Jump to meet our team!

About us

Root Salon & Spa was created to bring a vision to life in Northwest Ohio. Our founder, Kate Gnagey, envisioned a salon and spa that made space to be people centered. This idea meant serving guests beyond the typical expectations. Creating experiences, showing respect and love, and reaching for new levels of what the local salon and spa could be. 

To be a people centered small business for guests, primarily meant showing the same experiences, respect and love for the team members each day! We truly believe we can accomplish more if we work together with our North Star in focus. We believe our North Star is a point where our Holistic Roots come together. Where we can honor each person who steps into our building – team and guests alike, intentionally choose to love others and extend grace, provide superior services through advanced education and effective and bioavailable products, and advocate for our Earth with our choices. 

We have specifically chosen to always be reaching for new opportunities and creating new career boundaries. We are a High Performance Salon. We look for education opportunities, say no to trendy topics and products that do not fit our Holistic Roots, and we challenge and support each other with love. People centered businesses will always need room for grace, but the overflow of joy that people bring will always be worth it! 

Whether you are looking for a salon and spa experience in our small town or looking to join a highly motivated team, we would love to meet you and are honored to have you visiting this page! Welcome! 

Our Team

Our team is made up of crazy-talented individuals. Each bringing their unique personality and experiences to our team. We operate with a team mentality and encourage you to visit us all! 

Team Member Kristen Royster | LEAD NAIL ARTIST |
Team Member
Kristen Royster
| LEAD NAIL ARTIST |

Kristen’s warm and engaging spirit will have each guest leaving with a smile. Her fur-babies and time spent at the gym keep her busy when she’s not behind the station. She looks forward to teaching those around her by engaging in conversation! Kristen flourishes off of making her guests feel pampered!

Team Member Taylor Barnhiser | SENIOR STYLIST | BRIDAL TEAM | LEADERSHIP TEAM |
Team Member
Taylor Barnhiser
| SENIOR STYLIST | BRIDAL TEAM | LEADERSHIP TEAM |

Taylor grew up watching her mother build a career in the beauty industry. She admired the way her mother developed her own techniques and continued her education throughout the years! Taylor specializes in blonding and her favorite part of her career is helping her guests find a color that compliments them. Taylor has a contagious laugh and one of the kindest hearts!

Team Member Alexandra Baughey | LEAD NAIL ARTIST |
Team Member
Alexandra Baughey
| LEAD NAIL ARTIST |

Learning is a daily pursuit, Alex fulfills through her time spent with each guest. At home, her heart belongs to her rescue dogs. She looks forward to the surprise that each day behind her nail station will bring. Alex empowers all those around her to reach their goals!

Team Member Emily Beck | PERMANENT MAKEUP ARTIST | SENIOR ESTHETICIAN | PLANT MOTHER |
Team Member
Emily Beck
| PERMANENT MAKEUP ARTIST | SENIOR ESTHETICIAN | PLANT MOTHER |

Emily is one of those people who did not imagine herself in the beauty industry growing up, but we are so glad she is! Emily is very detailed oriented which compliments her skill in every lash extension and waxing appointment. She loves that instant gratification of a perfected service. Emily is a helpful and caring person who is constantly giving through her talents! Another way you'll see Emily serving is through our plants. She grows our offerings and keeps them thriving until they find their forever homes!

Team Member Lori Bostelman | SENIOR ESTHETICIAN |
Team Member
Lori Bostelman
| SENIOR ESTHETICIAN |

Lori became an esthetician loving all that esthetics stood for. She is passionate about helping others with their skin. She loves the peace that is found in the spa during facial treatments and sharing that experience with each guest.

Team Member Shiloh Ciepiela | MASTER STYLIST | SALON MANAGER | BRIDAL TEAM | LEADERSHIP TEAM |
Team Member
Shiloh Ciepiela
| MASTER STYLIST | SALON MANAGER | BRIDAL TEAM | LEADERSHIP TEAM |

Shiloh is dedicated to her craft and is constantly working to soak up every bit of education available so she can make sure each and every guest has the best experience possible! Shiloh was basically born with a pair of shears in hand and ideas for coloring in her head. She goes above and beyond for guests and her fellow stylists. Shiloh plays a vital role on our leadership team! If you ever get a rare glimpse of Shiloh when she is not creating hair art, she will be educating her team members or planning her next trip to Disney!

Team Member Elizabeth Eason | LEAD MASSAGE THERAPIST |
Team Member
Elizabeth Eason
| LEAD MASSAGE THERAPIST |

Elizabeth's kind spirit and quiet nature cultivates a deep level of relaxation during each massage! She loves spending time with her kids and enjoys the sunshine in her free time. Liz’s passion shines through her gift of healing within her massages.

