Meet the team

Tricia

In 1982, Tricia Wake began her career with a relentless quest for quality, knowledge, and skills. Over the next ten years, she honed her craft with Vidal Sassoon, Toni & Guy, American Crew,  Wella International, Schwarzkopf International, Vivian McKinda, and many more.

In 1995, Tricia met a talented and progressive stylist from England named Stephen (now her husband and co-owner) and was instrumental in the development of a European Education team for a Chicago-based group of salons. Traveling to countless photo shoots for publication in national and international trade magazines and training seminars, Tricia’s team received the 1999 Midwest Beauty Show “Educators of the Year” prize.

Her skill in execution and training brought rave reviews and lead to an appearance on a make-over show for the then-popular TV talk show Jennie Jones.

2001 was the year Tricia and Stephen launched Focas, with the centering concept of focasing on you.

In 2010, Tricia was recognized and honored by being asked to be a Chapter Leader for the national Eufora Salon Owners Network (ESON), a position she accepted and still holds today.

Stephen

Stephen Wake began styling hair in 1964 in his home country of England. By 22, he was the youngest salon manager in Bournemouth, and by 30, he was managing director/shareholder of a progressive group of salons.

A self-described workaholic, Stephen has been featured in seminars, shows, videos, and publications throughout the world. His name is synonymous with all that is good in the British hairdressing industry and his work internationally recognized.

Coming to the U.S. in 1995, Stephen studied and adopted the world-renowned “American Standard of Service” taught by his wife, Tricia, and continues to apply his knowledge of European Hair Techniques to his lucky clientele.

While his execution is highly skilled, Stephen has a unique ability and passion for motivating and training others. The ongoing training provided at Focas is a key ingredient to what sets their services apart.

You will experience what it is to like in the hands of a true visionary.

Maria has a gifted eye; nothing is outside her realm.

Creating individualized recipes for healthy hair and color. When sitting in Maria’s chair you will experience what it is like to be in the hands of a true visionary. From cutting, to color, to hair extensions, even down to photography, Maria has proven she has a gifted eye.

“I will say one thing….MARIA!! I love my fresh, sassy, sexy haircut.”

It takes about 30 seconds with Skyler to realize she is passionate about hair and brimming with ideas about making yours look its best.

Whether she is bringing a client’s vision to life or presenting new options, she thrives on working with both the classic and the adventurous.

Skylar excels at creating looks that complement each client’s unique beauty—and offering styling tips so the look can easily be duplicated at home.

“Skyler is the best! always so accommodating and what style is best for me”

Energetic and friendly, Kat’s clients all feel like her most important client of the day. With years of experience, Kat works with confidence after completing a consultation that results in a clear vision of the ideal result.

Kat’s love for hair makes her open-minded and creative, so every client leaves her chair looking and feeling their best.

Her precision in classic cuts along with her ability to execute on-trend styles personalized for easy care means Kat has a loyal clientele who return again and again, refer their friends, and keep her chair busy.

“Love Kat! she does a flawless job every time. “

To say that Dominique is upbeat, charismatic, and excited about hair is an understatement, and her depth of industry experience hasn’t diminished her enthusiasm.

Dominique delivers creativity along with a firm understanding of the demands of real life. In her view, The best style is a versatile one that the client can duplicate at home.

Whether you’re looking for classic, trendy, chic, funky, or want Dominique’s perspective on what would look best on you, she’ll be excited to make it happen, and you’ll soon be hearing, “Wow! I love your hair!”

“Great customer service! Dominique is excellent in cuts and color..oh and eyebrows too!”

Though Hannah’s a whiz at maintaining the style you love, she also has a fresh eye that delivers an updated element or a completely new look.

Her ability to asks great questions delivers a comfortable client experience and on-target results. Her hair-up dos are beautiful .

How do we know that clients are thrilled with Hannah’s services? We watch them leave the salon with style, shine, and just a bit more bounce in their step.

“I went to Hannah with a terrible color on my head that I didn’t think could be fixed, she exceeded my exceptions.”

Treating every guest to a delightful salon experience and stunning outcome is Emily’s goal. Her clients benefit from receiving Emily’s undivided attention and well-practiced artistry.

If you have styling woes or complaints about the current condition of your hair, be sure to share your thoughts with Emily. She is a trusted source of tricks, trips, processes, and products that will lead you to loving your hair like never before.

“Great experience!! Emily cuts my hair perfectly every time always with a smile on her face.”

As an advanced colorist, Becky offers her clients state-of-the-art techniques and on-trend processes. Her natural curiosity and love of all-things-hair keeps her studying and training so you can trust her to execute the look you found online or even with the most unconventional request.

