Stories of Joy & Success: Ansone Van Zyl of Hair Artistry & Hartenbos Hair Academy

From One Chair in a Beauty Room to Leading an Academy by the Sea - Ansoné van Zyl

Ten years ago, I started in the smallest way possible — one chair, a mirror, and a basin inside a friend’s beauty room. My “salon” was a corner space and my first retail stand held just a handful of products. But I had passion and a deep desire to make people feel beautiful.

I studied hairdressing at THASA in Potchefstroom. After qualifying, I landed a job in a salon… but within three months, I was told “hair isn’t really your thing.” I gave up. For a few weeks, I stopped doing hair completely, questioning everything.

But then, something shifted.

Clients I had helped during my apprenticeship began reaching out, asking me to do their hair. That one small flame was all it took. I set up a single station in my friend’s beauty room in Schweizer-Reneke — and slowly, it grew.

Within months, I moved to a bigger space. My small-town salon flourished, but I eventually hit a ceiling — limited by the town’s size, even though my ambition kept growing. I poured myself into education, doing extra courses, and a lot of free work just to improve. I knew I wanted more.

So I made the biggest decision of my life: I packed up and moved to the Western Cape.

The journey from then to now. Proof that dreams grow when you work for them.

Starting over in a new province, a new town, with no client base and no guarantees, was terrifying. I worked long, hard hours — and some days it felt like I would never reach where I wanted to be. But step by step, it happened.

Today, I run Hair Artistry by Ansoné van Zyl and Hartenbos Hair Academy — two businesses built from grit, passion, and purpose.

Even Lockdown in 2020 didn’t stop me. I almost closed my doors, but within months had excelled to greater heights with just pushing through - with the support of my clients and Goldwell.

I now mentor students the way I wish someone mentored me back then. We’re creating not only stylists, but confident professionals ready to take on the industry. And we’re not stopping here — in 2026, we’re aiming for 15+ full-time students, and we’re hosting our next Open Day this July.

The goal is clear:

🌟 Take the hair industry in South Africa to the next level

🌟 Build a support network for upcoming stylists

🌟 Become known nationwide for quality, mentorship, and heart

I still have people who supported me from the start — and I want to be that person for someone else now.

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