Daily Inspiration: Meet Riley Steinman

Today we’d like to introduce you to Riley Steinman

Hi Riley, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I grew up watching my aunt own her own salon, helping out in any way I could. I knew I had always wanted to be in the cosmetology industry and when covid struck in 2020 I was a junior in high school. At 16 I then began a crazy schedule. I went to high school from 8am to 3:30 pm and would have soccer or cheer practice before heading to cosmetology school every night from 5-9. Over the next 2 years I had finished cosmetology school a few months after graduating High school. I began working at a salon in North Kansas City, which is where I got my start. I was an assistant underneath a highly trained hairstylist in the area. I gained experience and learned new skills while working at that salon. I got to learn textured hair which is a very niche skill to have in the hair industry. I grew not only in the salon but also on social media. My books started to fill and I saw my career I once dreamed of, begin to flourish. I made the difficult decision to take a new adventure. I made the choice to go out on my own and begin my own small salon/ salon suite. I now work alongside my best friend and colleague Caroline Murphy-Gentry at our own salon called Reputation. We are in the heart on Kansas City and we could not be happier! I not only love running a small business but love getting to meet new people, make new friends, find new local businesses to partner with, and so much more! I have lots of big plans in the future and this is only the start of my journey.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Of course there has been bumps along the way, however, overall it has been a pretty smooth ride! I have had so many cheerleaders in my life who pour love and support into me. I am so lucky to have amazing parents who let their 16 year old begin college and chase her dreams. All of my friends and extended family have always cheered me on from the sidelines, which I’ve been incredibly grateful for. I believe my love for this industry and steadfast work ethic has made me successful at such a young age.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
A lot of hairstylists tend to specialize in one direct field. Whether that’s blonding, extensions, curly hair, or another avenue. I have yet to “specialize” in any certain area because the industry is so vast and everchanging that I truly don’t think I’ll ever be an “expert” on anything. My education will be ongoing! I also could never just pick one thing to specialize in, because I love it all. With hair trends changing almost daily, I love to explore all areas of hair. I love haircutting, all different types of hair color, extensions, textured hair, lived in color, high matinence color, etc. You name it, and I’ll probably love it. This is one of the things I love so much about my career, no day is ever the same. No one person has the same hair and no person has the same end goal. I do, however, believe I am a very talented artist for only being 20 years old. I feel like this career was made for me. I can see a video or picture of hair and instantly in my mind understand exactly how to replicate that on someone else. Everything in the hair world just makes sense.

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Part of my childhood was spent in Clarksville, Tennessee, and the other half was spent in Baldwin City, Kansas. I grew up alongside an older brother and younger sister whom are some of my best friends. I played every sport at least once in my childhood. I was a very outgoing creative kid. One of my memories i remember so vividly as a child is getting a cardboard house like the ones from hobby lobby and Turing it into my own “salon”. I would set up stations inside and make my younger sister sit while i pretend to curl her hair for hours. Another memory is growing up in my aunts salon. I would beg my mom to let me hangout there for the day while i did miscellaneous tasks to help out. I swept hair, organized perm rods, folded towels, and eventually would land painting my nails and stealing candy out of the drawers. I had such a loving and happy childhood and today i have the best support system around.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://rileysstylez.glossgenius.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rileysstylez?igsh=bWszNmo0NnBkb2o0&utm_source=qr
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@rileysstylez?_t=8qvVeUzems6&_r=1