Paula Schmidt-Lewis
Co-Owner
Paula earned a BA from DePauw University and an MSW from the University of Illinois, and for the past thirty years served as a nonprofit leader, youth development authority, program evaluator, and survey researcher. Paula has served the nonprofit community in several capacities including membership on more than 20 boards, task forces, and advisory committees. She has also served a number of organizations as a volunteer, executive, professional facilitator, and advisor.
Paula founded PSL and Associates, Inc. in 1988. The company specializes in program evaluation. As a result of her dedication to the nonprofit community, Paula has been awarded the title of Chieftain State of Indiana, Council of the Sagamores of the Wabash, which is the highest award that is conferred by the Governor. Paula was also honored to serve as a Fellow of the Lilly Endowment Leadership Education Program. In 1983, Paula was given a key to the city by Mayor Hudnut, for leadership in programming for high school dropouts and other youth in the city, and was also voted second runner up as Indianapolis Woman of the Year sponsored by the Indianapolis Magazine.
Through the years, Paula has also acquired significant expertise in what it takes to manage a successful organization. She brings this to her latest endeavor, a co-owner of Shear Artistry with her business partner Stacy Deskins, who is also Paula's friend and hair stylist.
Stacy Deskins
Co-owner, Stylist
Stacy comes to Shear Artistry as co-owner and a stylist with over 16 years experience. After attending barber school, she finished her studies at the Michael Taylor Institute of Hair Design in Denver. During her time as a cosmetology student, Stacy was awarded 3rd place in the International Rocky Mountain Hair Show in women's razor cutting.
Stacy not only enjoys being a stylist because she has a passion for creating beautiful hairstyles, but also because she loves interacting with people and putting smiles on their faces. She is grateful for the variety of people she has met through her work and the special and long-term friendships that have often formed with those in her chair. Not only is Stacy known as a great stylist, she is also famous for her laugh, which is contagious and engaging.
A few of Stacy's other honors include local magazine cover hair styles, haircuts for advertisements for salons at which she has previously worked, and all the hair styles for the 2011 Pink Ribbon Connection Breast Cancer Calendar produced in Indianapolis. She has also done hairstyling for modeling agency photo shoots, and she singularly styled all models for two style shows within the past two years.
In addition to razor cutting, Stacy has extensive expertise with hair coloring, including highlights, single coverage and multi-dimensional coverage. In October 2012, Stacy added to her color expertise by attending a seminar, (Color Explosion), that featured 17 world-class colorists. There she learned the latest techniques for creating bolder hair color and color placement that flatters all styles. Stacy approaches her work as an artist, not a technician, and her results yield clients that have followed her wherever her work took her.
Being a co-owner of Shear Artistry starts a new chapter in Stacy's career. Her extensive connections with other true artists in the business, several whom she brought to Shear Artistry as co-workers, bode well for a bright future for Stacy, her business, and all those in Indianapolis, both male and female, seeking a fresh look that will turn heads.
In 2010 Stacy was recognized as the best razor cutter in Indianapolis in an issue of the Indianapolis Monthly. In 2012, Stacy won the hair competition at the 4th Annual Indie Arts Awards. RAWards, and was thereby named the Indianapolis Hairstylist of the Year!
Nakia Style
Stylist
Nakia Style, as she is known to her clientele, is one of the original natural hair care artists in Indianapolis, specializing in the locing process of all hair textures. She also focuses on custom cuts, color and styling of natural hair.
Nakia received her cosmetology license in 2007 soon after she became the assistant to world-renowned loctician, Thierry Baptiste. She trained and traveled with Baptiste while perfecting her craft under his guidance.
Nakia has styled for photo shoots, hair shows and a music video, as well as natural hair conventions in the US and Caribbean. She continues to receive education and training through Goldwell color line. In 2012, Nakia attended Color Explosion, a Goldwell seminar featuring 17 world-renowned color specialists. There she learned the latest techniques for using bolder color and color placement that flatters all styles.
Nakia's constant cheerful disposition is one reason her clients love coming back to her regularly. Moreover, Nakia's work is beautiful. The combination of what Nakia can do, the perfect placement of color, intricate braiding, sophisticated updos, as well as locs, cuts or combouts, is unparalleled by few if any natural stylists anywhere. Nakia can truly create masterpieces in all natural hair textures!
Andra Prentkowski
Stylist
PHOTO COMING SOON
Andra Prentkowski is our newest stylist at Shear Artistry, but she is not new to hair. Andra worked previously as a master designer at a salon and spa in South Bend. There she oversaw a successful transition in the salon’s management, educated new stylists on cutting, coloring, and styling techniques, and built a highly successful personal business through her strong referral programs and community involvement.
