Kristen

Owner / Lead Stylist

Stylist since 2009

Zodiac: Aries

 

Specialties: Blonding, Lived-In Color, Bridal Styling, Extensions

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

Favorite Color: Black, Light Blue

 

Behind the Chair: Tues, Weds, & Friday

I’m a maker, a dreamer, and a creator at heart, and I was always destined for a career where I could fully embrace my need to be artistic. 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—and I’ve never looked back. My background in studying color, shadow, and light became the foundation for the way I now approach hair: as a living canvas, full of dimension, depth, and luminous possibility.

​

As an introvert in a world that can feel overwhelming, I deeply understand salon anxiety and how walking into a beauty space doesn’t always feel comfortable.  While my Aries Sun sometimes makes me a little blunt, I balance that with warmth, intention, and the belief that beauty is a powerful tool for confidence and transformation.

​

I love big bold vivid colors but my true genius lies in composing delicate, dreamy, lived-in looks. I love thinking about where the light hits your hair and how to place shadows to accentuate brightness. Lived-In Color is a foiling technique that uses your natural hair color as a base to paint intentional luminosity and pockets of depth, creating a low-maintenance, customizable color that is perfect just for you!

Bridal styling has always been one of my favorite parts of this career. Even back in beauty school, I was known for creating updos on anyone who would sit still long enough. Fast forward 15 years, and I still love spending my summers with brides, helping them feel their absolute best on such an important day. It is an honor to be chosen to participate in so many celebrations.
 

Outside of the salon, you’ll usually find me with my husband and three cats, tending to my plants, or losing myself in one of my many creative passions. I’ve been everything from a knitter to a candle maker, a painter to a bookbinder, and I’m always chasing the next craft that sparks wonder.

​

These days, my time is balanced between my guests and running Alder, so my books are more limited than they once were. I no longer accept haircut-only clients, but if you’re dreaming of transformative color or extensions, I’d love to connect and create something just for you.

​​