TITLE Founder/Master Artist/Education Director/CEO, Atelier Salons

  SALON Atelier Salon

  CITY, STATE San Jose, CA

  KARIE'S AVEDA STORY I cut my own bangs on my 3rd birthday, and got

  creative with many Barbie dolls after that. Years of makeup, haircuts, and

  color experiments on my friends followed.  I can’t imagine not being a hairstylist.

            My official journey as a hairstylist began in 1981, and as a salon owner in 1997,

            when I opened my first Atelier in Los Altos, Ca. I had the good fortune to land in the

            first Aveda salon in the South Bay in 1985. Since then, I haven't used anything but Aveda.  

            Opportunity knocked in 2002, when Aveda invited me to open the Bay Area’s flagship

            Aveda salon at Santana Row in San Jose, California.  Fast forward to today, Atelier is

            70 employees strong, between three salon locations in the Silicon Valley.

            I still work behind the chair a couple of days a week—it’s the best part of my day. 

            I love working with the Aveda line—it has everything I need to create a beautiful experience

            for my guest and I use it all too--my own shower looks like an Aveda store!

            I love a good precision cut, I think it grows out well, and I also love to help my guests

            transition their natural silver strands out of solid color in a very natural way. 

            Hint: it’s not just about wearing a hat for a year!