Beyond the Brush- Ella Gardner
Welcome to Beyond the Brush—a series where we spotlight the artists behind Le Shag. It’s not just about what they do, but who they are. From early inspirations to favorite tools, these stories give you a glimpse of the creativity (and chaos) behind the chair.
Ella Gardner is a special being. Creative and full of wit she is personally one of my favorite people on the planet. Ella’s been at Le Shag for just over two years, but her relationship with hair started way earlier—somewhere between chopping up Barbie dolls and experimenting with emo-scene color on herself. She was always drawn to the creative side of things, and doing hair just made sense: be an artist, but not a starving one.
Now assisting and taking clients as a junior stylist, Ella’s especially into learning how to texturize short cuts and (in her words) “stop being such a perfectionist.” One of her proudest skill upgrades? Big, bouncy blowouts—thanks to Jen Donovan.
She’s into broccoli-head haircuts and all varieties of mullets—but not the endless, made-up names for shag cuts. Right now she’s loving the Love Hair Smoother by Davines, blasting Unmet Ozcan in the background, and trying to master the fine art of balayage.
Best advice she’s gotten so far? You can’t please everyone.
You’ll often find her opening up the salon, setting the vibe for the day, maybe watering the seeds she planted outside—or adding something unexpected for Pride.
Her favorite part of the job? When clients leave feeling bodacious. In five years, she sees herself managing Le Shag… or on a film set somewhere doing hair for weird characters. Ella keeps it real, whether she’s cutting a shattered mullet or sneaking plants into the sidewalk cracks. She’s thoughtful, creative, a little unexpected—in the best way. She’s not here to follow a formula, and we love her for that.
Beyond the Brush – Ella Gardner