Team Member Marli Fryman | SENIOR ESTHETICIAN | BRIDAL TEAM |
Team Member
Marli Fryman
| SENIOR ESTHETICIAN | BRIDAL TEAM |

Marli’s bubbly personality conveys her kindness and knowledge all at once. She is an amazing team member and a true joy to be near. She excels at all she tries and loves making other feel valued and welcome at Root.

Team Member Chelsea Gerken | SENIOR MASSAGE THERAPIST |
Team Member
Chelsea Gerken
| SENIOR MASSAGE THERAPIST |

Being a LMT came naturally for Chelsea, which is probably because she has always wanted a career where she could help others and make them feel their best! She loves all of the amazing people that she gets to meet in this career and truly believes every person that comes into your life teaches you something. She loves evolving and constantly learning new things in the industry! She really takes the time to understand each guests struggles and find a plan to bring them peace.

Team Member Jan Gnagey | LEAD STYLIST | SENIOR NAIL ARTIST |
Team Member
Jan Gnagey
| LEAD STYLIST | SENIOR NAIL ARTIST |

Jan is an experienced professional who takes special care with each and every guest she comes into contact with. She loves to get to know her guests and she strives to meet all of their needs with great attention to detail. She dedicates her time with each service to really pamper her guest as well as providing beautiful results!

Team Member Kate Gnagey | MASTER ESTHETICIAN | LEADERSHIP TEAM | CVO | CRO |
Team Member
Kate Gnagey
| MASTER ESTHETICIAN | LEADERSHIP TEAM | CVO | CRO |

Kate cares deeply for her team members as well as all the guests at Root Salon & Spa. Her goal each day is to make Root better than the day before. Wondering what exactly a CVO and CRO are? Chief Vision Officer and Chief Reminding Officer better describe her title rather than CEO and she much prefers these! She is truly the definition of a serving heart and carries the vision of what Root embodies with her.

Team Member Harmony Harrington | SENIOR NAIL ARTIST |
Team Member
Harmony Harrington
| SENIOR NAIL ARTIST |

Harmony is all about the details. She has always loved art and enjoys bringing her talent to her craft! Her bubbly personality shows through her fun earrings and serving heart. Providing the perfect design for each client allows Harmony’s flowing creativity to shine!

Team Member Presley Keller | SENIOR NAIL ARTIST | LEAD STYLIST |
Team Member
Presley Keller
| SENIOR NAIL ARTIST | LEAD STYLIST |

Presley is a talented nail artist that keeps her guests smiling through their whole service! She's the sweetest! Her favorite part of her job is really creating a relationship with her guests and getting to know their stories. Her nail art is one of our favorite things to awe over and her creativity seems never ceasing!

Team Member Fiona Knapp | LEAD STYLIST |
Team Member
Fiona Knapp
| LEAD STYLIST |

Fiona loves being able to help heal her guests through healing their hair. Having lived overseas and in different parts of the country Fiona’s travels have brought many eye-opening experiences. She knows communication is key to providing an amazing service and being detail oriented sets her apart!

Team Member Ashley Kunesh | SENIOR ESTHETICIAN | LEADERSHIP TEAM | CPO |
Team Member
Ashley Kunesh
| SENIOR ESTHETICIAN | LEADERSHIP TEAM | CPO |

What we can't manage to tell you in these 1000 characters, will be summed up in your first few minutes of speaking with Ashley. She connects with people on the deepest levels in a five minute conversation like you've never before experienced. She is genuine to her core and shows how she cares by asking to know every detail of your life since birth! She is a strong and compassionate leader that leads with humor, gifts of coffee, and "organized" chaos. She carries her other role as police officer into her roles here by really taking the time to understand guests and team members needs and working to help provide whatever is necessary.

Team Member Dara Lavinder | MASTER MASSAGE THERAPIST | LEADERSHIP TEAM |
Team Member
Dara Lavinder
| MASTER MASSAGE THERAPIST | LEADERSHIP TEAM |

Dara spends her days giving people the most relaxing experience possible! She makes it her priority to really know her guests and serve them in the best way she can. She brings her other passion as an EMT with her by always responding quickly to other's needs, helping however she knows how. She heals best with her Thai therapy and provides a different route to healing that traditional massage alone cannot always give.

Team Member Brieann Lewis | SENIOR ESTHETICIAN | BRIDAL TEAM |
Team Member
Brieann Lewis
| SENIOR ESTHETICIAN | BRIDAL TEAM |

Brie is a compassionate person and loves to help others feel their absolute best. She loves every part of being an esthetician - waxing, makeup, skincare, and lash extensions! Brie has spent all her life caring for others. She is a rare gem and never tires of helping others all around her. She truly has a serving heart and you can feel it in the first few minutes of speaking with her.

