Meet Wileen Johnson of WJ Hair Extensions

Today we’d like to introduce you to Wileen Johnson.

Hi Wileen, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As a child at six years old, I was always drawn to hair styling, from learning how to do my first Dutch braid on my barbie’s hair. My journey with hair extensions initially began in my sophomore year in high school, around that time I wasn’t aware of YouTube until my junior year therefore I actually learned how to install hair extensions by watching my older sisters do their own hair or I’ll watch their hair stylists install their hair. From then on me and my best friend Lesley and I use to practice doing hair on each other, we would do the quick weaves with bonded glue then we graduated to doing sewins and from then on I just did them on my own hair. I would wear a different style every week where I would receive a lot of compliments from my peers at school would see all of the different styles and would be so impressed that they’d ask me to do their hair and also offer to pay me to do theirs. Every weekend me and my best friend would go to the hair store to buy some new hair for hairstyles that we would see on YouTube or in the magazines or music videos back then track hair from the hair store was everything. After I graduated high school. I enrolled in college to pursue a degree in psychology because being raised by island parents, they would always be sure to let us know that a degree in the medical field was the key to success.

Both of my parents who were born in Haiti came to America wanting a better life for all of their children only knew how to work hard to make a living my dad was a valet Parker for a luxury condominium building in Miami Beach and my mother had a degree I. Nursing so being a hairstylist full time was not even a thought of mine, doing was basically a hobby/ side hustle which I really enjoyed doing. My journey with wig-making began when I was pregnant with my daughter and I didn’t really have the energy or time to keep up with doing my natural hair so I made my first wig and I was so in love with the convenience of wearing a wig being a busy mom that was always on the go I was so in love with wearing. In 2017 a few months after having my daughter I suffered from postpartum hair loss, this made my self-esteem very low because I was losing a lot of hair and my hair was also thin which made me cut all of my hair down to a short Afro because I really wanted to have my hair grow out healthy and long chemical free. This started making more wigs and caused me to open up my hair extension business which was called “Weave Junkie Hair Extensions “ I started off with selling hair bundles, closure pieces, frontals and custom hand-sewn glueless wigs. Fast forward 5 years after starting my hair business I rebranded and changed the name to WJ Hair Extensions we have exhibited for the Bronner Brothers trade show in Miami last year, we also made our first wig donation to a now breast cancer survivor. I am currently in my final semester in my master’s cosmetology program and I am looking forward to do bigger and better things for my brand/ company.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Going into an industry that is over-saturated with so many wig makers and hair extension companies that have such a huge client base, made me feel a little intimidated and insecure that maybe my product wouldn’t be good enough. I also struggled a little with figuring out who was my target audience in particular who would purchase these items from me? But all of those thoughts was just fear of failing and fear of the unknown.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Wj hair Extensions is a global hair company that offers a variety of hair products including hair extensions, frontal and closure pieces, hair accessories and custom-made wig units. I Wileen Johnson, owner and founder of WJ hair extensions specialize in customized wig units including custom coloring of the hair to making ready-to-wear wig units for those who suffering hair loss or just looking for a convenient and protective way of styling their hair. My drive in pushing my brand to do bigger and better things for our client base and potential customers, my personality because I genuinely care for people and my will to learn new things in this industry is what sets me apart in this hair industry. WJ hair extensions had a great success exhibiting for the first time at the “Bronner Brothers Beauty Show” in August of 2022 in Miami we sold our products to visitors and beauty professionals who had no knowledge of our brand. I want readers to know that we not only service those who are in search of a more protective way to style their hair but we also service those who are suffering medical or hereditary hair loss we are here to service you! If you are simply looking for the best quality custom-made wigs and it’s your first time, we are definitely here to answer all of your questions and service you as well.

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
That I was on the verge of becoming a nurse before I started my hair business.

Pricing:

• Custom Bob units starting at $250
• Custom straight/bodywave units starting at $350
• Custom curly units starting at $400
• Custom colored units starting $450
• Wig installs starting at $100

Contact Info:

• Website: WJHairExtensions.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/wjhairextensions?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/weavejunkie?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@wjhairextensions?_t=8ZJHykfL7Yk&_r=1

Image Credits
Afif M. Cherif • Executive Producer 404.314.1994 StudioPrimetime.com Makeup; Terri Scogg Email: terriscoggin@gmail.com IG: @alula_anne