Tru Salon Oakdale Team
- i love to create… hair, fashion, interior design and gardening are my favorites
- my family is my world… my husband, daughter and 2 sons
- always dreaming about my next beach vacay
- there’s just something magical about yoga and sunsets
- the bachelorette and the kardashians are my guilty pleasure shows
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 spreadsheets 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 and how we make others feel. I love connecting with others through open, honest and genuine conversation. At Tru, we connect with our guests by listening, teaching and inspiring. We connect with our coworkers by believing in them, building them up and empowering them. Most importantly, we connect with ourselves. 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 10 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 hair extensions.
MEGAN
BETTS
oakdale + cardinal
- i’m the middle of 5 kids
- sunsets are my simple pleasure in life
- i do a new hobby every year
- seeing new climates is my favorite part of traveling
- my coffee drink is a lavender honey latte
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
- iowa city native
- tomboy turned hairdresser
- let's be friends
- low maintenance hair is my dream
- I have a sweet baby boy, Walter (my golden retriever)
why hair? 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.
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. COLOR SPECIALIST.
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 like to paint and draw + anything diy
- i love to travel, my favorite place i've been to is austria
- my goal is to have everyone fall asleep in my chair (this is your time to relax, use it how you want)
- i play fetch with my cat Luna every night
- i love anything detail oriented
why hair? I have a desire to help all people, with all hair types, feel their best in any way I can. I love doing eyelash extensions and big color transformations.
why tru? I was drawn in by the timeless style of Tru as well as all of the education and fun personalities!
stylist. LASH ARTIST.
Makenna Amsbaugh
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
- proud boy mom + cat mom
- love to be outside
- diy advocate
- yoga lover
- thrift queen
- i have a passion for creating and all things art
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. LASH ARTIST.
Hailey Fay
oakdale
- born in california, then grew in Mexico, than landed here in Iowa
- first language is spanish, if I pause I'm trying to find the right word
- three favorite albums: 'UVST' by Bad Bunny, 'CTRL' by SZA and 'MSBBS' by Karol G
- my biggest goal is to retire early and to see the world
- favorite service that I offer is a 90s blowout
Stylist.
Jess Najera
oakdale
Tru Salon Cardinal Team
- i love to create… hair, fashion, interior design and gardening are my favorites
- my family is my world… my husband, daughter and 2 sons
- always dreaming about my next beach vacay
- there’s just something magical about yoga and sunsets
- the bachelorette and the kardashians are my guilty pleasure shows
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 spreadsheets 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 and how we make others feel. I love connecting with others through open, honest and genuine conversation. At Tru, we connect with our guests by listening, teaching and inspiring. We connect with our coworkers by believing in them, building them up and empowering them. Most importantly, we connect with ourselves. 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 10 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 hair extensions.
MEGAN
BETTS
oakdale + cardinal
- I have 2 Shih Tzu’s, Benji and Finley, and they are my whole life 🤍
- I love to read and I am always down for a good book recommendation.
- I’m an Enneagram 9 and it is me to a T.
- I love a good patio with some Mexican food on a sunny day!
- I’ve never met a reality tv show that I don’t like
why hair? I have my license in cosmetology, and although I’m no longer able 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 from the moment they step in the door. It’s all about the guest experience!
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 read (and will probably ask you your favorite reads)
- i love to garden
- i love to travel, but i’m also a huge homebody. It makes no sense lol.
- my favorite workout is hot yoga
- i have a mini golden doodle name paloma
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. luxury color specialist. 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
- born, raised, and currently still live in Washington, Iowa
- frozen strawberry margarita enthusiast
- thrift store junkie
- love a good true crime documentary or any documentary for that matter
- certified hobby hopper i’m all in to anything i’m passionate about
- never met a sweet treat I didn’t LOVE
why hair? I’ve always been very creative and have always loved doing hair. After attending design school for a year and deciding it wasn’t for me, completing hair school became my next goal! I’ve been obsessed ever since!
why tru? I knew I wanted to go somewhere that had an associate program to learn all the additional things they don’t teach in hair school. I’ve also gotten to meet some of my best friends working at tru!
stylist.
Taytum Hobscheidt
cardinal
I’ve lived in Iowa City for the last few years but I’m from a small town in IA called Blairstown. When I’m not in the salon, I’m usually with friends or my cat, Kahlo.
why hair? Growing up, I always found hair and makeup so much fun and I love uplifting and making other women feel good.
why tru? Continued growth and education is important to me. I’m thankful that I was able to work under an advanced stylist during the associate program who poured her knowledge into me.
stylist.
Chloe Meeks
cardinal
why tru? It felt like the perfect place for me to learn and grow. I love that Tru values education and has a fun work environment.
stylist.
Emily Gaul
cardinal
