
By: Maddie Poteat
After high school, Shannon wasn’t sure what she wanted to do. She took a year off to think through her options and ended up finding her passion for hair. With a stroke of luck, her best friend from hair school was working at Garbo’s and told her she should come check it out. Lucky for us, Shannon loved it and has been here ever since!
It’s been a while since our last stylist spotlight and we couldn’t have chosen a better person to highlight as our first post back! Read on below to learn more about Shannon Carsey!
How long have you been a stylist at Garbo’s Salon and Spa and what made you want to work there?
I have been a stylist at Garbos for 7 years. My best friend from hair school was a stylist at Garbo’s and wanted me to come join her. At the time I wasn’t sure if I would fit in but I’m so glad I did because I work with a great group of people.!
Why did you choose to be a hairstylist and why do you love it?
Honestly I didn’t know what I wanted to do after high school so I took a year off to decide. I had people that told me I’d make a great hair stylist because I enjoyed messing with hair and have always been a people person. So that’s what made me pursue a career as a stylist.
What is your favorite service to provide to your clients?
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Due to COVID-19 Garbo's had to close its doors for a while - how did that impact you and what was it like coming back?
With all the new safety measures in place, has it been more difficult to do your job?
Aside from those new safety measures, what is the biggest challenge you encounter as a stylist and how do you over come it?

In your opinion, what does it take to become a successful hairstylist?
Is there anything else you would like our readers to know about you or your work?
If you’re interested in booking an appointment with Shannon, you can find her at our Village Pointe Location. You can schedule an appointment with her by calling 402-991-2227 or by booking her online. Finally, make sure you’re following her @shannonkayhair.
Thanks as always for reading!
Sending love,
Maddie

By: Maddie Poteat
We all may be stuck inside and the doors to our salons locked up tight but that doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate the hard work of someone who truly deserves it. This month’s spotlight shines the light on one of our fabulous estheticians. We’ve spent the last few weeks sharing all the amazing services our spa offers so it only makes sense to share more about the person who is in charge of them!
Katherine Bower joined Garbo’s seven years ago and calls our Village Pointe location “home”. In addition to her work as an esthetician she is also our Spa Lead and Village Pointe‘s wedding coordinator! She may be busy but she handles all of her responsibilities with ease. It’s no wonder she is this month’s spotlight!
How long have you been an esthetician at Garbo’s Salon and what made you want to work there?
I’ve been working for Garbo’s going on 7 years. I had a friend who worked for the company recommend I apply and I’m so glad I did! I knew right away after my interview with Darcy that it was the best place to grow my career!

Why did you choose to be an esthetician and why do you love it?
I chose to be an esthetician because I have always struggled with acne and skin problems. Going to aesthetic school gave me the opportunity to educate myself on how to take care of my own skin and my client’s skin! I absolutely love what I do. I have the opportunity to make my clients feel good about themselves! And to me that is extremely rewarding.
What is your favorite service to provide to your clients?

We understand you are the spa lead for the salon - what additional responsibilities do you have?
What is the biggest challenge you encounter as an esthetician and how do you overcome it?

In your opinion, what does it take to become a successful esthetician?
As you know, this month is spa month - is there anything else you would like our readers to know about our spa or spa services we provide?
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By: Maddie Poteat
Eileen Staley grew up in a small town and thought she would end up in an equally small salon when she grew up. However, life had other plans! For the past five years Eileen has called our Regency location home!
As we close out the month of February we wanted to shine our stylist spotlight on someone who goes above and beyond. Not only is Eileen a top performing stylist (named a 2019 Top Performer) she is also one of our talented business coaches. The enthusiasm she has for her work is contagious and we are so excited to shine this month’s stylist spotlight on her!
How long have you been a stylist at Garbo’s Salon and Spa and what made you want to work there?
Being from a small town, I always thought I’d end up in a small, family run salon but the minute I met Darcy Michalek (Owner of Garbo’s Salon and Spa), I knew Garbo’s was for me. Family is such a big deal at Garbo’s and I’m forever grateful for that. I’ve been lucky to be with Garbo’s for five years and I have no plans of ever leaving!

