Van Hair Collective is bringing affirming and creative cuts to the Des Moines community

First in an occasional series highlighting Des Moines' small businesses. To nominate a business for future coverage, email iowaconnect@gannett.com .

Four Iowa natives started the business of their dreams: an inclusive hair salon in the heart of Des Moines.

Van Hair Collective is a group of four independent stylists — Kristen Van Hauen, Margaret McCann, Tisha McCann and Bailey Stone — bringing colorful cuts to their home state.

Chance opening led to the creation of Van Hair Collective

Van Hauen didn't have opening a new hair salon on her radar when she came across the space in Des Moines' East Village that became home to Van Hair Collective in December 2023.

"One of my very best friends owned it for 12 years," Van Hauen said. "She just decided she didn't want it anymore."

She knew exactly who she was bringing with her — three other ready and willing Des Moines stylists. She'd worked with each member of the group before and knew they had a like-minded view of hair and expression. She also knew they all had ties to the LGBTQ+ community.

More: Des Moines Register at 175: Celebrating businesses with family ties that help Iowa endure

'Van Hair Collective hopes to model how to create safe and welcome salons for all Iowans'

None of the stylists at Van Hair Collective have formal inclusivity training, Tisha McCann said, as not much is available in Iowa. She's trying to change that with her fellow stylists by connecting and working with other salons to make their spaces as safe and welcoming as possible.

Margaret McCann said one of her favorite aspects of the salon is the trust the stylists garnered from fellow members of the community. It's important to the stylists at Van Hair Collective that clients know their boundaries will be respected.

Van Hair Collective is a salon for anyone, no matter your age, physical descriptors, sexuality or other attributes. Each stylist emphasizes the importance of customers feeling safe in her chair. Many of the salon's clients are members of the LGBTQ+ community who said they haven't felt safe in other salons.

Helping others find their own self-expression is how Van Hauen finds her fulfillment. Her own hair is her crown, she said, and she wants to help members of her community feel that way as well. Advocacy for marginalized groups is an important aspect of what makes the salon a safe place, she said.

"I myself am very much an advocate for people that have all different body types. I have always created a space that is conscientious about people’s size," Van Hauen said. "Striving to be sensitive to this helps clients experience comfort when visiting Van Hair Collective."

Tisha McCann said every day she comes into work, she's excited for the next client who will sit in her chair.

'I am Me' events bring stylists together to support transgender or nonbinary students in Iowa

Stone, one of the stylists, specializes in gender-affirming haircuts. Along with Tisha McCann, she created an event called "I am Me," which brought together other salons and barbershops to offer affirming hair care to transgender and nonbinary students in February. They hope to turn it into an annual event, with planning already underway for 2025.

The most important part of Stone's job, she said, is being able to see others, especially young members of the LGBTQ+ community who have been overlooked.

All stylists at Van Hair Collective ask for correct pronouns and preferred names when booking a new client's first appointment, Tisha McCann said. Clients can also book a free consultation that helps the stylists understand each person's wants and needs.

Van Hauen added that while each stylist has put in the work, it's an ongoing responsibility to continue to learn how to be around different people and communities, while showing compassion to them.

"No tutorial and no machine or robot can ever overtake that," she said.

How can I book with Van Hair Collective?

You can find Van Hair Collective, 322 E. Sixth St., Des Moines, on social media or online at its website, vanhaircollective.com , where you can book by stylist. Each stylist sets her own prices based on the complexity and time required for each service.

• Kristen Van Hauen specializes in haircutting but offers an array of services such as dreadlock attention, hair coloring, alternative styling and more.
• Margaret McCann offers haircuts, blowouts and color appointments
• Bailey Stone specializes in gender-affirming haircuts, hair transformations, vivid colors and curly hair.
• Tisha McCann offers transformative cuts and vivid colors. She also specializes in gender-affirming haircuts and offers a "quiet appointment," for clients who prefer minimal talking.

Victoria Reyna-Rodriguez is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her at vreynarodriguez@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter @VictoriaReynaR .

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Van Hair Collective is bringing affirming and creative cuts to the Des Moines community