Meet a Mom: Meet Anna Berman: Highland Park Mom, Master Stylist & Creative Soul

Introducing Anna Berman to the Chicago North Shore Moms community in this week’s Meet a Mom spotlight!

Maybe you know this incredibly kind and warm human already, or perhaps you’re “meeting” her for the first time now. Either way, you’ll want to learn more about this Highland Park mom of two who jumped headfirst into a very specialized line of work. Anna Berman is a highly sought-after master stylist and colorist known for her expertise in creating beautiful balayage. Are you starting to picture your next hair iteration yet? We thought so! Read on to learn more about Anna’s journey from the arts to the cuts (with a few creative side hustles along the way), her local restaurant faves, and a great list of podcasts and reads to check out. Welcome, Anna!

 

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Hi Anna! Please introduce yourself. Where are you from originally? What city do you live in now? What brought you here?

Hi there! my name is Anna Berman and I live and work in Highland Park, IL. I am a mother of two, a wife and a hair stylist at the Salon Lofts.

Originally from WI, my husband and I met in college and moved here together once we graduated. I was a painting and drawing major at UW Milwaukee, and then went on to study cosmetology at The Aveda Institute. This was almost 20 yrs ago and that seems so crazy to me! We settled in the Wicker Park area of the city for about 10 years. I worked in Lincoln Park for the first 10 years of my career, building a book of clients.

 

Tell us about your children and do brag away!

My husband and I have 2 children our son, (now 13 and then our daughter now 10). Highland Park really has been such an amazing move for all of us. We’ve been up here about 7 years. The kids have made their way, enjoying all things Highland Park and it’s proven to be such an amazing community to support us. Between their sports, school activities and sleepaway camps (which is sorta a piece of the culture here in HP) we keep very busy with them. It’s been a very cozy land for our family.

 

What are one or two fun or interesting things to know about you?

Hmm, I like to get into projects. I love to design and decorate!! I do home staging for real estate on the side, I also like to help people edit their interiors and assist in home decor projects. A bit of a side hustle you could say.

Other interests I have would be gardening, walking, Pilates and tennis.

As a hairstylist, I’m afforded the opportunity to use shape and form in my work. Creating is always a passion and foundation for what keeps things interesting.

 

What are your favorite North Shore places, spaces and eats to frequent with family, date night, hang out, etc.?

We, as a family love to eat out. Some of our favorite spots would be: Alex’s Washington Gardens, Miramar and DeNucci’s. There are so many options it’s hard to go wrong. But very honestly the kids keep us so busy we try to stay close to home to be available for them.

 

Any good reads or tv shows you’ve binged lately?

We just binged a few good ones. Most recently, Landman, Friends and Neighbors, and The Better Sister – all were so good!

I do love a great book or podcast. Listening to books and podcasts has been quite a nice addition to the busy life of a working mom. I’m reading Good Energy by Casey Means MD and also Loving Frank by Nancy Horgan. A quick podcast just for me once in a while is such a treat! For podcasts a few I’m into right now are: Martha Stewart, anything with Oprah, Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop, Jay Shetty, Eckhart Tolle and so many more.

 

Your mantra?

Hmmm all things creative or spiritual. Also, lately the fine art of narrowing down why we do what we do.

The focus would be understanding the purpose behind my decisions and to identify with it. Then to make sure it’s with pure intent. I feel this fits my most recent mantra goals. Getting to the bottom of this is fascinating to me.

 

Which is the perfect segue to your professional endeavors. Tell us about your hair salon and the services you provide.

Salon Lofts HP has been my salon home for the past 5 yrs. In my work I focus on both cut and color, and keeping myself educated in the latest trends is very important. I couldn’t be happier, working close to home like I am now and in the heart of downtown Highland Park. I’ve landed well and I don’t plan on leaving anytime soon. Doing both cut and color is what I’ve always done and love the combined art of start to finish with my clients. My continued education in hair is always an endeavor for sure. It’s an ever changing industry.

 

 

I also love that people trust me with their hair and I can be a creator to their happiness and how they feel about themselves. Learning the trade will always peak my interest and the love of color and to sculpt the hair in the cut or style at the finish brings it all to life.

 

You mentioned you’ve been a professional stylist in Chicago for 17 years with a background in painting and drawing. How has your fine arts education influenced your approach to hair color and styling?

I started out as a painting and drawing major at UW Milwaukee. I had no idea I’d go into hair until I realized I can make a good living being a creative in this field. I decided to look into the Aveda Institute which was very new at the time. Right away I felt at home there. It was an incredible experience, I loved my instructors and the day they handed me a pair of shears to cut a mannequin head. We were a culture there, they taught us that beauty comes from within and the natural life of beauty starts with what we put into our bodies, and feeling good. It was very liberating to learn the culture at Aveda, I enjoyed being a part of their team.

 

 

Many clients on your amazing reviews describe feeling transformed after sitting in your chair. What’s your philosophy when it comes to helping people feel like the best version of themselves through hair?

When it comes to a philosophy every client is so unique. To start I’d say, being a good listener. The consultation is the most important part of the job. Listening to what bothers them about their hair and then learning what they may be looking to achieve.

People are fascinating, and we teach each other so much if we listen. We have so much to offer each other in this. I believe a lot of us feel that way. Sharing what we love, or have learned, and connecting with people makes us happy. We get that time in my chair together and I think my clients look forward to it.

But at the end of the day we all need a reason to also pause and relax and I hope my salon experience can offer this. The salon should bring out a refreshed version of ourselves.

My hope is that my clients can maybe learn something new, share an amazing podcast or book with me, stay current on our kids, jobs, schools, skin care, art, fashion, festivals, movies and of course all things Highland Park. I do feel like my clients bring me energy I can’t explain. It’s the art of the conversation that makes us happy and then a little of this and a sprinkle of that, and well… we all feel refreshed!

 

 

Sounds divine! Ok, give us your contact details!

Let’s connect to discuss what you’re looking to achieve for your style. Call or text 414-559-4984 or email [email protected].

 

 

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