Meet Our Team

  • Chi Wah Brown (Yes, I am an actual person)

    Proprietor and Master Stylist

    • Chi Wah means: Loyal, strong, Devote China man.
    • Home Town: Born in Nan Jing China, grew up in Hong Kong and immigrated to Rochester, N.Y. at age 11.
    • Family: Married to Paul Brown since 1991. Four children: Salena, Casmir, Kingsley and Marston, mom, dad and two sisters.
    • Education: Licensed NYS cosmetologist
      Monroe Community College
      SUNY Brockport
    • If I could spend an hour with any notable figure it would be: Barack Obama. I would like to know how he gets through his days as our president, how he stays optimistic when every step he takes, every speech he makes, is constantly evaluated often by people who have no credentials to judge.
    • Favorite movies and actors: Godfather- Al Pacino, Usual Suspect- Kevin Spacey, and any Guy Ritchie films.
    • Favorite Past time: Knitting gives me so much peace and allows me to be creative. I love texture and mixing colors. I also love to shoe shop. It is essential that I stay comfortable and stylish for my workdays.
    • Personal Goals: Travel is one of the best gifts to give oneself. Equally important is to spend quality time with my family.
    • Professional Goal: My passion for the beauty industry is so deep rooted. I would like to achieve leadership in Rochester, in setting the tone and direction for technical innovation, fashion and service delivery.
    • Remember, everything is better when you live gratefully and laugh often... Lauren Alsop of Mandeville Louisiana

  • Teigan Kosel

    Apprentice to Chi Wah

     

    • Hometown: West Irondequoit
    • Education:  West Irondequoit High School  Monroe #1 Boces - Cosmotology '07
    • Family Life: Small immediate family, most of whom still live in the Rochester area
    • If I could spend one hour with any notable figure: Alice Paul. I would love to talk to a woman who had that much strength and passion to stand up for what she believed in. It would be a great opportunity to talk to someone who believed so much in the power of women, long before others did.
    • Favorite TV show/movie: Dexter, True Romance, 500 Days of Summer
    • Favorite past time: Riding my bike, spending time with my mom, going to see either my friends bands play or going with my friends to see other bands play
    • My best friend would describe me as: A scatter brain, but someone who will always be true
    • Professional goals: It is a creative career that is always changing, allowing me to grow within the industry. I also love that I can change the way someone feels about themselves, for the better. It is the best instant gratification.
    • Personal goals: To always continue my education and feel passionate and inspired through out my entire career. I always want to feel like I did the first time I picked up a pair of scissors!

  • Erica Morgan

    Stylist

    • Nickname: The Ric
    • Hometown: Webster, NY
    • Education: Webster High School
      Webber International University -BS in Science and Business Administration
      Aveda Institute, St Petersburg, Florida
    • Family life: My parents, brother and sister live here in Rochester along with my 4 year old niece, Piper.
    • If I could spend an hour with any notable figure it would be: Pink. I would love to hear all about her dynamic lifestyle and her innovative thinking.
    • Favorite Movie: Romeo and Juliet directed by Baz Luhrmann, and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
    • Favorite Pastime: Playing Wii Fit with my sister and shopping with my mom.
    • My best friend would describe me as: caring, devoted, loving and generous
    • I chose this profession because: I wanted to be able to express my creative nature while providing an excellent service.
    • Personal goals I've made for myself: To purchase a home by the tender age of 30, become a winner of the National American Hairstyling Awards, and have the opportunity to experience a runway show at New York Fashion Week.

  • Salena Klass

    Stylist

    • Nickname: Beenz, Sharita
    • Hometown: Brighton, NY
    • Education: Continental School of Beauty 2008
      Monroe Community College 2010 St. John Fisher 2012
    • Family life: I have 5 siblings: 2 older brothers and 3 younger brothers. I also have 2 dogs, Rocco and Lola.
    • If I could spend an hour with any notable figure it would be: FDR. I would have a lot of questions about his time as president and his views on WW II, and what he would do if he were president today.
    • Favorite TV Show or Movie: The Godfather, Lost, Dexter, Nip/Tuck.
    • Favorite Pastime: rowing and shopping
    • My best friend would describe me as: fun and smart, a individual who doesn't follow the majority, creative and caring
    • I chose this profession because: It is an outlet to be creative where I can travel and continue my education. It's fun to make people feel good.
    • Personal goals I've made for myself: Attend more Aveda education in New York City, obtain my bachelors degree by 2012 and travel overseas next summer.

