Johnny Wright
Born and raised in Chicago, Johnny’s career in hair started at an early age. It was his grandmother – who did hair until she was 91 – who first took notice of his fascination with hair as a toddler. “She knew I was going to be a hair stylist. I always wanted to comb her hair, it was just a spiritual thing that she recognized my passion”, says Wright.
Growing his own hair business at just age 12, he grew his client database to hundreds of friends and classmates by high school. After graduating, Johnny knew his future lay in creating beautiful, stylish hairstyles. He attended Dudley’s Beauty College where he made his initial breakthrough in the industry. His mentors there encouraged him to strengthen his career as a freelance hairstylist which led him to work for the Ebony Fashion Fair and become one of the industry’s most sought after hairstylists at a young age.
In 2002, Johnny met Jacqueline Tarrant, the then-educational director at Soft-Sheen Carson, a division of L’Oreal. Johnny began working with Soft-Sheen as a technical consultant and platform artist. In 2007, Johnny moved to Los Angeles, CA to pursue his styling career in the television and film industry creating ideas relating to hair, fashion and lifestyle. He also had the opportunity to work at the esteemed Frédéric Fekkai salon in addition to owning his own hair business.
But it was earlier in 2007 that Johnny’s career became truly a part of history. President Obama had just announced his campaign, and an opportunity arose for Johnny to style First Lady Michelle Obama for an Essence photo-shoot. As she traveled to Los Angeles for television appearances, Johnny repeatedly styled her. After working with the First Lady for the Democratic National Convention in 2008 and a Vogue photo-shoot in 2009, Johnny was asked to move to DC to be her hairstylist and served through both terms. The work he has done with the First Lady has been seen around the world as her iconic style role is cemented in American history.
Additionally, Johnny served as Artistic Style Director for Soft Sheen-Carson Inc for 14 years. His work has appeared in major publications with a global footprint such as: Glamour, Essence, Vogue Italia, Ebony, and Redbook. Johnny served as a mentor for stylists nationwide in the first ever mentorship initiative, “Make Me A Master Stylist” and continues to mentor stylists. Wright says, “he’s passionate about encouraging stylists to realize what’s beyond the chair and show how far their hands can take them”.
Johnny clients have also included the Today Show’s Tamron Hall, Queen Latifa, Regina King, Karrueche Tran, Vivica A. Fox, Yvette Nicoele Brown, Sherri Shepherd, Naturi Naughton, Vanessa Williams, Lauren London, LisaRaye, Janelle Monae, Syleena Johnson, Shaun Robinson, and Candace Bushnell. Johnny has lent his talents to the fashion world working on red carpet and runway looks as well.
Most recently, Johnny has moved back to Los Angeles. He is simultaneously working to open his own university and agency to continue his passion for mentoring and developing raw talent across the beauty industry and globe.
