Meet Our Beauty Experts
SalonDJ clients can expect a highly personalized experience in a luxurious space – where they are heard, served and always leave feeling energized. Call to book an appointment with one of our beauty experts, 312-964-5088!
daniel janicek, salon owner & Cutting DIrector
Daniel Janicek has been a stylist for 20 years, where his creativity, attention to detail and focus on you is unmatched. He treats each person as if they’re one of his celebrity clients. Daniel worked with Elizabeth Arden Red Door Salon for 15 years, playing an integral role as Regional Cutting Director. In addition to working closely with famed New York City stylist Zahir Ziani, he led the launch of Elizabeth Arden Red Door Salon’s first dedicated creative team. He was one of two Elizabeth Arden Red Door stylists selected to participate in a joint initiative with Jon Gialluisi and Mario Tricoci Salons. After two decades of working alongside industry leaders and perfecting the art of hairdressing, Daniel’s passion for innovation finally paid off, leading to a truly revolutionary concept: SalonDJ – Chicago’s FIRST Hairtography® studio. The first of its kind, SalonDJ was born out of owner Daniel Janicek’s desire to create an innovative, high-end beauty destination that addressed a true consumer need – streamlined headshot styling and photography services in one location.
amy geister, salon manager & Color Director
Amy Geister set her sights on the beauty industry at a young age. After joining Elizabeth Arden in 2009, she met and learned from educator Daniel Janicek and Laura Coleman, soon finding herself growing as she honed her skills through salon experience and a multitude of ongoing specialty trainings, such as Advanced Color Training at The Red Door Spa Academy under acclaimed hairdresser, Zahir Ziani. She brings more than a decade of experience as a creative hair designer and educator to SalonDJ, where she continues to works with hairdressers to refine their skills, build a strong foundation and push the limits within the industry to create art and take beauty to the next level. Amy’s work has been featured in magazines including CS Magazine, CS Men’s Book, Modern Luxury, New York Fashion week and several key industry trades though social media platforms in American Salon, BehindtheChair, and Hairbrained. She has also been featured as the Key Hair Lead for several fashion expositions in Chicago, and on-set for music video production series, where she served as a stylist to The Arctic Monkeys.
VALERIE BURQUIN, Hair design & color specialist
Valerie Burquin, formerly known as Paris, spent 15 years styling at the well-esteemed Mario Tricoci, and her passion continues to grow. She has been a hair stylist for over a decade, which armed her with the experience, knowledge and confidence to pursue her dream of providing her guests with both cut and color services, taking her talents to SalonDJ. Her passion continues to grow as the beauty industry is always changing, she is constantly learning new trends and techniques to create a customized experience for each guests. Valerie finds inspiration everywhere she goes, specifically when we enter a new season, new trends, colors, fashions all that she can apply to hair. She has a positive energy that will make you want to keep coming back. Valerie has been published in Modern Salon Media with her UpStyle Collection. She is also an active member of nickeducation.com, led by Wella’s International Top Stylist and former creative director of Vidal Sasson, Nick Berardi. She has also been backstage at every Fashion Show for Mario Tricoci, including Chicago’s Fashion Week held at the famous Millennium Park where the finalists for Mario Make Me a Model are announced.
Nikki troester, hair design & Color specialist
Once a licensed cosmetologist, Nikki Troester started working at Anthony Peter in Oak Park. During this year she was the ‘utility player’ learning evey role in the salon business, which lead her to Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa. Nicolette trained under the then Regional Cutting Director, Daniel Janicek, who served as a mentor and friend. Once she became a specialized stylist, Nicolette achieved one of her biggest dreams – fashion week – styling for New York Fashion Week in both seasons – spring and fall work with designers like Vivenne Tam and Nanette Lepore respectively. Within three and a half years of styling at Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa she became the style educator for the Chicago salon. She decided to take the plunge and join Daniel and his team at the opening of SalonDJ. She has been licensed for over six years, specializing in cutting, styles, up-dos, bridal hair, Keratin Complex treatments and dry cutting. She places high value on listening to her guest, understanding their needs and strives to create a personalized creative style for her clientele.
RICHELLE BELMONT, SENIOR stylist
Ask Richelle Belmont what her most important task is while at work and her answer may surprise you - DAY MAKER - she replies without skipping a beat. Her personal career mission is to create a look that leaves guests feeling enhanced to their personal best!