Team Member Maddie Lulfs | SALON DIRECTOR | LEADERSHIP TEAM |
Team Member
Maddie Lulfs
| SALON DIRECTOR | LEADERSHIP TEAM |

Maddie has been dedicated to serving at Root since opening day! She’s always cheering on our team members from the side lines, encouraging them to be better each day. Trying new foods and learning a healthy lifestyle fuels Maddie's passions outside of salon life. Maddie keeps the harmony within Root balanced and ever flowing.

Team Member Alyssa Malburg | HOSPITALITY TEAM |
Team Member
Alyssa Malburg
| HOSPITALITY TEAM |

Through her cheerful personality and contagious laugh she keeps the energy high and positive! Alyssa enjoys photography and utilizes her talent within the salon. She truly cares for those around her and isn’t afraid to be herself! Alyssa is dedicated to serving each guest that walks through the door.

Team Member Alex Munger | SENIOR MASSAGE THERAPIST |
Team Member
Alex Munger
| SENIOR MASSAGE THERAPIST |

Alex is so passionate about his career! He truly believes that this is his calling and we feel that is evident in his appointments. His goal is to improve his guest's quality of life by helping them with chronic pain and healing from injury. His treatment plans are detailed and he fully understands the human body and how injury can impact more than just where is hurting.

Team Member Becky Nadeau | MASTER STYLIST | BRIDAL TEAM |
Team Member
Becky Nadeau
| MASTER STYLIST | BRIDAL TEAM |

Becky is not only skilled with hair and makeup, she loves making connections with her guests! Becky’s favorite part of her career is being a part of her guests lives and growing with them. She is committed to making people look and feel their absolute best. Becky is a forever optimist, an encourager, a true team player, and her smile is infectious!

Team Member Samantha Netcher | SENIOR NAIL ARTIST | LEAD STYLIST | BRIDAL TEAM | LEADERSHIP TEAM |
Team Member
Samantha Netcher
| SENIOR NAIL ARTIST | LEAD STYLIST | BRIDAL TEAM | LEADERSHIP TEAM |

Sam a sweetheart and really strives to give her most to each guest. Her kind heart is evident at your first visit with her. She loves pampering her guests and is always finding new knowledge to bring to her services. She strives for perfection and it shows in her work!

Team Member Aisha Sarmiento | PERMANENT MAKEUP ARTIST | MASTER ESTHETICIAN | LEADERSHIP TEAM |
Team Member
Aisha Sarmiento
| PERMANENT MAKEUP ARTIST | MASTER ESTHETICIAN | LEADERSHIP TEAM |

Aisha is an amazing esthetician who's passion is making each guest feel confident. Her humor is matched only by her heart. She invests in all of her guests and encourages them to know their true beauty. Aisha has been a critical part of Root Salon & Spa becoming 95% sustainable!

Team Member Emah Starkweather | HOSPITALITY TEAM |
Team Member
Emah Starkweather
| HOSPITALITY TEAM |

Emah has the biggest heart, most of all for her dogs of course. She’s got a fiery spirit, and anyone would agree after meeting her just once. She may look shy, but don’t be fooled, she makes everyone who walks through our door feel like family. 

Team Member Loren Starkweather | HOSPITALITY MANAGER | LEADERSHIP TEAM |
Team Member
Loren Starkweather
| HOSPITALITY MANAGER | LEADERSHIP TEAM |

Loren has the biggest smile and will be one to greet you at the door. If you're craving a specialty made drink, she does it best! She thrives off of building a relationship with our guests and providing them with an enjoyable environment. When she’s not at Root, she’s either cuddled up with her pups or on the hunt for her next good book to read!

Join Our Team

Check out our Careers page to learn more about working with us!

Yesterday our hair stylists took a Kevin Murphy colour class!

Spending their Sunday learning new techniques and diving deeper into formula creations. The beauty industry is so blessed to grow with each other and always expand on knowledge with all the latest trends!
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Whether you use skin tools or your hands, your skincare regime is meant for you.

It is a time reserved specifically to take care of yourself and we think that is a beautiful thing!
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We love to see our space filled with green!

We hope you had a great day full of green and good luck🍀 See you tomorrow at 8:00 AM!
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Lash extensions are always a good idea but a fan favorite during the spring and summer months!

With lash extensions you skip mascara and occasionally find yourself ditching even more makeup as it’ll help your face seem brighter and give you a more simple routine during the warmer months! Plus who likes to bother with waterproof mascara during water days?!

