KRISTEN HASTY

Owner / Lead Stylist

Stylist since 2009

Zodiac: Aries

 

Specialties: Bridal Styling

7 Words: Independent, Artistic, Ambitious, Curious, Honest, Easygoing, Dreamer

Favorite Color: Black, Light Blue

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I’m a maker, a dreamer, and a creator at heart, which means I’ve spent most of my life collecting hobbies, art supplies, and increasingly ambitious ideas. Naturally, I turned that into a career. I grew up in northern Indiana but wandered for a while after high school, following curiosity and creativity wherever they led. After earning bachelor’s degrees in both art history and fine art, I found my true calling in the beauty industry in 2009. My background in studying color, shadow, and light informs the way I approach hair: as a living canvas, full of dimension, depth, and luminous possibility.

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As an introvert in an industry that often seems to reward the loudest person in the room, I understand that salon anxiety is real. Walking into a beauty space doesn’t always feel comfortable, and I’ve always wanted to help change that. My Aries Sun means I can be a little blunt, but I like to think I balance it out with warmth, intention, and a healthy appreciation for people who are on their own journeys of self-discovery.

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I love big, bold, vivid colors, but my true genius lies in creating delicate, dreamy bridal looks. Being trusted with such an important part of someone’s wedding day never gets old. These days, weddings are also where you’ll find me working behind the chair. My regular salon days are officially behind me, and I’ve traded everyday appointments for bridal styling and the occasional opportunity to make someone feel outrageously beautiful on one of the biggest days of their life.

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When I’m not doing weddings, I’m running Alder, the salon I’ve spent years building from a tiny two-chair operation into the thriving, creative, occasionally chaotic community it is today. My role has shifted from doing everyone’s hair to helping build the team, shape the culture, and train new talent as they find their footing in the industry. I love watching artists develop their skills, discover what makes them special, and grow into stylists who are even more talented and confident than they thought possible. It turns out I didn’t outgrow my need to make things. I just started making a whole salon instead. (And yes, it involves approximately the same amount of collecting supplies and having ideas that are probably too ambitious.)

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Between running Alder, mentoring new talent, and spending wedding season with my brides, my schedule is full, and my regular books are closed. I’m no longer taking everyday salon appointments, but I’m still very much doing what I love: creating beautiful things, helping other artists grow, and occasionally convincing myself that I definitely have room for one more creative project.

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Outside of work, you’ll usually find me with my husband and three cats, tending to my plants, or disappearing into one of my many creative pursuits. I’ve been everything from a knitter to a candle maker, a painter to a bookbinder, and I’m always looking for the next craft to become briefly and intensely obsessed with.

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