Stylist Shelly Aguirre knows her way around a salon. "I was shampooing as soon as I could reach the bowl," she laughs, referring to the shop she grew up in. "My mom's a hairdresser—just this month she celebrated 50 years." An apt role model for Shelly, who confesses, unabashedly, "I like to work hard—it feels bad not to. I want my feet to hurt. My mom was the same way. She trained me well."

As if growing up in a salon and years as a stylist weren't enough, Shelly was also a national educator with Aquage for twelve years. Teaching classes, attending hair shows, working with salon owners across the country—what's not to love? "It really took my career to a whole new level," says Shelly. "I got to work with these amazing, NAHA-winning salons and kickass stylists."

» Shelly on her new home

After years on the road and at Trio Salon, Shelly joined the Maxine team just a few weeks ago (and we couldn't be happier!). "Everyone is on their A-Game," says Shelly. "But there's no ego here—everyone is so down to earth and welcoming."

From the "boutique-y" feel of the salon to the amazing front desk team (we bow down to you), and then, of course, there's the lovely Maxine: "She isn't just ahead of the ball, she holds the ball... she is the ball!"

» Shelly to the rescue

"I'm a problem solver," says Shelly, whose clients all seem to say the same thing—she listens. Like all of our stylists, she's all about giving you a good at-home routine (the tools, the techniques, the products).

One of the many gems of the former educator: "Your hair cuticles lay like shingles on a roof." Translation: a rough blowdry will leave your 'roof' in shambles, and we're pretty sure the caught-in-a-storm look isn't coming in for Fall.