Tru Salon Oakdale Team
I love to create… fashion and interior design to landscaping and digital design… I find so much joy in visually bringing things to life. Of course, this means I love to shop! I also love to travel with my husband, go on family adventures, eat good food, and connect with others through open, honest and genuine conversations.
why hair? I never even considered going to hair school until a hairdresser pulled me aside my senior year of high school and said, “ I know you think you’re going to school for business, but you need to go to hair school!” I couldn’t be more thankful she did. I was always doing hair. Over time I began to learn how I could combine my love of business and math with my love of hair and art. I’m so blessed to love what I do.
why tru? Tru is about so much more than hair… Tru is about connection. We connect with our guests by listening, teaching and inspiring. We connect with our co-workers by believing in them, building them up and empowering them. Finally we connect with ourselves, which I believe is the most important of them all. When we are able to fully see and love ourselves, that is when true beauty really shines through.
founder. co-owner. luxury color specialist.
Holly Bontrager
Paragraph
oakdale + cardinal
I am passionate about education and have been trained by celebrity artists in California and I continue to go back for more! If I'm not here in the salon, I am usually traveling or spending tiem with my family.
why hair? I always knew I wanted to do hair for the reason of wanting to make women feel as beautiful on the outside, as they are on the inside. Give a woman great hair, and she feels like she can conquer anything! My drive behind it all is to deliver a luxury experience where you can come, relax and be pampered while receiving the best hair services.
why tru? I have been at Tru for 9 years now and have never looked back. We always say, "we are who we grow" and from day one this has stayed with me and proven to be true. As an educator at Tru, I now get to do the same! I love pouring into each of my associates everything I have learned, and giving them the tools that have led to my success!
co - owner. luxury color specialist. certified in nbr & ibe hair extensions.
MEGAN
BETTS
oakdale + cardinal
I provide friendly service the moment a guest steps in the door. I strive to make people feel welcome and relaxed when they're at Tru. It's all about the guest experience!
why hair? I have my license in cosmetology, and although I'm no longer about to work with hair, I still wanted to be as close to it as I could. I get to interact with people every day and make them feel at home.
why tru? I love that I get to work with some of the hardest working women I know. Everyone is a lot of fun and really supportive!
TEAM LEADER.
MAKAYLA DOBNEY
oakdale + cardinal
I love to travel, spend time outside and online shop a little too much. When I’m behind the chair, I’m all for lived in colors and blonding.
why hair? I chose hair for the creativity and interaction that this career brings.
why tru? I chose tru because of the positivity this company provides… we are a family unit.
stylist. certified in ibe hair extensions. lash artist.
Ashton Whaley
oakdale
I grew up in a small town and I love to cook and paint. When I’m in the salon, I love doing eyelash extensions and big color transformations.
why hair? I have a desire to help all people, with all hair types, feel their best in any way I can.
why tru? I was drawn in by the timeless style of Tru as well as all of the education and fun personalities!
stylist.
Makenna Amsbaugh
oakdale
I’m from Iowa City; I went to the university of iowa unsure of what i wanted to do and left with awesome friendships after realizing I was not meant for a desk. I was not the girl that grew up always wanting to do hair; I was much more of a tomboy. I chose hair because it’s the most relaxing way to have fun relationships with my clients. I want you to feel heard and have peace when you leave my chair.
My goal with color is to give you as low of maintenance as possible to achieve your goal in a healthy way, whether that’s a root color, balayage or foil application. I offer haircuts that are created with the mind to wash and go or be fully styled, in addition to a variety of treatments to keep your hair strong, moisturized and shiny!
why hair? Growing up my mom and brother were super creative, and I found a place to have that freedom as well. I want to create livable art, it’s the accessory you don’t take off. It’s my favorite investment to make for myself.
why tru? I interviewed because of the associate opportunity, and I was amazed in my interview with Holly when I heard her passion for hair, but also her people. Now I can create beautiful hair on incredible clients/friends while having the best work/life balance.
stylist. Makeup Artist.
Samantha Gorvin
oakdale
I’m 23 and have been doing hair at Tru for 4 years now since graduating from capri college in cedar rapids. I’m originally from fort madison, iowa, but moved to the iowa city area for school, and made it my home. I love live music, astrology, trivia and just being around people. When I’m not at the salon, you can most likely find me at the dog park with my great pyrenees puppy, Chagu.
why hair? Hair has always been something I loved. I remember paying my sisters to let me braid their hair, and in the 4th grade, begging my mom to buy me a mannequin head so I could practice doing curls. While it may have started with just taking something and making it pretty, my favorite part about hair is the connection I make with my clients… being able to empower and help someone present to the world who they are, with confidence.
why tru? Tru has given me all the tools I need to make “playing with hair” a career for me. From the moment I walked in the doors, I have been flooded with support from every person on the team. I think the saying “if you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room” is pretty fitting. The knowledge and perspective that everyone on the team is so willing to share, makes tru the right room for me.
STYLIST. CERTIFIED IN LASH LIFTS & BROW LAMINATION.