With her expert communication style, she has a knack for getting into your head, seeing your vision, and executing it with precision!

Becky has also developed a unique pre- and post-surgical hair design concept. She works extensively with brain surgery patients to help them look their best on their journey to healing. To learn more, Becky can be contacted directly through her website SurgicalHairDesign.com.

Author of the book Live Seizure Free available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble online, and Walmart.com.

“I got a fresh new look from Becky; the compliments just keep coming.”

There is true joy in Lo’s passion for making every client feel special, pampered, and beautiful. Maybe that’s why she’s a client favorite with many who have been with her for years.

Lo is consistent not only in her upbeat personality, but she is also a rock star in executing creative color and personalized cuts that always have an element of glamour.

“Lo has spunk, personality, and is what I would call A Color Wizard.”

Never one to shy away from dramatic changes, Madison can take you to a new look incrementally or (almost) in the blink of an eye.

From firefly red to platinum blonde, the color of a client’s dream is found in Madison’s chair, and always with your hair’s health in mind. And what if that picture you brought in isn’t exactly right for your coloring or hair texture? You can trust Madison to fully explain every option and help you make the best choice for you!

“Madison is a true professional and friendly! she did a great job highlighting my hair.”

It’s not only important to know the latest looks, top stylists like Jackie know how to execute them to suit your face structure and your hair type.

She spends time personalizing and detailing every cut to perfection, and leaves her clients saying they never knew their hair could be  easy and look this good.

You’ll easily be able to recreate that gorgeous style at home and bad hair days will be a thing of the past.

“Jackie is great my absolute favorite, worth every penny.”

According to Gina, a thorough consultation is one of the keys to her success. And given her warm and friendly personality, you’ll find her pursuit of understanding your desires an absolute pleasure.

Both creative and precise, Gina is always up hearing your vision or helping you find ways your hair can be more beautiful. You’ll experience high-level professionalism delivered with authentic care—because Gina thrives on making her clients happy!

“Gina is very, very welcoming; she is an excellent stylist, I recommend her highly!”

She outgoing and her versatile style can cater to your individual needs. She will spend time consulting with you to get the look you what you always wanted.

Alyssa makes her guests feel like your best of friends.

“I was pampered to the max way more than I usually get elsewhere, I highly recommend Alyssa.”

Loving, nurturing personality and has a gentle touch. She is filled with natural talent, Renee is dedicated to honing her craft and constantly pursuing the latest and best training opportunities.

“Had my hair colored by Renee, she reviewed colors on a board with swatches and understood I’m a warm tone and delivered!”

You might walk in feeling ho-hum, but spend some time with Taylor and you’ll walk out feeling like a celebrity—with the shining tresses to prove it!

Taylor grasps the challenges and strength of all types of hair and guides her clients into styles that achieve their goals while making the most of their beauty. Taking face structure, hair texture, and color options into consideration is what makes Taylor an artist in every sense of the word.

Every hair type can be gorgeous, stronger, healthier, and Abby will see to it that you experience the best your hair can be. She’ll analyze your hair and scalp, recommending effective treatments that bring outstanding results.

While she takes her profession seriously, there’s really nothing like Abby’s positive and fun-loving approach. Her clients not only love their hairstyle, they love spending time with Abby.

Abby is a champ when it comes to client consultation, clearly communicating each step and making sure your confident in at-home care and styling options.

From precision cuts to low maintenance styles to fresh color, Amanda is a great listener who is completely focused on you.

Her outgoing personality and passion for hair have made her a stylist you can trust to maintain your favorite look or create a new favorite.

Amanda’s sense of adventure means she’s never afraid to make waves … or smooth out a disastrous storm.

As sweet as she is talented, you’ll know in an instant that your happiness is Kelsey’s top priority.

Though she’s excellent at executing all the trendiest styles, she’ll never move you into a look that isn’t right for you. She’s perfectly comfortable making your preferences a priority and creating a style that meets every point on your wishlist.

Book with Kelsey and you’ll feel her genuine care from consultation to finished result.

There’s nothing like the relaxation and pure bliss you’ll feel when Genevieve massages your scalp.

An articulate and gifted communicator, Genevieve knows the right questions to ask to draw out your needs and preferences.

Genevieve has the gift of executing styles from funky to sophisticated. There’s really nothing she can’t do.

“Where the Focas is on you,” is not just a tagline, it’s what you’ll experience under Matt’s attentive care.

Whether you connect with Matt on the phone or at the front desk, he makes everyone feel like they are a favorite client.

With a smile on his face and a spring in his step, Matt will make sure your time at Focas is an experience you will thoroughly enjoy and recommend to your friends.