Hi! I’m Tara, pronounced like Sara. I’m a Senior Stylist, Salon Director, and Educator at Salon Glow Chicago, with nine years behind the chair and five years dedicated to salon education.

Hair has been part of my story since I was around four years old, by fifteen, I had inherited a vintage 80s hydraulic salon chair where my friends and family became very willing test subjects. What started as a childhood dream eventually brought me from small-town Indiana to Chicago, where I attended the Aveda Institute in Lakeview and built the career I had imagined for myself for years.

Over the last nine years, my work behind the chair has evolved to specialize in hair extensions, blonding, dimensional color, precision color placement, and cutting. Somewhere along the way, I found another part of this industry that I love just as much: educating.

For the past five years, I’ve had the opportunity to educate and develop stylists using a program I built myself and it has become one of the most fulfilling parts of my career. There is nothing quite like watching something finally click for a new stylist, helping someone build confidence in an intimidating skill, or standing alongside my team to work through a challenging formulation using the science behind what we do.

Being an educator goes far beyond technique to me. My goal is to help develop well-rounded professionals who can problem-solve, think critically, communicate confidently, and understand all that goes into building a career in this industry that I adore so much. Great stylists aren’t just technically skilled; they understand the why behind their craft and how to show up as professionals behind the chair.

That same philosophy carries into my work with guests. Great hair requires more than one appointment. It involves understanding your hair, lifestyle, maintenance, and goals so we can create something that works beyond the salon.

Outside of the salon, I’m a proud wife, mom and aunt (Titi). I'm a podcast enthusiast, a true crime and reality TV lover- the trashier the better—and a pop culture fan, I prefer salty food over sweets, have a weakness for anything sour, and firmly believe there are few things better than a simple cup of diner coffee. I’m a Virgo through and through, and firmly believe astrology, universal energy, and a little trust in the universe can explain an unreasonable amount of life’s problems.

Nine years into this industry, I somehow love it more than when I started. There is always something new to learn, something to challenge us, and someone new to learn from. Getting to grow alongside my guests while also helping other stylists grow into themselves is a privilege I don’t take lightly, and I’m incredibly grateful and proud to be a part of the team here at Salon Glow Chicago.