Risk & Business Magazine Nesbit Agencies Fall 2020 | Page 4

208 HAIR LOUNGE SPOTLIGHT
ASHLEY SCHAEFER CREATES WITH
STYLE AND GRACE
Ashley Schaefer began 208 Hair
Lounge on Main four years
ago, although she has been
working in the salon setting
for 15 years. A full-service
salon and spa, 208 does everything from
hair and hair extensions, facials, and microneedling
to laser hair removal, eyelash
extensions, and lypo laser.
Ashley was drawn to the industry by her
love of art. In fact, she won first place in
the state for her artwork and was awarded
several scholarships to the Minneapolis
Institute of Art (MIA). She was a welder at
the time and determined to transform her
creativity into a job that would maintain
her financial security. Entry into the salon
industry was a natural choice.
She used her welding savings to cover the
balance of her tuition for classes at MIA,
where she focused on hair and makeup. She
also took additional courses on skincare.
Ashley loves education, so she has made it a
priority throughout her career.
IN ADDITION TO
WINNING BEST-IN-
STATE FOR HER ART,
ASHLEY HAS ALSO
PARTICIPATED IN
VARIOUS EVENTS AND
COMPETITIONS AS
AN OUTLET FOR HER
CREATIVITY.
One of these events was Wella’s 2012
Trendvision where she took home second
place against 10,000 competitors worldwide.
The idea of the runway competition was
to embody a trend established by industry
leaders, which consists of hair, makeup,
colors, and clothing. Ashley’s role was to
creatively pull it all together. This win
landed her a feature in Modern Magazine
that same year.
Ashley is active in the community. When
the American Cancer Society’s Look Good
Feel Better program in her area began
charging local hospitals an unaffordable
$4,500 to participate, she took over the
program and donated all of the time and
materials out of her own supply. Ashley
doesn’t have her own dedicated not-forprofit
at this time, but she currently runs
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