Wildflowers Salon blossoming in Bigfork

Hairdresser Holly Johannson left behind a 20-year clientele in Phoenix, Arizona when she and her daughter, Harper, moved to Creston last June.

The move was Harper’s idea. The pair had spent the past six or so years driving up from Phoenix to visit family in Alberta, where Holly is originally from and Harper’s dad lives. Harper would visit her dad, and Holly would camp in Montana in her RV.  When Holly’s Parents, Curt and Dusty Johannson, bought land in Creston, the move seemed all the more realistic. 

Holly ran Makin’ Waves in Phoenix, a salon she operated by herself for 10 years. No one believed she was serious about moving until they saw the for-sale sign on the door. 

“I feel like my family is super close [here]…” Holly said, “My daughter and I were able to go up there for Christmas, she’d never had a Canadian Christmas ever, so that was super fun.”

In August, she found the location for her new salon in Bigfork at 104 Jewel Basin Plaza, Suite 3. Her vision was an open, fresh, clean vibe without the uptight, “boujee” salon feel. Somewhere everyone would feel welcome. 

Curt, who worked in commercial construction, helped her plan for everything but plumbing and electric and Dusty helped with the design and décor. Holly was the grunt work, and the family did everything themselves save for the plumbing, electric and cabinetry. 

The salon meets her vision, with a comfortable seating area, roomy layout and modern décor. A planter on the front desk, sculpted into the bottom half of a woman’s face, was the inspiration for her business logo. The name, Wildflowers Salon, was inspired by the Lainey Wilson song, “Wildflowers and Wild Horses.” 

“Everyone that’s come in has been like, ‘Oh I just love it in here, it feels so warm and welcoming!’” Holly said. 

With a soft opening on April 22, Holly has already done everything from a kindergarten graduation haircut to working on beautiful gray hair in Bigfork. She does it all, men’s, women’s, and children’s. 

“I don’t really have a preference, I like it all, because my job’s not boring, you never know what’s going to come in,” she said. 

There are four more stations available at Wildflowers Salon to rent part or full-time, and Holly hopes to fill them quickly and build a little hairdressing community in her shop. 

“I just think it’s amazing that this town is so welcoming. There’s been a couple of times since I’ve been here that I felt like I’m part of a Hallmark movie because it has that feel,” Holly said. 

Support has even come from her competitors, something Holly wouldn’t have expected, and wouldn’t have received in Phoenix. 

“I literally had knocked-down walls and the ladies down the road here came and asked for business cards because they have so much clientele they were turning people away so they wanted business cards to refer people to me, which I thought was super amazing,” Holly said.

The community is welcomed to Wildflowers Salon’s ribbon-cutting event Thursday, May 23 from 5:30-7 p.m. to check out the building and meet Holly. Wildflowers Salon appointments can be made by calling or texting 406-609-1996.