Lashes by @brielewis.esthetics_root
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A small preview of what you can expect when walking into a spa service 🌿 ...

Meet the newest release from Osmosis -- Therapeutic Body Oil!

This potent oil replenishes lipids and restores the skin's protective barrier. This bottle contains deeply hydrating botanicals, essential fatty acids, antioxidants, and therapeutic levels of THC-free CBD to calm, soothe, and protect your skin. This formula absorbs quickly leaving behind no greasy residue!
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If you’re looking for a flex gel full set or fill this week is your opportunity as we have a few availabilities!

Flex gel set by @alex_and_nails
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Are trims really vital in your hair length journey?

Absolutely! A trim is important as it’ll remove split ends before they travel up the hair making your ends more brittle and overtime losing length. Receiving a small haircut is a great way to refresh your current hairstyle while not sacrificing length!

Hair by @chichairby_shiloh
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Have you heard of Nuface?

This is a micro current treatment that improves muscle tone and contours in the face and neck!
Aisha loves adding this to her skincare routine 5 days out of the week for as little as 5 minutes!

This low level current reduces fine lines and wrinkles, aids in lymphatic drainage, and re-educates the facial muscles!
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POV the most relaxing lash appointment 🤍 ...

How are you caring for your nails?

Simple daily habits can make all the difference in your nail health! Some of our favorites take only seconds!

- We love our all natural cuticle oil pens. They're great for on the go and come in a variety of scents.
- Our wooden nail brushes with agave bristles are the best around and compostable when you're ready to replace it!
- FarmHouse Fresh hand creams are natural, smell amazing, and each purchase helps to save animals!

Which of these are you using?
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The past few days some of our girls took over HPSA in Dallas!

We had our largest group yet at 12 and we know we’re only going to get larger each time. This session was all about identity, finding your true self and serving all around you to your best potential.

High Performance Salon Academy is a training where hundreds of people in the salon industry come together and work on building one another to be the best versions of themselves.

Happy International Woman’s Day and see you all in Philadelphia! 💗
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Our wellness pod is totally customizable! Here is what you can expect at your visit! 

You don’t have to use heat if you’re heat sensitive. You can also choose just infrared or traditional sauna heat rather than receiving both! 

We will have fresh water, cool towels, and take care of your linens and clean up when you’re finished. 

We have each guest begin at low to medium heat and most guests will stay in that range for all sessions moving forward. However, some may opt to eventually move to higher heat settings with the highest reaching 192 degrees. 

Should your wellness plan include treatments with higher heat, you will need to purchase a sauna suit to wear over your gym/lounge clothing during the treatment. 

When using no heat - medium heat settings, you’ll be able to take advantage of our red light therapy. Skin does need to be exposed for red light therapy. You will be nude or in underwear - whatever you’re most comfortable in! 

Halo therapy and essential oils are included in every visit. The vibrational massage can be adjusted or turned off as well. 

Each visit begins at 15 minutes and can increase over time, maxing out at 30 minutes. ...

Did you know going to a proper nail artist frequently will actually strengthen your nails?

Regular nail care keeps your nails growing healthy and strong, preventing cracks and nail breaks while you strengthen your nails for your desired nail length!

Flex get set by @samanthanetcher_root
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Whether you’re searching for a subtle or a bold look, permanent brows are the perfect way to customize your perfect style!

Permanent brows by @aisha.root
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Have you heard? Only $25 for your first visit in our wellness sauna pod during the month of March!

Check our link in bio for more information and to schedule your visit!
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We all know hydration is key but it effects so much more than you think!

Your skin will be hydrated and look plumper, your hair has more shine and in better health and lash retention is even better when hydrated!

Hydrojug is our favorite when it comes to staying hydrated. Many colors with adorable sleeves to mix and match patterns. The sleeves have a strap to carry even easier and they have pouches on the sleeve to hold things like your phone or credit cards!
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Spring is around the corner and so are all the blondes 💛

Hair by @taylor.barnhiser
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Bringing the spa environment to our shampoo area! 🌿

Dim lights, whimsical ivy houseplants, acoustic music, essential oil hot towels and the most relaxing shampoo bowls you’ve ever laid in makes for a spot you’ll never be ready to leave.
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Introducing our wellness sauna pod!

Infrared heat therapy + red light therapy + salt therapy.

Each visit is an experience! Not only do you receive the benefits from these therapies, but we also use essential oils, cool tools, and fresh orange water to make this an escape from the day to day.

Treatments start at 15 minutes and go up to 30 minutes and are all customizable!

We know how many of you will enjoy this so we have created a monthly membership as well! So excited for you all to experience this and feel better internally.
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