Why did you choose to be a hairstylist and why do you love it?
When I think back to my childhood I was always doing my doll’s, sister’s, and even friend’s hair before 4th grade basketball games! I knew from the time I was a child that I loved hair and that I would make that my job when I grew up.
I’ve come a long way since playing with my doll’s hair – I used to think hair had to be wet to get a curl with a curling iron! Every year in this business makes me love my job even more. There really is no better feeling than seeing my clients smile and check themselves out after I do their hair. Knowing I’ve made a positive impact in how they see themselves means the world to me!
What is your favorite service to provide to your clients?
If I could do hair color all day long, I would be one happy girl! It always keeps me on my toes and makes me think!
View this post on Instagram#minicrimps #feathers #apopofcolor #mygarbos
A post shared by Eileen Staley (@staleyeileen) on
View this post on InstagramProm ✨ #mygarbos #updo #blonde #formalhair #promhair
A post shared by Eileen Staley (@staleyeileen) on
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We understand you are an educator for the salon - what do you teach and why did you want to start teaching?
I get the privilege of teaching both Wella hair color theory and business coaching. I was approached and asked to teach both subjects and I couldn’t say no. There was a need to help out new stylists who wanted a better understanding of the Wella color line and there were also a large number of stylists who needed direction on how to grow to be a successful stylist behind the chair.
What is the biggest challenge you encounter as a hairstylist and how do you overcome it?
The job is pretty glamorous and there really isn’t much to complain about but nothing hurts me more than having an upset client. Sometimes color doesn’t go as planned or we aren’t on the same page but luckily, you can fix any color or style and make it right!
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Eileen Staley (@staleyeileen) on
In your opinion, what does it take to become a successful hairstylist?
The list goes on and on! To me, being genuine and really focusing on what your client needs is so important. Clients need our help and it is such a blessing to have the opportunity to be there for them!
You can find Eileen on Instagram @staleyeileen. She uses her page to show off her hair and beauty work, behind the scenes pics and any new services she is offering so I would recommend giving it a follow!
If you’re interested in booking an appointment with Eileen you can find her at our Regency location. You can schedule an appointment with her by calling 402.391.2333 or by booking her online.
Thanks as always for reading!
Sending love,
Maddie

By: Maddie Poteat
Hayli Winans’ career began at Garbo’s just about three years ago (she’ll celebrate her anniversary in March!). Her friend told her about the salon and mentioned that she should look into it if she was interested. After a great interview with our owner, Hayli got to work behind her new chair!
It’s always fun to learn what brought people to Garbo’s and to watch them grow behind the chair. Hayli is this month’s stylist spotlight because she is working extremely hard to build her business. Anyone who puts in the extra work to bring in new clients deserves to be recognized!
How long have you been a stylist at Garbo’s Salon and Spa and what made you want to work there?

Why did you choose to be a hairstylist and why do you love it?
What is your favorite service to provide to your clients?



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What is the biggest challenge you encounter as a hairstylist and how do you overcome it?



In your opinion, what does it take to become a successful hairstylist?
Dedication to the industry. You really have to want to be a hairstylist to be a successful one. As fun as it is, it takes a lot of work to build a clientele and it’s easy to get discouraged during slow times of the year. Therefore, if you’re not 100% dedicated you won’t be successful in the industry.
Is there anything else you would like our readers to know?
When you look your best you feel your best, and when you feel your best you do your best. Investing in your hair can really change your life!


Hayli Winans’ Instagram is @haylishair – she shows off her hair and beauty work there so I would recommend giving it a follow!
If you’re interested in booking an appointment with Hayli you can find her at our Regency location. You can schedule an appointment with her by calling 402.391.2333 or by booking her online.
Hayli Winans’ services include: Haircuts, colors, extensions, smoothing treatments, special occasion styling, eyelash extensions, waxing, makeup and pedicures.
Thanks as always for reading!
Sending love,
Maddie

