MEET the CEO + FOUNDER
Riley Craig
stylist
specializes in hand-tied extensions, blonding, dimensional colors and styling
Being strong is what has built me, my business, and my career. I strive to help others in the hair industry to grow behind the chair and in life.
I have known since I was a little girl that hair was always my passion. I graduated from the Paul Mitchell the School Chicago in 2014 and while in school, I was on the Design Team, and attended Caper in Las Vegas, a student-based hair show, where I was one of the first 100 students Nationwide in the Paul Mitchell network to raise $3,000 for various charities. Through this, I met Magic Johnson, Betty White, Marie Osmand, and many more influential celebrities.
I was apart of Beacon winning a trip to the North American Hair Awards in Las Vegas during school, where I attended educational events and saw awards being handed to top-performing hair artists! During this time, I started a Toy Drive for the Mercy Home in Chicago, collecting donations while in school to help out the city of Chicago.
After graduating, I assisted a salon in Mansfield, TX for eight months and then decided to return back to Chicago to further her career assisting Margaret Pasiennik, owner of Salon Blonde, who had worked for Elizabeth Arden, running the Grand Hotel Salon, and as a platform artist for MANY big name hair brands.
I was a part of One Hope United in Chicago, where I loved doing charity and networking events in Chicago. Eventually, I decided to move back home to Springfield, IL and assist a salon in town where I built my clientele.
After being there for a little over a year, I knew there was more out there for myself and decided to open my own salon. In May of 2017, the doors to Bow and Arrow Salon opened and I began building my dream brand.
I have traveled the US educating in Hand-tied Extensions, taken five different courses for hand-tied extensions, and travels to Chicago and California several times a year for continuing education.
I believe that education is what keeps my business and brand growing.
“You never stop growing and learning, not just in the hair industry, but in life in general,”
I don’t let any new guest see their transformation until it’s completely finished, and what feels good is the moment I turn my guest in the chair around to see themselves in the mirror for their first look.
In October of 2023 I made the decision to close the doors to my salon to become an independent stylist to focus on my creativity in the salon and to spend more quality time with my family. I am loving this time in my life of being creative, connecting with others in fellowship and spending more quality time with those I love.