Back in July, when Michelle Obama showed up to the White House's Country Music Night sporting an incredibly chic bob, news headlines touting the First Lady's dramatic new cut circled around the world. Yet it was quickly revealed that the 'do wasn't a drastic chop at all—it was the clever handiwork of her hairstylist, 32-year-old Johnny Wright, who had tucked her hair under with strategically-placed pins. We recently interviewed Wright, who works out of D.C.'s Corte Salon, for a feature about the politics of doing hair in Washington, but there was much, much more we couldn't fit into the story.
When did you meet Mrs. Obama?I met her at the beginning of the campaign at an Essence photo shoot in Chicago. We liked each other, it was very genuine. Afterwards, I decided to move to L.A from Chicago. Throughout the campaign, she was traveling back and forth to do speeches in the California area and her team would call me—that's how our relationship grew.
When you're working with her, does she tell you exactly what she wants?No, she just kind of chills. I go with whatever she's wearing and I pay attention to the moment. Should it be a little more flirty? Should it be a little more submissive? Should it be a little more strong? I believe hair is a language, if it's not moving it has no voice.
Continue reading this interview over at W Magazine.