By: Darcy Michalek
It’s that wonderful time of year again when I love to reflect on the blessings of the year.
Many times I do my supply deliveries early on Sunday mornings when the salons are closed and the malls are quiet. I was walking through them this past Sunday and as I looked around I could see the care that had been put into preparing for another busy day. Stations clean, capes ready, foils torn… It’s so much fun to stand in that quiet and then envision the energy that will fill these spaces. Our amazing managers and reception staff are there early making coffee, preparing tickets and warming towels. Our kind and talented stylists and estheticians show up shortly thereafter ready to create the magic that is transformation and relaxation at Garbo’s.
My goal for our company is to provide a place of welcome respite from a busy hectic day. A place where any member of the family feels comfortable and is able to enjoy a little luxury. If I could share all of the wonderful and kind things our staff has done for each other and for their clients and if I could share with you all of the kind and amazing things our clients have done for our staff, I could write a book. There are so many good people out there!
Business is never easy, no matter what industry or profession. We work to make a living but we also work to make a difference. Over the past year we were blessed to be able to share our success with those throughout our community. One of the causes most dear to our hearts is the Boys Town National Hotline. We believe in what they are doing for the community and love giving back to help them do it.
Every day we work to make each person we touch feel just a little better. We try to educate and guide and make life a little easier and more fun. From the outside it might just look like a salon and spa but what I am most thankful for is what’s on the inside. Good, kind people taking good care of each other and their clients. Happy Thanksgiving from my grateful heart to all of you.
Sending love,
Darcy Michalek
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By: Maddie Poteat
Like most of us, Aynsley wasn’t sure what she wanted to be when she grew up… She had a few things on her mind after high school but being a hairstylist wasn’t one of them. Thankfully, her own hairstylist pushed her to look into hair school and she fell in love. During this week of thanksgiving we are thankful that Aynsley found her passion and that she chose to practice that passion at Garbo’s!
I loved learning more about Aynsley’s path to Garbo’s and how she continues to grow as a hairstylist. Hopefully you’ll love her story as much as I did!
How long have you been a stylist at Garbo’s Salon and Spa, Midtown and what made you want to work there?
I have been at Garbo’s in Midtown for about 5 years. When I was looking for a new home I wasn’t really sure what I wanted in a salon. I was drawn to the fact that Garbo’s had a team with many different personalities and styles. At the time, I had already experienced life at 2 other salons and couldn’t seem to find where I fit in. As I made Garbo’s my home, I continued to grow and change, as did my team. Last year, I made the decision to venture out and try something new, only to find that I was meant to be back with my team in Midtown. I am home and it feels right.

Why did you choose to be a hairstylist and why do you love it?
What is your favorite service to provide to your clients?



Your social media feed is filled with bright colors - do you foresee fashion colors becoming more popular or is this just the latest trend?
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What is the biggest challenge you encounter as a hairstylist and how do you overcome it?



In your opinion, what does it take to become a successful hairstylist?
Is there anything else you would like our readers to know?



Aynsley’s Instagram feed is so fun to follow – her work is always amazing and she seems to capture the wonderful personality of each of her clients so well! I highly recommend giving her a follow!
If you would like to schedule an appointment with Aynsley you can find her at our Midtown Crossing location. You can book her online or by calling 402.933.9737.
Thanks as always for reading!
Sending love,
Maddie

By: Maddie Poteat
We are headed back to our Village Pointe location for this month’s stylist spotlight! Crystal Millerd has grown up behind the chair at Garbo’s Salon. Her constant smile and positive energy can be felt the minute you walk in the door. If you step back and watch her work you’ll see her providing top-notch service to her clients while simultaneously mentoring her teammates and helping them grow. It is no wonder her books are always full!
I had the absolute pleasure of interviewing Crystal this month and am excited to share a little bit more about our assistant manager with you below!
How long have you been a stylist at Garbo’s Salon and Spa, Regency and what made you want to work there?
When I was ready to start looking for full time positions, Garbo’s was my first choice! I’ve been a stylist at Garbo’s since February of 1998 – almost 22 years! When I first went to apply I really wanted to work at the Regency location but unfortunately they were full. So I then went over to the Eagle Run location and interviewed with the manager there, Sherri Mahoney! I knew as soon as I walked in the door and met with Sherri that’s where I was suppose to start my career! Thankfully at the end of the interview she offered me the job!!!
My schedule has changed about five times over the past twenty two years – I had different hours each day and enjoyed Fridays and Mondays off. Now my schedule is a bit more consistent, 9 am to 7pm Monday through Thursday. I take Fridays off to take care of my niece and nephew, Charlie and Thor!

Why did you choose to be a hairstylist and why do you love it?
What is your favorite service to provide to your clients?
In addition to a hair stylist, you are also the assistant manager at Village Pointe. What made you want to take on a leadership role at Garbo's and why do you love it?
We understand your sister is also an Assistant Manager! Do you love getting to work with her on a daily basis?


