About Us
W 
e began Renessence here in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of Chicago in 1995 and were early pioneers in bringing the use of essential oils and aromatherapy to the salon and spa business. We dedicated the organization to showing our client guests a more natural, well balanced approach to hair and body care services.
As we progressed, we listened to the requests and needs of our guests and expanded the business, as well as the products and services that we offer here at Renessence. As our mission states, we go to great effort to maintain the quality of our products and services, and also in offering a beautiful, tranquil place for guests to come to.
The staff of Renessence share a common desire. To honor our ability to serve our guests. We have dedicated our past, present and future efforts to achieve harmony with our mission and to bring these results to you.
Our Staff
Hair Stylist Team
Amy
Amy has been in the cosmetology industry since 1985. She graduated from an esteemed school owned by platform artists David and Andrea Whitman, where she learned British and French cutting methods as well as American. Working and living in various locations, she finds herself most at home in Chicago. A former AVEDA institute educator, Amy has mentored students as well as apprentices, receiving many accolades. Providing hair services, she specializes in both curly and fine hair, creating organic "user friendly" styles. Amy regularly attends continuing education to keep her inspired, also finding inspiration everywhere from the urban landscape to the natural world. When not in the salon, Amy's healthy lifestyle ethos includes inspiration from yoga, running, meditation, eclectic music, cooking and adventure travel.
Kurt
Kurt has been in the hair business since 1983 and has had two other salons in the Chicago area and is a co-owner of Renessence. His background before being a stylist was in art and he has taken those passions and skills to the hair design business. He has won numerous awards and has been called one of the top 20 people for incorporating aromatherapy into the hair and salon business. Kurt enjoys working with guests on an individual level, helping guests see and experience the possibilities or a change or new look. Kurt has always taken as a philosophy that the salon business is about serving and creating with respect. Kurt has been an avid tennis player for 25 years, enjoys travel, fitness, music, film and theater.
Kristi
Kristi chose to be a hair professional because she enjoys being with people and expressing her artistic nature in hair styling. She loves being a hair professional because the field is always changing and she needs to keep educating herself to stay ahead. She feels a sense of purpose knowing that she is responsible for educating her clients and teaching them new ways to achieve the hairstyles they are looking for. She has been a hair professional since 2005 and keeps herself busy outside of the salon with running, exercise, reading, cooking, sports and finding new music.
Manal
Manal chose to become a hair professional because she loves beauty and being around people. She enjoys serving people and works tirelessly to create the best look for each individual client. She has been a hair professional since 1999. She is passionate about making people look and feel great about themselves and believes that listening and understanding the client's needs are of utmost importance. Away from the salon Manal likes to take care of herself and her family.
Megan
Megan chose to be a hair professional because she loves to make people feel better about themselves and if she can accomplish this then she feels complete. No two days are ever the same and Megan thrives to keep up with the changing styles and trends. Megan has been a hair professional since 2002 and is our trained Aveda Color Coach. Outside of the salon she enjoys travel and music.
Sharon
Sharon chose to become a hair professional because she loves to work with people and style hair. She loves to connect with her clients on a regular basis and help clients reach their beauty goals. She helps her clients to feel positive and good about themselves and has been a hair professional since 2001. Outside of the salon, Sharon loves photography and cooking.
Nails, Waxing and Skincare Team
Nahrein
Nahrein has been in the beauty business since 1991 and offers nail, waxing and threading services and is a co-owner of Renessence. She has a passion for servicing the needs of our guests and is always striving to offer all our guests the best spa experience by listening to their needs and providing superior service in our peaceful environment.
Puja
Puja is a skincare specialist for Renessence. She has been in skincare since 2002. Puja is known for the calming nature of her skincare therapies and her ability to give results that can be seen after just one treatment. In addition, Puja has special skills in threading and waxing, eyebrow reshaping as well as nose and ear wax treatments.
Ali
Ali has been in skincare for over 7 years. Recently relocating to Chicago from San Francisco, Ali started her career in medical aesthetics and later expanded to a holistic, organic approach to facials and problem skin correction. She has continued her education through extensive product training, aromatherapy studies, holistic healing, and corrective facials. She also performs waxing services. Also a yoga instructor, Ali thrives on connecting with others and helping them bring out the vitality and radiance that we all have within.
Massage
Araceli
Araceli chose to become a massage therapist because she enjoys taking care of her clients in a professional and compassionate manner. She feel that to give a massage is a self-rewarding experience by her being able to improve her clients well being. She is passionate about massage and all that relate to it: anatomy, energy work and the different massage modalities. She has been performing massage since 2007 and when not working she loves to reconnect with nature.
Grace
Grace is a massage therapist with Renessence. She was trained in 2006 and is licensed in Illinois, North Carolina, and Colorado. She customizes each session based on the client's needs and incorporates a little of everything she has learned in order to achieve not only a relaxing massage but one that gets results and leaves the client feeling as though they are improving their physical well-being. Her massage therapy education includes myofacial release, myoskeletal alignment techniques, Thai yoga massage I, Craniosacral I, Prenatal and Reflexology.