The Minneapolis community is mourning the unexpected loss of Mae Vang, a beloved stylist at Arch North Loop Beauty Salon, who passed away on March 1, 2026, at the age of 38. Her death has left clients, colleagues, and loved ones grappling with the absence of a woman whose warmth and creativity touched countless lives throughout her three decades in the city she called home.
Born in Minneapolis on April 7, 1984, Mae remained rooted in her hometown throughout her entire life, drawing strength from its diverse culture and communities. This deep connection to the city informed her approach to beauty and service, allowing her to understand intuitively what her clients needed beyond technical expertise.
For over twenty years, Mae worked behind the chair, eventually establishing Luxe Hair by Mae in Suite 27 at Arch Salon Suites on 90 Second Avenue North. Her specialties in extensions and lived-in color showcased technical mastery, but regular clients knew her true gift lay in the conversations that accompanied each appointment.
She listened without judgment, offered encouragement freely, and built relationships that transformed routine salon visits into meaningful connections. Her chair became a sanctuary where vulnerability met acceptance and where external transformations often sparked internal renewal.
Those who sat in Mae’s chair describe experiences that transcended traditional beauty services. She possessed an uncanny ability to discern what clients needed before they voiced it, offering not just styling advice but genuine emotional support that helped people navigate life’s challenges with greater confidence. Her words lingered long after appointments ended, reminders that someone in the world saw them clearly and believed in their worth.
Beyond the salon, Mae devoted herself to her four children, finding joy in everyday moments of connection that strengthened family bonds. Friends and neighbors remember her quick smile and genuine interest in their lives, qualities that made her a natural community builder wherever she went. She approached relationships with the same care she brought to her craft, investing time and attention freely without expectation of return.
The beauty community in Minneapolis feels Mae’s absence deeply, but her influence persists through every client who carries forward the confidence she helped cultivate. Mothers, professionals, students, and neighbors who sat in her chair continue to move through the world shaped by her kindness and elevated by her artistry. Her legacy lives on in the way they see themselves and in the compassion they extend to others, inspired by the example she set.