Her Story
About Lana
Lana Cyrus has been a hairdresser for close to 40 years and has owned Lana Silver Salon on Lakeview in Chicago for the past 20 years. She specializes in hair color and has created her own diamond system for cutting curly hair, drawing clients from around the world. Cyrus is also an influencer with an Instagram presence and a recently launched YouTube channel, as well as an artist who works in watercolor and acrylic, focusing on women as subjects. She has built a vibrant community at her salon, which she describes as a gathering place embodying the original meaning of the term, fostering conversations, art appreciation, and sisterhood among clients, many of whom have been with her for over 25 years, including second-generation clients. Cyrus, who grew up in Korea and is an African American and Asian woman, attributes her success to loyalty, consistency in challenging clients to keep relationships fresh, and staying educated by reading fashion magazines and following bloggers. Her salon has thrived through recession and COVID due to this approach and the strong community she has cultivated. She values openness, trust, and collective inspiration in her work, encouraging clients to participate in creating their vision.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Lana
01What do you attribute your success to?
Success for me is always being aware of the delicate balance and understanding that there is movement within a movement. My salon has survived through recession, COVID. It's the loyalty, the consistency, challenging clients through things so the relationship stays fresh, and being educated by reading fashion magazines and following bloggers.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Trust your voice. Learn and listen to your voice. It's a scary thing to do but stepping into your own power. Do not ever let somebody else place your worth. Know your own worth. You can pivot anytime. Learn that you have your own voice, you have your own worth that you place on yourself. You don't let other people dictate to you and you have the right in this life to try this, try that, pivot and trust your own voice.
03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Openness, trust, and understanding where we can meet each other. I have to be inspired. It's a collective work. I always tell my clients, you're involved in this haircut. Create a vision for me, and I will help you to execute that.
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