Shannon Johnson
Shannon Johnson of Vian may be a boy momma but the mother of eight children says raising sons and no daughters is not the reason why she wanted to become a hair stylist.
Shannon Johnson of Vian may be a boy momma but the mother of eight children says raising sons and no daughters is not the reason why she wanted to become a hair stylist.
Owner of The She Shed in Vian, Johnson, who studied cosmetology at ICTC in Sallisaw, said she wanted to go into a career that would be beneficial for her sons as opposed to them working in a fast food business. She currently has one son in barber school.
Johnson, who opened her shop in April of this year, said she has lived in Vian for the past 22 years.
“I was born in Bartlesville. My mother was an Air Force brat so we bounced around a lot, mainly in towns such as Tahlequah, Wagoner and several others. After moving here I decided I wanted my children to go to the same school and not have to change a lot like I had to. But I love it here,” she said. “I have family here also, not only in Vian, but in Sequoyah County.”
Johnson suffered a leg amputation in 2006 when she was involved in an automobile accident.
“I just thought, hey, I can’t lay here. I have to get up and I have children to raise so it did not keep me from continuing with being a mom and working on my career,” she said.
In 2009, when she was a single mom raising her children, Johnson said she decided to go to cosmetology school mainly because she had a friend who was a cosmetologist and talked her into it. But instead of using the training she had received at that time, she decided to be a full-time mom after meeting and marrying her husband, Benjamin. The two have been married for 14 years now, she said.
“We have three sons, and we have bonus children and two nieces we take care of. The kids range in ages from 14 to 24. The couple also has one grandson and one on the way.
“I returned to cosmetology school five years ago at the ICTC in Sallisaw, got my license, and I’ve been doing hairstyles ever since,” she said. “It was a good time to go to school then because my kids were older and when they were out of school, I was, too.”
Johnson’s shop is located at 204 N. Schley, next to the laundry mat. She provides not only haircuts and perms, but specializes in coloring hair which is something she has entered and won in several contests sponsored by those in the salon business. Some of those creations which placed or won are on display in her shop.
“I love fashion color, the crazy, funky hair colors that’s popular with the young and old right now, and I love entering competitions,” she said.
“I’ve won in several. The first one I entered four years ago and won first in state. That contest was sponsored by the Salon Centric. Another one I entered almost a year ago and that one was sponsored by Pulp Riot. That particular style glows in the dark. I placed 12th in the nation for that design,” she said.
Johnson said she cuts men, women and children’s hair. In addition to tinting, she provides brow waxing and pedicures, and just about every kind of hair service there is, she said.
My favorite part of this business is when I hear people tell me ‘make me beautiful!’ and they leave here happy with their new hairstyle,” she said.
“I love what I do. It’s something I enjoy doing every day!” Just Folks is Your TIMES way of honoring the regular people of Sequoyah County, recognizing their unique talents, personalities, jobs, abilities, etc. Your TIMES appreciates the cooperation of each Just Folks and the public’s nominations for this feature. If you know of someone you think might be a good story, contact Amie or Lynn at 918-775-4433.