After graduation from the Aveda Institute 14 years ago, Richelle worked in Aveda Concept Salons for seven years where she expanded her cutting techniques as well as an affinity for natural based products. She then decided to broader her horizons even more after joining the team at Studio 110 where she added extensions and precision cutting to her repertoire while honing her finishing abilities. Richelle was chosen by the Salon Owner and Style Director to be the lead Trainer for Deva Curl Cutting within the salon as well as Men's Grooming. These revolutionary methods of precision cutting and managing natural curl has proven to be extremely valuable when working with her clients.
Richelle is thrilled to have found a new home at SalonDJ Hairtography and extended to expand her horizons even more while continuing to do what she does best, make her clients' day!
jim clark, senior stylist DESIGN & COLOR SPECIALIST
Jim Clark didn’t always know that he was meant to be a great hairstylist. Like a lot of us he picked a major because he had to pick something and well, Merchandising sounded as good as anything! Lucky for all of Jim’s loyal and adoring guests the creative Gods were calling his name by his Junior year and he decided to answer the call. He enrolled at the prestigious Aveda Institute and realized right away that this was indeed his true path and passion.
Jim’s good luck and hard work continued after he graduated and he landed a job at the well-known Michael Anthony Salon in Chicago, before moving onto Studio 110 where he was the Color Educator. He has been a colorist now for 13 years and his extensive knowledge and experience allows him to create a full-range of beautiful color for his guests while utilizing the most cutting edge techniques in the industry.
Throughout the course of his almost decade long career Jim has earned the loyalty of his guests which he also considers his dear friends. It’s clear to see by the smiles on their faces when they’re in his chair that they feel the same.
Karah deutsch, Senior stylist
Karah Deutsch's love for hair and makeup started at a young age, when she would beg her babysitter to let her keep her blue eyeshadow and hairstyle all day until her mom came home. This marked the beginning of 14-year journey pursuing her dream in the salon world.
After graduating from the Salon Professional Academy in 2010, she worked at several salons in the suburbs before taking her talents to the city. In 2014, she started working at Trio Salon, and later moved to Studio 110 where she was the Head of Advanced Training program for the cutting department.
The passion behind her curiosity continues to lead her path of opportunities in her life. Once Karah had her first taste of specialized advanced training she knew she was hooked! Throughout the course of her career she worked with Vidal Sassoon, Redken, and Hot Head extensions. She also did on-set work doing hair and makeup for stage, TV, photo shoots, including work with Miss Illinois and Universal Studios. Karah is a true artist, specializing in precision cutting, extensions, barbering and Brazilian Blowout, and an expert makeup artist as well. As much as Karah loves the creative part of what she does she still considers the most rewarding aspect of her career being able to contribute to her guests’ self-confidence.
jerrypaul, HAIR DESIGN & COLOR SPECIALIST
Motivated with inspiration throughout his life, JerryPaul was born with a creative spirit for envisioning what could be. Do not follow the trend, but set the trend and stand out. He believes that mediocrity is never an option. If there was a skill he did not possess as a stylist, then it was something to be achieved. JerryPaul discovered his passion for hair when he was about 12 and started to give himself haircuts. This early discovery transpired into a life and career as a hairstylist, starting with legendary Charles Ifergan Salon, which has trademarked some of the most intense and difficult training. After years of training and building his clientele, he continued to work in a series of top salons and went on to travel the country, educating countless salons for various product lines. Performing on stage in several hair shows and platforming at America’s Beauty show, JerryPaul is driven to motivate and inspire all those he comes into contact with. It is his passion to ignite the fire within so that others may have success as well.
NICOLE spazio, COLOR SPECIALIST
Nicole began her journey as a hair artist after graduating high school when she enrolled at Mario Triccoci University. She began her apprentice program at Studio 110. While there, she had the privilege of training under an amazing colorist who inspired her to this day. After graduating from the program two years later, she had earned herself a spot on the floor.
Nicole then started to hone in on what kind of colorist she wanted to be. Balayage quickly became her obsession and forte. She fell in love with the subtle way it can add dimension to a look or make a complete transformation. Her clients who had never heard the word before were now adding it to their services. She started to see her clients as walking canvases, transitioning into a true hair artist.