Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Johnson.
Hi Rachel, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My journey in the hair world began with my Nana when I was just a kid. I grew up in her salon, and it became a part of my life instantly. I remember watching her work and thinking it was pure magic.
Fast forward to my teenage years, I worked as an assistant for another family member’s salon. I worked a lot of random jobs when I was in college, but hair was always what I went back to. I was originally going to school for psychology.
I went through some pretty rough times and struggled a lot with depression and anxiety. Unfortunately, the partying I did in college created some really bad habits that spiraled into addiction. My addiction led me to being homeless and completely hopeless.
Finally, I made the decision that enough was enough, and I checked myself into a treatment center. I moved away and completed a recovery program that required me to work full-time, and I was trying my best to rebuild myself into the person I knew I was capable of being. I took the jump and enrolled in cosmetology school while I was in treatment and working full time. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but the support from my classmates and staff was incredible.
The end of that year, I earned my certificate of completion from my recovery program and left as a licensed stylist. The years that followed were full of growth and building myself up both professionally and personally. I have so much gratitude for the people who helped me along the way.
When covid hit I was living in North Carolina and the shutdown really put a strain on finances for everyone. I made the decision to move back home to Savannah. When I got to Georgia, I applied to a few salons and got a job at pretty well-known business. From there, the growth took off.
I worked really hard on perfecting my craft and took every opportunity that was given to me. I immersed myself in education and expanded my knowledge of all things hair. I was a color and balayage specialist for a while but then something happened that made a huge impact.
I started having client’s book with me who had curly hair and needed help. Clients would come in with such heavy hair trauma from horrible experiences with stylists who weren’t educated to properly care for curls. And at the time, I wasn’t familiar with curl care other than straightening techniques. I listened to their experiences and realized this was deeper than just hair. People with curly hair have been made to feel less beautiful; they have had to sacrifice hair care because of the lack of resources available to them, and they have been mistreated and excluded by the beauty industry for a long time. There was no inclusion, especially for people with coils and tight curls.
This lit a fire under me. As a queer woman, I know how important it is to feel safe and cared for and included. I wanted every person, regardless of race, hair type, gender, etc. to feel safe and cared for in my chair. I wanted to create a space for healing and refuge for anyone who felt excluded and create an environment of inclusion. Every stylist should strive to do the same, but unfortunately, it’s not the norm in the industry.
Over the next few years, I traveled across the United States to learn from amazing people. I got certified in multiple techniques, pushed myself to do things that scared me, and practiced relentlessly. I wanted to be able to confidently serve anyone who sat in my chair. And to this day, I still seek out education and always find ways to grow. Hair was something that pulled me through really hard times in my life, and I wanted to use it as a medium for change within our community and the industry. I wanted to make everyone feel valued, respected, honored, and absolutely beautiful.
The lack of curl knowledge in our industry is a huge problem, and my focus turned to education. I became an educator for Innersense Organic Beauty and travel all over to teach other stylists curl curriculum.
Now, I am a proud owner of Crescent Curls Salon. Although, I like to think of it as a healing studio more so than a salon. It is a safe space for anyone looking for gender-affirming services members of the lgbtq+ community, any hair texture or ethnicity, and anyone else who needs some hair love. My heart is to really pour into the Savannah community and offer a safe haven for anyone who’s been made to feel like they don’t belong. Above everything, I aim to educate. Knowledge is power.
To most people, hair is just a job. For me, it’s the way I create art. It’s how I give back to the community. Hair helps me grow and evolve and stay sober. It’s how I fight social issues like discrimination and racism. It’s how I make an impact in people’s lives, and it’s how I honor the people who came before me and paved the way for people like me.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I’ve had a lot of personal struggles with depression and anxiety. Mental health is so important to talk about, and I strive to always be open about my struggles with overcoming addiction and struggling with mental health. Being in the hair industry itself can be challenging; a lot of salons mistreat their employees, and it can be hard to leave toxic environments when you’re new to the industry. Techniques are always changing, and staying on top of education can be demanding but always worth it.
We’ve been impressed with Crescent Curls Salon, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Crescent Curls is a salon studio in the Starland District in Savannah, Georgia. The address is 2400 Bull Street, suite 17. I specialize in gender-affirming services, color and balayage, and especially natural/curly hair. I only use clean and sustainable beauty products. Taking care of the planet and avoiding toxic ingredients that can harm people’s health is extremely important to me. I am so proud of the trust I have built with my clients and the friendships that have formed from that. I love when someone sees their curls for the first time in a new way and watching them fall in love with themselves.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I try to take like one day at a time. I’m always looking for ways to grow and expand, but I truly believe when you work hard and have good intentions, the universe works everything out the way it’s meant to be.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://crescentcurls.glossgenius.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/crescent_curls?igshid=MzMyNGUyNmU2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552266980404&mibextid=LQQJ4d
