Daily Inspiration: Meet Renee Suban

Today we’d like to introduce you to Renee Suban.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
It’s difficult to talk about one specific thing because Im involved in so much. I’m a beauty school educator who loves to inspire and empower others to follow their dreams. I’m super passionate about a clean water and sanitation project in Nicaragua where I have traveled to 4 times already. I am also an influencer on TikTok where I share my hobby farming shenanigans. Surely something I do will inspire you in one way or another. I’ve been working in the cosmetology industry since 1992. I had my own hair salon for 11 years. While I loved it, I would constantly find myself teaching new stylist how to do things they should have learned in school and didn’t know how to do. They would also have little to no confidence in what their work. This broke my heart, so I felt like I had to do something it. So I did. I gave up the salon and started teaching. I have learned so much in the business of Cosmetology on my own with no help. So now I’m giving back in big ways. Not just as a teacher in the beauty industry but in the world. As a cosmetology teacher, I have taken students to New York to do hair for fashion week. This is an opportunity that most people never get even after working in the beauty industry for several years. I’m excited to say I’m going again this spring with another group of my students. I’m so excited for them and the opportunities that they will receive so early on in their careers. A few of my students have already been offered jobs at a couple of top salons in New York where they service celebrity clientele. I just love it. Outside of all this, you can find me on my urban homestead apothecary farm with my chickens where something is always happening. Or volunteering my time somewhere but especially on clean water projects. On my last trip to Nicaragua we dug and installed pipelines that will connect to a well and provide clean water to 300 families that have never had clean running water. I will be going back again every year. There is still a lot of work that needs to be done. It’s hard to believe people don’t have running water or even bathrooms in the year 2022 but it’s real.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has been a little like a roller coaster with ups and downs, but I wont give up. Most of the people that were close to me frowned upon my career choices in the cosmetology industry. It wasn’t the career they wanted me to be in.  I was a failure in their eyes.  I still won’t give up. People need to be inspired. I didn’t have a lot of people in my corner, so I had to find people who were inspiring to me. And God gave me this desire and drive, so I just keep going.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a cosmetology teacher who has done almost everything you could do that falls under that umbrella. I have owned my own salon and spa, worked as a creative director, manager, hairstylist, manicurist, aesthetician, massage therapist, educator, coach, worked in funeral homes, and more. Right now, my passion is to inspire my students to be the best they can be. And I do that by sharing experiences with them as well as providing opportunities for them, such as New York Fashion Week. I’m also very passionate about my clean water projects and love to give back to the community. When I’m at home, I’m spending time with my chickens. That’s another story. Haha

What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I see the cosmetology industry growing. Many people are looking for new careers where they can have some flexibility their lifestyle and this job can provide that. I also believe people will never ever stop getting their hair done. While some of the other beauty services May flux up and down in popularity, the hair will always need to be cut

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @Thebeautyschooleducator and @ReneeSuban
• TikTok: @thewildwoodsapothecary