Salon Fusion

Leah Firestien

 “I LOVE blondes,” said Firestien excitedly. “Any highlights, hi lift colors, low lighting, I love them all!” Firestien has had a passion for styling from a young age. “My entire family does hair,” she said. “It’s always been in my life. In high school I worked for a salon retail store and that made me want to be a stylist even more!” With training in Rusk, Redken, Purology, Brazilian blowouts and Cinderella Hair Extensions, Firestien has the qualifications to keep Omaha clients coming back for more.

Nina Monaco

Nina Monaco is no newbie to styling hair. Monaco started her career at Salon Fusion over 6 years ago after completing her degree from Capitol School of Hairstyling. Along with a Redken Color Specialist certification, Monaco has made styling her career for the long haul. She has also traveled to Chicago, Las Vegas and New York for education. “I love doing hair and thought it would be a great profession to get into,” she said. “I love making people feel great about themselves.”

Suzan Carlson

For some stylists, the inspiration to work in hair design comes from within. For others, like Suzan, it comes from family. “My older sister is a hair stylist,” she said. “She works in Austin, TX.” Her sister also convinced her to give going to school for hair a try, something she hasn’t regretted since. “I didn’t even realize I wanted to work in hair,” she said. “My sister convinced me to just try it, and now I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.” Suzan has been styling for 8 years, after a year of college for an early child education degree that fell through when she realized, “I didn’t like kids.” As far as fashion or style icons, Suzan feels the most inspired by what’s in front of her. “I get lots of new techniques from my co-workers,” she said. “You don’t have to look very far to find an amazing stylist.”

Hillary Dean

Vintage flair and a retro style have attracted Hillary Dean into the styling world, allowing her to put her ideas into hair. “I really love how trends have started mixing different textures and looks together these days.” A graduate of Xenon International Academy, her passion for hair started long before she was studying for exams. “When I was younger I always wanted to cut my dolls hair, then I moved onto cutting and coloring my own hair,” she said with a sigh. “Disastrous then, but luckily it inspired me to move into a field that I really love.” As for a particular client, this talented stylist is as versatile as she is a welcomer or challenges. “I would love to do anyone’s hair,” she said. “I love to do it all, long or short hair, colors or Brazilian blowouts, highlighting, all of it!”

Shannon McDonald

Early on in her career, Shannon McDonald knew hairstyling was her calling. “I knew I never wanted to sit in another English class again,” she laughed. “I loved doing my own hair color, so why not others?” A graduate of Capitol School of Hairstyling, McDonald is on her way to becoming not only a styling professional, but also a trendsetter with aspirations to become a Redken educator. “I love color,” she said. “I don’t feel that I’m over the top trendy, but I like to follow certain trends. I like what I like and if it feels right, I will wear it!” Style icons for McDonald include Emma Stone and Ginnifer Goodwin, an inspiration for McDonald in that “she is willing to drastically change her look while staying herself.”

Doug Treadway

“I love transformations and making people feel better about their look,” said Treadway. “I’ve always styled my own hair and wanted to make it my career because I enjoyed it so much.” With an impressive background in styling, including a Redken Specialist degree at the Xenon International Academy in June of 2010, Treadway has been an impressive addition to Salon Fusion. When asked whom he would style, Treadway’s unique personal style shown through his answer: “Lady Gaga! She is never afraid to be bold!”

Brooke Turgeon

Brooke Turgeon has a taste for unique style and one of a kind fashion, making her a valuable asset to Salon Fusion. “I like to change it up every day,” she said. “I’m versatile and I like to try different looks. I love suggesting different looks for my clients.” After a “spontaneous” degree from Capitol School of Hairstyling, Turgeon has been offering up new looks for clients all over the metro area. It should be no surprise that her celebrity hair styling dream is: “Katy Perry! I’d love to do her hair because there would never be a dull moment!”

Jenny Fagan

Keeping a balance between enjoying life and career has led Jenny Fagan to her position in styling. “I wanted to be a hairstylist so that I could have a career that I would love every day.” Graduating with a degree from Xenon International Academy, she has gone on to become a Redken Specialist and has even traveled to New York for training to become a Redken colorist. Her love for styling shows through in her celebrity styling choices: “Drew Barrymore and Sarah Jessica Parker,” she said. “I love that Parker is always styling no matter what. She isn’t afraid to take risks with style.”