Cherokee Nation citizen Hanna Eagle, co-owner of 1213 Barber Co. performs a haircut on one of her clients. Eagle cuts hair from babies to men, does waxing, beard trims and skin fades. 

Cherokee Nation citizen Lanae Mike performs a straight razor shave on a client, one of her specialties at 1213 Barber Co. in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Mike is one of few female licensed barbers in the area. 

Cherokee Nation citizens and co-business owners Lanae Mike, left, and Hanna Eagle provide a service to the community through barbery. 

Cherokee Nation citizen Hanna Eagle, co-owner of 1213 Barber Co. performs a haircut on one of her clients. Eagle cuts hair from babies to men, does waxing, beard trims and skin fades. 

Cherokee Nation citizen Lanae Mike performs a straight razor shave on a client, one of her specialties at 1213 Barber Co. in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Mike is one of few female licensed barbers in the area. 

Cherokee Nation citizens and co-business owners Lanae Mike, left, and Hanna Eagle provide a service to the community through barbery. 

TAHLEQUAH – When Cherokee Nation citizens Lanae Mike and Hanna Eagle met working at the same barbershop, they learned they both had the same idea to one day open their own shop.

After creating a business plan together, they opened 1213 Barber Co. in December 2021 and offer men’s and boy’s haircuts, trims, straight razor shaves and waxing. 

Through word of mouth and clientele loyalty, the women barbers have stayed busy while continuing to refine the style of their shop.

“Me and my friend Hanna just wanted to do our own shop,” Mike said. “We both enjoy what we do and have basically the same kind of clientele, so we wanted to open our own shop and do our own thing. And hopefully make a big business.”

Though barbering is a male-dominated occupation, more women like Mike and Eagle are making their way into the industry.

Mike said she initially went to cosmetology school after graduating high school.

“I used to actually cut my dad’s hair on the back porch, and then didn’t know what I wanted to do outside of high school, so I went to cosmetology school, did that, finished it,” Mike said. “Tried working in a salon, didn’t really like doing women’s hair very much. So, I found a barbershop and started working there. Eventually I went back and got my barber’s license because I wanted to be able to do the straight razor shaves, and now I’m duel licensed in cosmetology and barbery, and I offer straight razor shaves. There’s like a couple of other barbers in Tahlequah, and it’s cool to know I’m one of those.”

Eagle is in her tenth year of cutting hair, initially cutting and styling women’s hair until she worked at her first barbershop.

“That was my first barbershop I ever worked at,” Eagle said. “And that kind of helped me change my direction of where I wanted to go. I worked there for almost three years and that is where I met Lanae, and we kind started working up a business plan.”

Building up clientele and the clientele following them to 1213 Barber Co. has helped Mike and Eagle gain ground for their new shop.

“A lot of our clients really stepped up and helped us out,” Mike said. “We had a client do some tint work on our windows for us. Clients donated some artwork. NSU baseball actually donated a jersey for our wall. One of my clients is an electrician and installed our lights and stuff for us. It’s really been cool that they’ve helped us.”

A client also designed their new logo, a stamp-style 1213 Barber Co. design they plan to use on future merchandise.

Mike and Eagle are available to give a baby his first haircut or give elderly men haircuts.

“In this area, we have a lot of younger kids plus a lot of college kids, with NSU that helps a lot. We both have a lot of sports guys and fraternity guys. You cut one of them you end up cutting all of their friends’ hair,” Mike said.

Some things they’ve learned in owning a business is the amount of work that’s needed to be put in to keep going.

“It’s been pretty hectic. We’ve always had a receptionist and stuff. So now we’re booking, sweeping, and cutting. It’s hectic, but I feel like we’re getting pretty used to it. We’re staying busy,” Eagle said.

Mike said by providing a service to the community they help clients as much as clients help them.

“It’s just cool to get a little kid and if they like you they stick with you, all the way up through high school. It’s like you’re there for their proms, graduations, college, girlfriends, engagement and weddings. It’s like we’re a part of their lives just as much as they are ours.”

For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit 1213 Barber Co. on Facebook and click the Schedulicity app on the page or call 918-525-7486. The shop is located at 1213 S. Park Hill Rd in Tahlequah. Business hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Friday and Saturdays by appointment only.