Seniel has a tricked out van that’s ready to serve her clients. —Dena Porter 
Former hairstylist Michelle Gingras enjoys getting her hair done by Seniel. —Dena Porter 
Ed Schulman got a great summer haircut from Seniel. —Dena Porter 
Seniel’s clients are deeply appreciative of her talent and generosity. —Dena Porter 
Deb Davies came to Seniel’s salon to get a short(er) haircut as The Red House Program Director Stacy Wise looked on. —Dena Porter 
As you enter Seniel’s salon, you are welcomed into a cool and upbeat space. —Dena Porter 
Seniel Hannagan’s mobile salon serves her clients in a number of locations on the island. —Dena Porter
Sometimes getting a haircut is just what the doctor ordered. Creating a new look can boost our confidence and symbolize a fresh start. Seniel Hannagan knows a thing or two about the psychology of hair. Her mobile salon helps her get to folks who can’t get to her, or in some cases, afford that fresh start.
Hannagan has been a stylist for 16 years. “I started working at Circuit Style on Circuit Avenue in 2009. I had just graduated hair school, and Maggie Mae, who owns Maggie’s Salon in Vineyard Haven, had decided to open a second location with a different vibe,” she says. And Circuit Style was born. “I spent a year and a half finding my way running the salon on Circuit Avenue before she asked if I would like to purchase it in 2011. It really became part of the identity of Circuit Avenue for me. I grew up professionally there.”
Hannagan leaped in and took over the business. At one point it got so busy that they could no longer accept walk-in appointments. Her landlord approached her, said he wanted to sell the building, and offered it to her first. “I went back-and-forth on purchasing versus not purchasing, and ultimately decided to take a risk and venture out into the unknown with my mobile salon idea.”
During COVID, she began exploring how to own a mobile business, but at the time, mobile salons weren’t allowed in the state of Massachusetts. “From what I understand, the changes were part of a bigger effort to modernize the industry, and there was also a growing demand for more flexible service options, especially after COVID changed the way people thought about personal services and accessibility,” she explains. “In 2021, the state updated cosmetology and barbering regulations to officially allow licensed mobile salon businesses.”
This was the green light she needed, and she closed the Circuit Style doors on Circuit Ave. at the end of May 2025, walking away with a “Best Salon” win in Best of the Vineyard.
Her next step was to search for used mobile businesses for sale: “I found a van on a website. It was sitting there just waiting for me. It was already built out to perfection, and barely used. All I had to do was add my pink throne, and Vineyard Screenprinting did a wonderful job with my iconic scissor-hands decals on the sides.” Seniel Style, the first mobile and home-based salon rooted in accessibility and community care, was born.
Hannagan has had her mobile unit up and running for almost a year now. “It’s been incredible. One of the biggest creative and professional challenges I’ve ever taken on, but also, as a mom of three boys, it’s given me flexibility that’s incredibly valuable. They also love that we can have hair-color parties anytime in our driveway,” she says.
Her boys aren’t the only ones benefiting from her mobile business. “My mobile unit provides an intimate space for people of all different walks of life. I’ve discovered many people prefer one-on-one rather than the bustling salon environment,” she continues. “Instead of other stylists chitchatting, you hear birds outside, or rain hitting the top of the van as you get your haircut. It’s a much more soothing experience.”
The bulk of her business is done on her property, but she also engages in community service work. “When I do haircutting events, like for the Red House, or the free kids’ haircuts through Community Services and the West Tisbury library, that’s when I go mobile. Offering my services just felt like a simple but meaningful way to give back, and use my skills to help people feel cared for and seen. Sometimes a haircut is about so much more than hair. It can help someone feel confident, alive, and like themselves again.”
“I’m very grateful that Seniel has been willing to give her time and talents to the recovery community. I have gotten so many compliments on my cuts. Feel very blessed to have this opportunity from Red House,” says Red House member Robin Bolles.
Program director for the Red House Peer Recovery Support Center Stacy Wise says that the idea for the hair-cutting events came very organically. ”I brought my daughter for a haircut in Seniel’s mobile salon, when she mentioned she had recently done an event at the hospital. I immediately thought it would be a perfect fit for the Red House. A haircut may seem simple, but it can be meaningful for someone rebuilding their life. It is a chance to feel cared for, seen, and a little more confident stepping back into the world. We’re so grateful to Seniel for bringing her talent and generosity into this space.”
Taking a leap of faith seems to have paid off in numerous ways for Hannagan: “Building something unconventional from the ground up taught me that it’s OK to take risks and create a business that fits your life instead of trying to fit your life around the business. I absolutely love what I do. And for anyone who wants to possibly work with me on providing haircuts for people in need, or any type of community service events, I’m willing to chat.”
To learn more about Seniel Style and/or to inquire about community collaborations, reach out to: senielstylesalon@gmail.com, or text or call 508-560-4874. To book an appointment, go to vagaro.com/senielstyle. Social media: instagram.com/senielstylesalon, and facebook.com/p/Seniel-Style-Salon.
