Conversations with Ryan Tucker

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Tucker.

Hi Ryan, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I have always been the person doing everyone’s hair for as long as I can remember.

From dances to shows to root retouches at home, I have always had a passion for the beauty industry. After pursuing a Theatre degree in college, I followed that dream to New York City where I worked as a House Manager on Broadway for the Nederlander Organization and a production assistant on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

I decided big city life was not for me, so I returned to Kansas City six years ago. Since returning, I have been a working actor with a plethora of other side hustles, one of which eventually led to a full-time corporate job in a start-up for Senior Living. It was while working at a desk all day that I realized I needed to flex my creative muscles on a daily basis and be in charge of my own schedule.

So, I turned to what I love: Hair. I returned to school at 25 years old to study cosmetology at Z Hair Academy. I completed my 1500 hours for certification in 11 months, during the earliest days of the COVID shut down, amidst an industry that had been completely rocked. When I graduated in November of 2020, I immediately rented a chair at Salon Ado and have been building Ryan Tucker Hair ever since.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Overall, I would say, I have been extremely lucky in my path to business ownership. Though, starting a business based on face-to-face customer service during a global pandemic is nothing to shake a stick at.

While last-minute cancellations are unfortunately frequent due to exposures and positive tests, having the bottomless support of my parents, friends, and colleagues to support me during those hard times has made all the difference.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a hairstylist specializing in blonding, low-maintenance color, curls, and special event styling/makeup.

I have been studying blonding 1 on 1 as an assistant under world-known color artist Sarai Speer (aka @ThePlatinumGiraffe) for a year now, and have fallen absolutely in love with color corrections. It is extremely important to me that the hair remains strong and healthy through any service.

I also have quite the flair for the dramatic, so I love a major transformation, whether that be in a cut that brings a person’s personality to life, or an installation of glittering hand-tied hair tinsels.

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I have always been a happy, loud, creative, and fun-loving person.

Growing up, I was constantly singing, crafting, or looking in the mirror playing with my hair or makeup. I have always been surrounded by friends, as I find interpersonal connection and community are some of the most important things in life. I have always loved to make people laugh and feel good. These are some major reasons I also pursued theatre, which I still absolutely love.

Famously, or infamously, once after getting in trouble my mother asked me “What are we going to do with you?” and I- at 5 years old- replied: “I don’t know. Send me to Beauty School?” So, I suppose you could say my career as a cosmetologist has been expected since then.

Pricing:

• Haircut- $45
• Balayage- $80+
• Highlight- $125+
• Glitterlights (Hair Tinsel)- $15+

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryantuckerhair/
• Other: https://www.vagaro.com/us04/salonado