Today we’d like to introduce you to Riley Fiene.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
Nails, specifically, have interested me since I was young. Around middle school, I got my nails done at one of the local nail salons and got quite known for it in my little school in Illinois. From there, I typically spent hours after my appointments “fixing” the nails, shaping, filing, buffing, and painting until they were right. Fast-forward to my senior year of high school. I had no idea what to study when I graduated. A friend and I were in our anatomy class discussing her plans to attend cosmetology school at Paul Mitchell in St. Louis; I was excited for her! The hair sounded exciting and different. I casually mentioned being interested in checking out the school, mainly for fun. My mom describes it as my “eyes lit up” when we took that first tour. Our kit included this teeny tiny acrylic nail starter kit I had always wanted to try, so I did! I practiced every nail day, doing sets of nails for girls and being asked by everyone to help them out, all while still having a huge passion for hair. I initially took the hair-focused route and landed in my dream salon in the Loop. This was mid-2019; so much was coming that we couldn’t have even guessed. 2020 hit, COVID hit, and I was struggling with establishing a clientele and learning as an assistant. I worked the salon part-time and delivered pizzas in my free time, which was a lot. We ended up closing for “only three weeks,” which turned into months. I got let go within the first three months of lockdown. I felt defeated in my job and like a complete failure in the hair industry. I didn’t think it was for me. So I quit. I went full-time with my pizza job and did Instacart on the side. A year went by, and I was again sucking, feeling like a failure, not having a path; nothing sparked a sense of joy.
In 2021, a good friend of mine, Grace Moody, contacted me about needing a nail tech in her cute little hair salon in downtown Alton, Illinois. She remembered my infinity for nails during school and thought it could be fun to bring to her salon. I had no money to my name, but I would make it work. I spent my last $300 and got everything I needed to start my nail journey. I was in Grace’s salon for a total of 4 months and grew exponentially, so much so that I could opened up my private nail studio in Alton. I was there for over a year and a half, meeting the most amazing folks, learning much, and servicing a great community.
By this time, I was doing nails part-time and working at a local plant nursery. I saw an ad on Facebook Marketplace for this excellent studio space on Cherokee Street. I randomly sent it to my best friend and hairstylist, Kirstin Jamerson, as we had always joked about potentially working together someday. It all went very fast, so we decided to go for it, sign a three-year lease, and combine our spaces! Garden Heights pushed me to take the leap and go full-time with Odd Fingers in June of this year. And the rest is history.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Getting past the sense of utter failure from failing at the one thing I thought I was passionate about was extremely difficult. Taking the time to sit in this grief with me was important. Constantly throughout these last few years of starting a business is the overwhelming feeling of not knowing. How are your clients going to feel about changes? Are they going to come back? Are they receiving the best service they possibly can? Do they like me? Are my nails good enough? The mental challenges of owning a business ultimately lead businesses to fail very early on. It’s so hard to keep going and be your biggest advocate.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My primary specialties are in Japanese structured gel manicures and gel extensions. I’m mainly known for my slightly outlandish and very colorful nail art. I incorporate a lot of 3D elements in my art as well. I’m most proud of being able to make just about anything my clients bring to me. Most folks I’ve met haven’t ever been able to get what they want from a nail salon, and it makes me extremely happy knowing that they can do so with me.
What does success mean to you?
Success, for me, is about fulfillment. How much of what you do fills your cup? The relationships I can create with clients make me feel successful like I’m making a difference in their lives. We laugh, we cry, we give each other advice. It’s an otherworldly experience to create these connections with the community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://oddfingers.glossgenius.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oddfingers?igsh=MXVicTl5bTMwbnFyZQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
Image Credits
Hanna Lee Photography, Hanna Forsting
