Our Team

Since mother-daughter team Lee and Ainslie took over ownership in 2006, Karma Hair Lounge has received many awards, including six Reader's Choice Awards, an international excellence award from TIGI, and a visionary award from Modern Beauty.

Karma Hair Lounge specializes in new-trend style and personalized colour services. We strive to create a welcoming, professional, and fun atmosphere to our guests as well as our team members.

We believe in education and in keeping abreast of new trends and techniques. We want our guests involved so that anyone can feel confident to recreate looks achieved in the salon. After all, it is our job to provide you with hair that complements your lifestyle.

ainslie1.jpgAinslie Koopmans (Owner/Hair Ninja)

Accepting Clients: Tuesday-Wednesday, Friday-Saturday

Professional Bio: Ainslie is originally from North Vancouver. She learned hair from Axis training at John Casablanca's and continued her training in Las Vegas and at the Toni & Guy Academies in New York and Santa Monica. Ainslie also worked for TIGI as an ambassador.

Specialties: Thick hair. Women's short funky do's (no old lady cuts). Short-medium length hair. Men's cuts. Keratin straightening. Hair loss specialist.  Colour, colour, and more colour.

Interests: Spending time with her husband, son, and dog. Yoga, running, raw food, and reading.

Favourite Quote: "It's better to regret something you did, than something you didn't do."

melissa.jpgMelissa Wojnarowski (Hair Samurai)

Accepting Clients: Tuesday-Saturday

Professional Bio: After finishing her schooling at Joji's, Melissa worked at Spa Utopia and Garden Suite Studio. She has been rocking the hair industry in North Vancouver for several years now and brings a lot of talent and enthusiasm to Karma.

Specialties: Highlights, long hair, blondes.

Interests: Kickboxing, baking, watching hockey and football.








mish.jpgMish Palanica (Hair Guru)

Accepting Clients: Tuesday-Saturday

Professional Bio: Mish attended RSH International College of Cosmetology and has been doing hair for several years now. She brings her upbeat rocker-chic style and personality to the Karma family, ensuring her guests leave with personalized styles that they've always wanted. Mish has always had a huge passion for hair.

Specialties: Funky cuts and colours, texture, men's cuts, layers, highlights, thick/fine hair, hair extensions.

Interests: Movies, music, and meeting new people.

Favourite Quote: "Life is too short to be bitter all the time"




nicole.jpgNicole Kokotilo (Hair Mechanic)

Accepting clients: Wednesday-Saturday

Professional Bio: Nicole is Karma's home-grown hair stylist. She apprenticed under Ainslie Koopmans (senior stylist/owner). She came to Karma after a long and lustrous career as the owner and designer of Artist's Eye Cakes. Nicole has a fine-arts background with training at Emily Carr Institute.

Specialties: Bold vibrant colour and highlights. Kerastraight hair straightening and smoothing treatment. Beautiful fun personalized cuts specialized for you. "Get addicted to looking in the mirror".

Interests: Spending time with her family and enjoying all the beauty life has to offer!

Favourite Quote: "Change is inevitable. Growth is optional."



lee.jpgLee Gainer (Head Honcho)

Lee Gainer has lived on the North Shore for 30 years. She has a background in education and worked as a teacher in Burnaby for many years. At Karma, Lee helps to make sure everything is running smoothly. She is sassy, fun, and is the glue that binds everyone together.