Check Out Viktorija Johnston’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Viktorija Johnston

Hi Viktorija, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My journey really started after I moved to Glenwood Springs, Colorado from Illinois.
I fell in love and moved to that small mountain town with my now husband!
Back in 2017, when I moved to this town, nobody really knew what a balayage was. I felt like it was an opportunity to hone in on my craft and deliver a service I know people would want.
I worked on my social media presence and was taking a ton of education on more balayage techniques so I that I could move to the city of Denver and see where I could take my career.
Almost 8 years later, I own my own business in a studio near Denver University with my dream clientele doing what I love!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I believe anything worth having, does not come easily. I have built a strong exterior due to the experiences I’ve had in this industry. I remember one specific moment that changed my outlook at others in my field. I had a mentor that was grading my haircut and color services as I was still in cosmetology school. If I had passed, I was able to start taking clients at the salon once I graduated school.
This task in particular, was a men’s haircut and luckily, I had a friend that was able to be my model. I had so much anxiety learning how to cut because if I made an error, I can’t put it necessarily press the undo button. The haircut took longer than my mentor liked and the whole time I could feel him judging me instead of empowering me in the height of my anxiety. After the service was done, I thanked my friend for coming in and my mentor looked at me and said with a laugh “Well good thing you’re pretty because that was haircut was awful.”
I laughed with him in the moment but it was a gut punch. I felt even more insecure in my new career choice and disappointed in myself.
I decided to use that moment as a catalyst to educate myself to the point where I could teach HIM how to do hair!
Sometimes the negative comments and rude behavior of others can be a driving point for you to prove them wrong.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My business specializes in delivering beautiful lived-in hair color for the modern woman!
Not only do I provide low maintenance color and hair education for my clients, I create relationships. I have the best clientele that has stuck by me since I about moved to Denver. I look at my profession as more than luxury hair, I get invested in peoples lives which, is the cherry on top.
We empower each other and help to spread beauty and positivity. Best of all, I have my sidekick service dog Chloe, who is the sweetest assistant. She is a 5 year old Pomeranian that makes every service even better! She loves to play with my clients while they process with color and even sits on their laps while I wash out my clients hair.
Hair and puppies is a winning combination!

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Compassion is a huge quality that I think goes unnoticed in our industry. In a way, you hear all the good and bad moments of your clients life in your chair. It can be a rollercoaster and you never know how much you can help someone by just listening.
Over the course of my career, I have always kept this in mind: “There will always be someone less and more intelligent than you”.
This keeps me grounded and in the mindset of I can always learn more and do better. I am my only competition. I want myself to succeed and be the best stylist to my clients!

Pricing:

• West Coast Balayage starts at $370
• Lived in Blonde starts at $425

Contact Info:

• Website: https://livedinmaneco.glossgenius.com/
• Instagram: https://Instagram.com/LivedinMane
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LivedinMane