Meet Anianne Rivera | Founder, Mourning Hair

We had the good fortune of connecting with Anianne Rivera and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anianne, other than deciding to work for yourself, what was the single most important decision you made that contributed to your success?
I’ve experienced being so broke that I couldn’t even fill my gas tank. Feeling like life is happening to you and being out of control is a horrible experience. Then I realized that I had all the power to change my situation. I started believing that there was nothing I couldn’t do. I spent, and still spend, a lot of time being uncomfortable, learning new skills, and pushing myself way outside my comfort zone. The more you do this, the more you realize that it’s never as bad as you think it will be, even if you fail. And you will fail at some point. But as you keep trying new things and succeeding, you begin to see that what started as a delusional thought—”There’s nothing I can’t do”—is actually true. This realization gives you a new sense of confidence that can push you through times when you don’t feel confident at all. Even today, when I’m starting something new and feel worried, I remind myself that I’ve got this. I’ve already done so many crazy things… what’s one more?

What should our readers know about your business?
I never intended to create my hairline, Mourning Hair, because the risks are so high. As a stylist with 15 years of experience, specializing in extensions for 10 of them, I couldn’t find a hair company that met my needs. I needed a trustworthy hairline with high-quality hair at a price that worked for both me and my clients.

When I realized what I wanted didn’t exist, I decided to create it myself. This led to a year of testing and sampling hair to meet my incredibly high expectations. Some samples were stunning, while others were so ugly they made me laugh to the point of tears.

With Mourning Hair, I wanted to reflect my personal style and vibe, opting for a more gothic, Addams Family-esque brand. The name comes from Victorian death hair, and even the initial PR boxes were designed as coffins! I knew stylists would either think I was crazy or love it, and luckily, they loved it. It has already sold out twice!

Most aspects of Mourning Hair go against industry norms, from the branding to selling all wefts individually and even the pricing. I wanted to ensure that both experienced and new stylists could afford to use Mourning Hair. It’s less about making the most amount of profit that I can but instead being able to provide support to an industry I love and am incredibly passionate about

At the end of the day, Mourning Hair was created by a stylist, for stylists.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I have to be honest, I’m the most boring person in the world. I moved here to Denver in March so basically EVERYTHING is still so new to me. We own ten acres so I spend a lot of time with the animals around our property. Elk have been the biggest animals, but bears have been the cutest & scariest! I’ve started wake surfing, and hiking living here. I swear my lungs are still getting used to it here. But I can say with confidence Colorado is a magical place and there is nothing else like it.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would not be who I am or where I am today without my family and fiancé, Steven. They are the most incredible support system in the world, and frankly, I’m obsessed with all of them!

Website: https://www.mourninghair.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coach.anianne

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Mourning_Tea

Image Credits
Photos by @slatesocialmgmt