feel comfortable in be seen, because I always felt like when I was in high school I was always in the shadows, I was the kid that was quiet shy didn’t really approach anyone first, because I was scared of judgment and what people would think of me.
. I’m proud that I took the chance of taking on this Salon even though I was scared, and had no business experience. I’m proud of the person that I’m becoming, not afraid to put myself out there,, being someone who is shy being vulnerable is hard, but it’s rewarding. I just recently started posting on TikTok the behind the scenes of what it takes to be a business owner and the renovations and changes that I’m doing to the Salon, and that’s scary but I’m enjoying it and that’s all that matters.
What makes you happy?
My family. My family has always been a big part of my life, i am the oldest sibling of three younger siblings, two sisters and one brother. we are six apart and I feel like I’ve always had that responsibility to set an example for them, and be there for them in any endeavors that they have. I have them grow up and develop into the people that they are is so surreal for me, they all supported me in my career when I started cosmetology, my siblings were my test subjects. They allowed me into experiment and perfect my skill, and of course they were excited because who doesn’t wanna have a cosmetology sister.
My parents sacrificed a lot because they had me very young, my dad worked at nights for 15 years to give me my mom a roof over my head, as a child my dad was more tough on me, and for the longest time I hated it, but looking back as an adult, him being harder on me is what made me this successful person. I am today. He gave me the drive to keep pushing harder, figure out what next, and how to solve a problem when there is one.
My mom allowed me to live freely and and be who I was without judgment, she allowed me to color my hair, she allowed me to get my nails done and allow me to get makeup, always make me feel comfortable with who I was.
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Pricing:
- Color service range from $100-$300
- Nails services $55-$90
- Lashes ( the aesthetic Lauren, the prtty plug) $100-$200
- Wedding services vary by bridal party
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hiddenharbosalon.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hiddenharborsalon?igsh=ejNtdDIzMTlqcjlv
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1aDmL5YxfQ/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@kvrose_?_r=1&_t=ZT-94t5x3qsH9h