What is the biggest challenge you encounter as a hairstylist and how do you overcome it?
In your opinion, what does it take to become a successful hairstylist?
Is there anything else you would like our readers to know?
We all love Crystal so much and we are blessed to have had her with us at Garbo’s for so long! She inspires all of us to be better people and better stylists and we can’t thank her enough for that!
Interested in booking an appointment with Crystal Millerd? Click here!
Thanks as always for reading!
Sending love,
Maddie
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By: Maddie Poteat
We decided to shake things up this month and do a double feature! We are shining this month’s stylist spotlight on Adelia Chavez and Torrie Vaught – two talented stylists who work at our Oak View Mall location! Both Adelia and Torrie love bright and bold fashion colors and enjoy educating their peers on how to achieve and maintain these beautiful colors. Read more about Adelia and Torrie below!
ADELIA CHAVEZ
How long have you been a stylist at Garbo’s Salon and Spa, Regency and what made you want to work there?
I’ve worked at Garbo’s Oakview mall since March of this year. I wanted to work at Garbo’s because it’s a beautiful high end salon and I knew my clients would enjoy coming in.
TORRIE VAUGHT
How long have you been a stylist at Garbo’s Salon and Spa, Regency and what made you want to work there?
It’s been 2 years since I started my career with Garbo’s. I remember coming to Garbo’s when I was younger and always admiring the stylists and their work. It feels like a dream come true working for such a well known salon. I knew this was a place I could express myself and be happy.
Why did you choose to be a hairstylist and why do you love it?
I wanted to become a hairstylist because I enjoyed doing my hair and doing others hair when I could. I love being a stylist because i enjoy meeting new people and being able to be creative with hair. Having good hair makes you feel good and I want everyone to feel good about themselves.
What is your favorite service to provide to your clients?
My favorite service to provide is a bright, bold fashion color followed up by a keratin treatment to seal in the color and to give it more shine.
Why did you choose to be a hairstylist and why do you love it?
In my younger years I became fascinated with the world of hair and hair color. I experimented on my own hair and started playing with fun colors on extensions and friends. My artistic abilities needed to be shared with others and I wanted people to feel good about themselves. Meeting new people and giving them a new sense of self confidence makes me happy. I come to work and get to really have fun.
What is your favorite service to provide to your clients?
My favorite things to do are fashion colors. Using bright fun colors or pastels and getting to create a new color palette. I lift the hair to be my canvas and the colors are my paint. I also enjoy dramatic color changes!
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Torrie Vaught (@torrievhaircraft) on
We hear you are also an educator, what made you want to be an educator and what type of classes do you teach?
I wanted to become an educator because I love sharing my knowledge and love the new things I learn with other people. Everyone has room to learn and grow.
I teach fashion color classes because they are just as complex as any other coloring and there’s a lot to learn about doing them.
What is the biggest challenge you encounter as a hairstylist and how do you overcome it?
My biggest challenge as a stylist is keeping up with new techniques and trends. There are so many different techniques that are coming out and trending and we all know trends don’t last very long or they are very difficult to do. I often go to classes even if I’ve already been to a similar class because you can still learn something new and a refresher never hurt anyone.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Adelia Chavez (@adeliachavez) on
Is there anything else you would like our readers to know?
I would love our readers to know that being a hairstylist is a hard job! It’s not just playing with makeup or hair all day. It’s hard on our bodies, we have to know chemistry to work with chemicals all day and how to customize hair colors. It’s a job you take home with you but it’s a very rewarding job as well!
We hear you are also an educator, what made you want to be an educator and what type of classes do you teach?
Sharing knowledge and personal experiences will help other stylists in the future and new stylists. Helping others learn is rewarding to me because I get to see their clients walk out with something new and fun and talking about the new technique their stylist used. It makes them feel special and unique being able to tailor something to their wants & needs. I enjoy teaching fashion color, blonding, updos and disconnected cuts
What is the biggest challenge you encounter as a hairstylist and how do you overcome it?
Color corrections are always challenging and time consuming, but I take it step by step. Corrections make you use your brain and eventually adds to your experience. When you are a hairdresser you are always learning and that makes it the most fun, it never gets boring.
View this post on InstagramCotton Candy Ice Cream #pulpriot #mygarbos #pastel #unicorn 🍦🍨💖🦄🍭
A post shared by Torrie Vaught (@torrievhaircraft) on
Is there anything else you would like our readers to know?
I will tell you anything and everything you need to know about fashion colors, home maintenance and product usage. If anyone has questions about anything come visit me in the Oak View Mall! I’m glad I have changed so many lives over my career and want to continue the journey.
We could look at both these gal’s work all day long! Their ability to turn normal, everyday hair into a work of art using fashion colors is impressive and inspiring! Make sure you go follow them on Instagram for more inspiration: @adeliachavez, @torrievhaircraft.
Interested in booking an appointment with either Adelia or Torrie? Click here!
Thanks as always for reading!
Sending love,
Maddie
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By: Maddie Poteat
Clair Wight
This month we decided to pop over to our Regency location to shine the spotlight on Omaha stylist Clair Wight. Clair has been a member of the Regency team for the past eight years and although working in a salon in Omaha wasn’t always her plan she is extremely happy how it all worked out. Clair’s love for her clients, he hard work ethic and her positive attitude are just a few reasons she earned the spotlight this month. For all the other reasons, continue reading below!
How long have you been a stylist at Garbo’s Salon and Spa, Regency and what made you want to work there?