CARLEE KEENAN
oakdale
I am from Davenport, Iowa and moved to the Coralville area just for the chance to work at Tru! In high school you would either find me on a volleyball court or on stage, and I spent a lot of time doing hair and makeup for the music department and loved it. After high school, I went to Mount Mercy University to major in chemistry, but after finding out that I would have to take other classes that I wasn’t interested in, I decided it wasn’t for me. I moved back home and began my journey at Capri College in Davenport and fell in love with hair and makeup all over again. Now you’ll find me behind the chair doing what I love, going out and traveling with friends or still on the volleyball court.
why hair? I’ve always loved to dress my friends up, and do their hair and makeup. That continued through high school in show choir and the theater department, and after I graduated, it continued as I was the head of makeup for a musical I was in. So to me, cosmetology was the obvious choice as a career path! I’ve always loved it and how people feel afterwards!
why tru? When I was about to graduate from capri, I had interviewed a few places around my hometown and nothing was really feeling like home. I went out on a limb, and drove an hour to shadow at Tru, and absolutely fell in love! I realized very quickly that I could see myself thriving here! I was also very interested in the associate program to help me grow as a stylist before I was fully on my own. I am so thankful for all of the knowledge and love that everyone here has poured into me! I am also forever grateful as I have found my dearest friends here at Tru.
stylist.
Abby McCaughey
oakdale
I was born and raised in Iowa City and grew up in the performance world. That is where I found my passion for creating and all things art. When I’m not behind the chair you can find me outside, enjoying nature or spending time with my family.
why hair?
I fell in love with the creativity and freedom this career brings, while also getting to connect with my guests.
why tru? I was drawn to Tru for the education program and as soon as I walked in the door, met the team, took in the style and feel, it felt like home.
STYLIST.
Hailey Fay
oakdale
Tru Salon Cardinal Team
I love to create… fashion and interior design to landscaping and digital design… I find so much joy in visually bringing things to life. Of course, this means I love to shop! I also love to travel with my husband, go on family adventures, eat good food, and connect with others through open, honest and genuine conversations.
why hair? I never even considered going to hair school until a hairdresser pulled me aside my senior year of high school and said, “ I know you think you’re going to school for business, but you need to go to hair school!” I couldn’t be more thankful she did. I was always doing hair. Over time I began to learn how I could combine my love of business and math with my love of hair and art. I’m so blessed to love what I do.
why tru? Tru is about so much more than hair… Tru is about connection. We connect with our guests by listening, teaching and inspiring. We connect with our co-workers by believing in them, building them up and empowering them. Finally we connect with ourselves, which I believe is the most important of them all. When we are able to fully see and love ourselves, that is when true beauty really shines through.
founder. co-owner. luxury color specialist.
Holly Bontrager
Paragraph
oakdale + cardinal
I am passionate about education and have been trained by celebrity artists in California and I continue to go back for more! If I'm not here in the salon, I am usually traveling or spending tiem with my family.
why hair? I always knew I wanted to do hair for the reason of wanting to make women feel as beautiful on the outside, as they are on the inside. Give a woman great hair, and she feels like she can conquer anything! My drive behind it all is to deliver a luxury experience where you can come, relax and be pampered while receiving the best hair services.
why tru? I have been at Tru for 9 years now and have never looked back. We always say, "we are who we grow" and from day one this has stayed with me and proven to be true. As an educator at Tru, I now get to do the same! I love pouring into each of my associates everything I have learned, and giving them the tools that have led to my success!
co - owner. luxury color specialist. certified in nbr & ibe hair extensions.
MEGAN
BETTS
oakdale + cardinal
I provide friendly service the moment a guest steps in the door. I strive to make people feel welcome and relaxed when they're at Tru. It's all about the guest experience!
why hair? I have my license in cosmetology, and although I'm no longer about to work with hair, I still wanted to be as close to it as I could. I get to interact with people every day and make them feel at home.
why tru? I love that I get to work with some of the hardest working women I know. Everyone is a lot of fun and really supportive!
TEAM LEADER.
MAKAYLA DOBNEY
oakdale + cardinal
When I’m not behind the chair, you’ll find me doing any outdoor activity possible, traveling or doing house projects. In the salon, I’m all about lived in colors and invisible bead extensions.
why hair? Seeing other people experience their dream hair fills my soul. I’m a firm believer that it’s important to feel good on the inside and out.
why tru? I love working at Tru because it’s a positive, supportive environment. I feel truly blessed to be doing my passion everyday and to be working alongside the most inspiring people!
STYLIST. CERTIFIED IN IBE HAIR EXTENSIONS.
ELLIE MCGARVEY
cardinal
I love music, grabbing drinks with friends, movies and binge watching a good netflix series with my cats, Kylo and Han. I grew up in Burlington, Iowa and also love going back home to hang out with my little brother.
why hair? I’ve always been a creative thinker and love having a career where I get to create art every single day. I love making people feel empowered and seen through hair!
why tru? I wanted to go somewhere where I could continue to grow and learn, surrounded by a team. I loved that there was an associate program, where I could learn from another advanced stylist while gaining confidence to set me up for success behind the chair.
stylist.
Sarah Meeker
cardinal
I was born and raised in metro Detroit, Michigan before moving to Iowa in 2017. My biggest passions and hobbies in life are the show Survivor (I haven’t missed a single season in my life and never will), learning language and culture (I love Russian), geocaching, hiking and playing with my cats, Violet and Penelope!
why hair? After trying college for a semester and realizing immediately it wasn’t meant to be, one of my friends, who is a hair stylist, told me to at least give cosmetology school an attempt and the rest is history. I fell in love with the art and science of hair color and constantly discover new passions in the industry.
why tru? Other than the salon being absolutely gorgeous and the continued education Tru provides, I’m surrounded by inspiring women who offer a priceless support system!
stylist.
Branden Craft
cardinal
