Meet The Team
We are a team of like minded professionals who truly enjoy helping our fellow stylists grow to their full potential. We have a culture of collaboration and an energy that’s fun to be a part of. We know we’re better when we support and build each other up!
xo, gardner team
Erin Gardner
owner/stylist
Erin is the founder and owner of Gardner & Co Salon. She is a National Educator for the extension brand Covet & Mane. She is currently only accepting extension clients.
Check out her work here!
Abby Jackson
Stylist
Abby has known for the last decade that she would become a hairstylist. Abby loves all color techniques but has a special place in her heart for lived in and dimensional looks, whether that’s blondes, brunettes or even fashion colors. On her days off Abby enjoys spending time with family or hanging out outside, adventuring with her dog.
Check out her work here!
Lauren Oelfke
Stylist
Lauren has been at Gardner & Co Salon since its inception and loves that she gets to make women feel beautiful not only on the outside but on the inside as well. She specializes in extensions and color. She found her passion for extensions way back in high school when she realized how truly life changing they can be for herself, and how much confidence they can give a woman. She now is certified in multiple extension brands, but her favorite is Covet & Mane, which she is a coach for (meaning she helps our owner Erin teach extension classes).
She also specializes in natural looking colors, whether that’s a lived in brunette or blonde, a high impact blonde, a solid brunette or anything in between. She loves to help women look and feel their best by giving women a hair color that compliments their skin tone and maintenance desires.
Lauren is a newlywed and when she’s not at the salon, she is working on renovating her house with her husband- they’re completely redoing everything themselves!
Check out her work here!
Taryn Broer
Stylist
Taryn has been growing her loyal following of clients since she graduated school in 2003. Her warm personality and natural care-taking abilities make her the incredible hairstylist she is today. Taryn is a cutting specialist who never shies away from a bob, pixie or curly cut. She spent eight years at Spalon in Edina, first doing advanced training herself, and then mentoring up and coming stylists. When she isn’t keeping us entertained here at work, you can find her at home with her husband Bronson and their three kids: Crosby, Hank and Max.
Taryn is currently not accepting new clients.
Lindsey Johnson
Stylist
Lindsey graduated from the Aveda Institute Minneapolis in 2022! After assisting Erin for five months, she has been full time behind the chair ever since! Her love for the industry began when she was a little girl, watching her grandma do hair in the little salon of her home in Forest Lake, MN!
Going into cosmetology school she knew she wanted to specialize in blonding, lived-in colors, and hand-tied extensions! Four years later, that’s exactly what she loves getting to do every day. When Lindsey is not in the salon, she enjoys spending time with her friends on the lake, traveling, playing sand volleyball, cute coffee shops with a good book, and hiking adventures with her dogs Rizzo and Koda!
Check out her work here!
Kara McElmurry
Stylist
For Kara, doing hair isn’t just a job, it’s a passion. What began as styling her own hair for gymnastics meets quickly turned into a love for making others feel beautiful. From school dances to bridal mornings and everything in between. She first pursued college with plans to be a special education teacher, but her heart kept pulling her toward the salon. With a little nudge from her family (and a big leap of faith), she finally followed her passion and has never looked back.
Now, Kara Brings that same care and creativity to every client she meets. Whether you’re after lived-in color, soft or bold blondes, or a style that just feels right, her goal is always the same; to help you feel seen, celebrated, and confidently you.
When she’s not behind the chair, you’ll find her with her yellow lab Hobbes, going for sunset drives, shopping, or curled up with a good book.
Check out her work here!
Olivia Schmitz
Stylist
Olivia always dreamed of becoming a hairstylist as a kid. Later in life, her plans changed and she graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in special education. It was a few years into her career when her passion for the beauty industry eventually led her back to her original dream.Today, Olivia specializes in blonding, from bright blondes to dimensional shades, and is especially focused on growing her extension business. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, hitting the gym, reading, and being outdoors, especially by the lake. Olivia loves connecting with her clients and helping them feel beautiful, both inside and out.
Check out her work here!
Harper Schultze
stylist
Harper specializes in color services with a passion for blonding and lived-in looks. She’s also growing her extension business to help clients achieve their dream hair transformations.
Outside the salon, Harper loves getting lost in romance novels, cooking up delicious meals, and spending quality time with family and friends. Her warm personality guarantees you’ll always have a laugh in her chair.
Check out her work here!
Liv Marks
stylist
Liv graduated from Atelier Academy of Beauty in Hopkins in May 2025 and is currently assisting Erin while slowly adding open days to her schedule. She has her books open every Saturday for clients.
Check out her work here!