  • Jennifer Schoen

    Salon Manager

    • Nickname: Jen, Jenner
    • Hometown: Rochester, New York
    • Education: Monroe Community College 1992 Associates Fine Arts
    • Family life: Married to John since 1999 with 2 furry babies, Chloe and Yabby.
    • If I could spend an hour with any notable figure it would be: Anna Wintour. Any woman, who can make the fashion industry fall to their knees with one icy glance over her sunglasses, is a woman I want to meet!
    • Favorite Movie: Stranger Than Paradise and House of Sand and Fog are two of my favorites. I love slow, moody and visually beautiful films. I'm also a HUGE freak for documentaries like Cinemania and Valentino the Last Emperor.
    • Favorite Pastime: Traveling, thrifting for treasures, spending time with friends over a good bottle of wine and learning how to grow my own herb garden.
    • My best friend would describe me as: caring, creative and funny
    • I chose this profession because: I'm intrigued with all aspects of the industry, from how the artist thinks and creates a vision for the client, to the transformation a person goes through to achieve their own independent style.
    • Personal goals I've made for myself: Do more things on a whim, challenge myself to do what scares me in life and learn how to speak French.

  • Andrea David

    Front Desk Coordinator

    • Nickname: Andy
    • Hometown: Originally from Oswego NY but Rochester has been my home since 1971.
    • Education: SUNY Brockport, both pre and post graduate
    • Family life: Married for 38 years with two children, both in their 20's
    • If I could spend an hour with any notable figure it would be: Hillary Clinton because I still feel (hope) she could be the first woman president.
    • Favorite TV Show or Movie: I'm all about reality TV. Amazing Race, Top Chef, So You Think You Can Dance, etc..
    • Favorite Pastime: Travel, especially to warm places with awesome beaches. Reading, gardening and word puzzles also occupy my free time.
    • My best friend would describe me as: fun and loyal
    • I chose this profession because: As a retired elementary teacher, I was looking for something to do, part time, that would give me the opportunity to interact with people and didn't require lesson plans or correcting papers!
    • Personal goals I've made for myself: Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, both mind and body, as I ease into upper middle age!

  • Nicole Kone

    Front Desk Coordinator

    • Name: Nicole Kone
    • Nickname:  Nik at Nite, Noodle
    • Hometown:  Rochester, NY and New Orleans, LA.
    • Education:  Our Lady of Mercy High School ’03; Loyola University New Orleans ’08, Bachelor’s of English-Writing and Spanish
    • Family Life:  I currently live in the Park Avenue neighborhood with my older sister and our two cats, Lucy and Marlo.
    • If I could spend an hour with any notable figured, it would be:  Vicente Huidobro.  The beautiful imagery of his poetry brings tears to my eyes.  I’d love to sit down with him, eyes closed, and listen to him articulate how he sees the world.
    • Favorite Movies:  Anything by Almódovar, especially “Hable con Ella” and “Todo Sobre Mi Madre.”  “Trouble the Water,” a live-footage documentary about a family from the Lower 9th Ward, before, during, and after Hurricane Katrina; and “Food, Inc.,” which will (hopefully) inspire the American public to change the way they eat.
    • Favorite Pastimes:  Riding my bike to the farmer’s market and creating locally-grown, delicious meals.  I’m a yoga fanatic, and love traveling.
    • My best friend would describe me as:  Passionate, goofy, and energetic.  She’d probably also say my jokes are terrible!
    • Personal goals I’ve made for myself:  To receive my PhD in Community Development, start my own non-profit, and work with at-risk urban youth to build practical, sustainable frameworks in which future generations can flourish.