Andra completed her cosmetology education at Vogue Beauty College in Mishawaka, Indiana in 2009. She has since had extensive professional training and development, attending a Vidal Sassoon ABC Cutting seminar, a wide variety of programs on hair coloring techniques sponsored by Aveda , and advanced color training through Schwarzkopf. She also participated in America’s Beauty Show in Chicago between 2009 and 2012.
Andra is known for her extensive knowledge of conceptualization and design, familiarity with various types of hair care and styling, and awareness of practices and latest trends in the industry, reinforced through her ongoing education. She is also a versatile, results-driven professional with a passion for the salon industry and making those whom she serves extremely happy with their hair.
Kyla Thompson
Stylist
Kyla Thompson has ten years of experience as a licensed cosmetologist. She attended Anthis Career Center in Fort Wayne, IN during her junior and senior years of high school and received her professional license upon graduating in 2000. Initially, she worked under the guidance of her Aunt Janet Wallace who owns a salon in Fort Wayne, IN. It is there where Kyla learned the importance of healthy hair care and professionalism.
n Fort Wayne, gaining valuable experience, learning from other stylists and salon owners, finding renewed love for the art of hair styling, and planting the seed for ownership of her own salon one day. After moving to Indianapolis in 2009 to pursue higher education, Kyla found herself behind the chair once again when school dismissed for the summer. In late 2010, with a strong base of loyal clients built largely while working in a barber salon, Kyla opened own salon Alyk Juan Hair. She ran the salon and worked in it until joining Shear Artistry in July 2012.
Kyla is especially known for her the beautiful silky styles she creates, both curly and relaxed, and for her gorgeous sew-in work with curly and straight extensions. Her sassy shorter haircuts, work with color and highlights, and the beautiful up-dos she often does for brides or other special occasions are also a part of Kyla's repertoire. Kyla sometimes refers to herself as a :Hairnista", or even a "Naturalista." Nickname aside, one thing is for sure about Kyla: Hair, it's definitely her passion!
Before joining us at Shear Artistry, Kyla worked in several salons in Fort Wayne, gaining valuable experience, learning from other stylists and salon owners, finding renewed love for the art of hair styling, and planting the seed for ownership of her own salon one day. After moving to Indianapolis in 2009 to pursue higher education, Kyla found herself behind the chair once again when school dismissed for the summer. In late 2010, with a strong base of loyal clients built largely while working in a barber salon, Kyla opened own salon Alyk Juan Hair. She ran the salon and worked in it until joining Shear Artistry in July 2012.
Kyla is especially known for her the beautiful silky styles she creates, both curly and relaxed, and for her gorgeous sew-in work with curly and straight extensions. Her sassy shorter haircuts, work with color and highlights, and the beautiful up-dos she often does for brides or other special occasions are also a part of Kyla's repertoire. Kyla sometimes refers to herself as a :Hairnista", or even a "Naturalista." Nickname aside, one thing is for sure about Kyla: Hair, it's definitely her passion!
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Pauline Pryor
Stylist
After many years in project management, Pauline decided to make a change in her career and pursue her passion in hair styling. In 2005 she graduated from Kaye's Beauty College and has since taken several professional development courses including the following: American Crew advanced men's haircuts; Toni & Guy Collection advanced cutting classes; Elgin Charles of Beverly Hills advanced hair extensions training; and, Avalon and Design Essentials relaxer systems.
The combination of all these advanced courses has given Pauline quite a repertoire of skills. Her extensions are impeccably placed and hand sewn so no one will ever suspect they are not her client's real hair. She loves cutting men's hair as well as women‚ and she is as comfortable applying a relaxer as she is creating a head full of long curls.
Pauline's motto is: "Promoting healthy relaxed hair with fashion forward style."
Dr. Caryn Guba
Dr. Caryn Guba has worked in the field of dentistry since 1981. She graduated from Indiana University Bloomington and Indiana University School of Dentistry. She is a licensed Dental Hygienist and licensed Dentist in the State of Indiana. Dr. Guba is a member in good standing of the Indiana Dental Association, American Dental Association, Indiana District Dental Society, Indiana Academy of General Dentistry, Academy of Oral Medicine & Toxicology, American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and is a Diplomat of the Academy of Pain Management. She is a certified Invisalign® Dentist in Indianapolis. She is also certified in anti-aging procedures and smile lifts.
Dr. Guba attends many continuing education courses each year and has received multiple certificates from the L.D. Pankey Institute and the Center for Advanced Dental Studies. She is recognized for her preventive and holistic approach to patient care and is considered an authority in TMJ pain management. Dr. Guba has studied extensively with "Aesthetic Advantage" under Dr. Larry Rosenthal and has taught with "Aesthetic Advantage" in Palm Beach Florida. She received her Certification in the areas of BOTOX® / Dermal Filler from Aesthetic Medical Training (AMET). Being a dentist she has a comprehensive understanding of facial anatomy as well as practical experience with BOTOX® and Dermal Fillers.