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meet our executive team

our executive team
TEN-DOTS

kathy-40babbluecathleen stoelting

founder and owner

Growing up, I was a tomboy, much more likely to be out digging worms with my brothers than doing girly girl stuff. Every Saturday morning my Mom headed to the corner beauty shop for her weekly shampoo and style, and sometimes I got drug along. I took my Nancy Drew mystery and sat reading quietly amidst the pungent aromas of perms and AquaNet, while my mom “got beautiful” and caught up on the latest with her Saturday friends. This hour at Cassie’s Salon was the highlight of my mom’s week, but honestly, my 10-year-old self just didn’t get it.

Fast forward many years to the first time I experienced a professional blowout at a blow dry bar while traveling in New York City. I was immediately addicted (and I finally understood why that hour each Saturday morning was so important to my mom). My experience was relaxing, my hair looked so much better than if I had done it myself, and my style lasted for days. But more important was how I felt inside. My glossy, shiny, bouncy hair made me feel confident and transformed my day. I felt ready to go out and conquer the world.

Born out of this feeling was my dream to bring this brilliant concept to the Midwest. I wanted to offer amazing blowouts and prescriptive conditioning treatments, but equally important was my desire to create a home-like space where you can sink in, relax, laugh, talk and connect. Where you can enjoy a fine glass of wine or steaming mug of tea. Where you feel valued and loved. So, after two years of dreaming and planning (and loads of blood, sweat and tears!), Ten Friends was born.

We think you’ll notice we’re different from other blowout bars. We pay attention to every small detail, and we’ll stop at nothing to create a one-of- a-kind experience. Granted, farm to shower, Italian products have replaced AquaNet, but our goal is really the same as back in my mom’s day – helping you look and feel beautiful, so you can go out and be amazing. Consider this your personal invitation to visit our house. We have a chair waiting for you.

lindsay-zito

linsay zito

artistic director

Lindsay is our passionate, on-trend style expert. Over the past decade, Lindsay has established herself as a true visionary of the beauty industry. Along with honing her craft behind the chair for six years, she served as National Educator for John Paul Mitchell Systems, the worldwide, billion-dollar hair care company founded by Paul Mitchell and John Paul DeJoria. In this role, Lindsay traveled to regional salons to coach, educate and inspire stylists in product knowledge and the latest techniques in hair cutting and styling. Most recently, Lindsay was invited by the creative director of Davines, Joseph DiMaggio, to be part of his Runway Styling team, where she lends her expertise and skill during New York Fashion Week. Lindsay is the heart and soul behind Ten Friends proprietary “art of styling,” and works directly with the artistic lead, as she implements and oversees the artistic training, development and vision.