“I have been working at Garbo’s in Regency since the beginning of September in 2011. If I am being completely honest, when I got out of hair school I had dreamed of moving back to Des Moines, but when I went out and started to hand out resumes I always got the response that they were looking for someone with experience and clientele. This, of course, got me down but I knew there were amazing salons in Omaha so I decided this was my sign that I was supposed to stay here. I had gotten my hair done with friends for school dances before at Garbo’s and it had always stuck out to me as a salon with a fun atmosphere and great people. That was exactly what I was looking for.”
Why did you choose to be a hairstylist and why do you love it?
“I may have told my mom when I was in preschool I was going to be a hairstylist… She even has the book to prove it.
I knew that cosmetology would be fun and would always keep me on the go and learning more. There is always something new to learn and your day is never the same as the day before or the day after. I never feel like I’m stuck going to work, I love what I do so it doesn’t ever seem like work to me.
Making other people feel beautiful and good about themselves is also an amazing feeling. You never know what the person in your chair is going through but when they are in your chair you can make a difference and that day you as a stylist might be exactly what they need.”
What is your favorite service to provide to your clients?
“That is definitely a hard one for me to answer as I love so many. I would say it would be a toss up between highlights, keratin treatments. and updos. They are all fun for different reasons. I would say they are definitely the services I want to see on my books.
Highlights are great to give dimension with subtle or drastic change and they are very customizable.
The keratin treatments in Nebraska during summer are great to reduce frizz with all the humidity we have.
Updos are fun because of the high school girls coming in for dances or the brides you see on their wedding days. I know it is such a special day for them and to get to be a part of that, to watch them see the look they have dreamed of for themselves on this day come together, there’s no better feeling.”

What is something that sets you apart from the other stylists at Regency?
“That’s a hard question… I have had a lot of my clients for years and even those I haven’t I would consider them like another family to me. I have grown close to a lot of my clients and have been with them through marriages, births of children, graduations, moves and so many other life experiences.
Every year I get invited to high school graduations, sometimes gender reveal parties, and bridal showers. My clients have become a different family to me. There are some that know if they ever need anything at all, hair related or not, to let me know and I will do the best I can to help them.
I can’t imagine being a hairstylist without the amazing clients that I have coming in to see me and I try my best to make sure my clients know how much I appreciate them and how much they all mean to me.”



I'm sure all stylists have crazy stories about their clients or a service you once provided - do you have any you would like to share?
“I’m not sure my clients would appreciate me sharing all their secrets :). Years ago though I had a client come in and I could tell her hair was different from the last time I had seen her. The texture, the thickness, there was just so much that seemed to be off. She, of course, had noticed it too so as we were talking she had asked if I had any idea of what could cause the change. We went through the list: had she changed product, changed medications, started new medications, had she recently had her thyroid checked, anything along those lines…
Next time I saw her she let me know that she was expecting! She was about 8-12 weeks along when we were trying to figure out what the change was!”
Is there anything else you would like our readers to know?
“I would just say that I love being a stylist at Garbo’s. Being a hairstylist is such a rewarding career, but I couldn’t do it without my amazing boss, extremely talented coworkers, or my loyal and caring clients. So I would like to say thank you to all of you.”


Clair is one of the sweetest people you’ll meet and we are very lucky to have her as a part of the Garbo’s family! If you’re looking for a new stylist in the Omaha area we can’t recommend Clair enough – especially for one of those three services she loves to do!
If you need a little hair-inspo today please check out (and follow!) Clair’s Instagram feed. Her wedding styles are amazing!! If you’re ready to book with Clair now you can use this link.
Thanks as always for reading!
Sending love,
Maddie
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MIDTOWN CROSSING
Midtown Crossing
3220 Farnam St. #2105
Omaha, NE 68131
402.933.9737
Mon – Fri / 9am – 8pm
Sat / 9am – 6pm
Sun / Noon – 6pm
VILLAGE POINTE
Village Pointe
17255 Davenport
Omaha, NE 68118
402.991.2227
Mon – Fri / 9am – 8pm
Sat / 8am – 6pm
Sun / 11am – 6pm
REGENCY COURT
Regency Court
120 Regency Parkway
Omaha, NE 68114
402.391.2333
Mon – Fri / 9am – 8pm
Sat / 8am – 5pm
Sun / 8am – 5pm
SOUTHPORT
Southport
12744 Westport Pkwy
La Vista, NE 68138
402.505.3776
Mon – Fri / 10am – 9pm
Sat / 8am – 8pm
Sun / Closed