Our Mission
The Refinery Hair Lounge is a collective of independent stylists in Louisville, KY. Every artist here owns their own business, books their own clients, and builds their career on their own terms. We share a space, a name, and a set of standards we actually care about: ongoing education, quality products, and treating people well.
This setup works because it attracts stylists who want autonomy without isolation. No one here is fighting over walk-ins or pushing products for commission. You get someone focused on your hair, not their sales quota.
Our Story
We opened in Middletown in 2020. Yes, during the pandemic. It wasn’t the plan, but it clarified why this model made sense. A lot of stylists were stuck in rigid salon structures that didn’t serve them or their clients. We wanted to offer something better: a professional space for people who take their work seriously but don’t need corporate oversight to do it well.
Five years in, the concept has held up. Good stylists want to work here. Clients stick around. That’s the whole measure of success.
The Founders
Dawn and Audrey started The Refinery after years in traditional salons. They’d watched too many skilled stylists burn out or quit the industry because the environment wasn’t sustainable. This place is their answer to that problem.
They’re both still working stylists. Still taking clients, still learning new techniques. The Refinery isn’t a side project or investment property. It’s where they work.
