Meet Kara Jean

Kara has spent 18 years in the beauty industry, but her interest in hair and makeup started long before she ever stepped behind the chair. As a kid, she would put on beauty talk shows for her sister and cat, already knowing this was the direction she wanted to take.

Her work today centers around hair that fits naturally into a client's life. Kara especially enjoys low-maintenance color, seamless grow-outs, gray blending, and extensions used to create natural-looking volume. She's built a long-standing clientele through consistency, and she is often the stylist clients think of when they have an important event coming up and want to know their hair will be where they need it to be.

Kara holds both cosmetology and barbering licenses and has continued her education through advanced color training and extension certifications with Bellami and Kelly Maxwell. Her work has also taken her beyond the salon, including bridal magazine covers, runway hair at New York Fashion Week, and local fashion events.

Her approach is straightforward. Kara believes a consultation should establish clear expectations for both the stylist and the client. If she believes another professional is better suited for what someone needs, she will say so and refer them accordingly. She wants the people in her chair to feel heard, comfortable, and confident in the direction they decide on together.

The relationships matter just as much as the service. Kara describes herself as reliable, loyal, punctual, and direct, and she enjoys getting beyond surface-level conversation with the people she works with. Her goal has always been to be the stylist someone can return to throughout different chapters of life, from routine maintenance to major changes and important milestones.

Kara is also the founder and co-owner of Solace Salon. The salon grew from her desire to create a calmer, safer environment for independent professionals who wanted a different experience from traditional salon culture. That same philosophy later shaped the development of Solace's in-house Head Spa department and the experience being created for both clients and employees.

Outside of the salon, Kara has more than 15 years of experience in medical research and works with a research team connected to Washington University. She comes from a large family, is the youngest of her siblings, has a blended family, and has a unique co-parenting dynamic she's proud of. When she isn't working, she loves traveling, spending time with family, watching soap operas, and keeping up her daily French lessons.