Small Business Spotlight:
• Shanequa Johnson, owner of Barcode Glam Studio, empowers Black women in beauty by celebrating their uniqueness and fostering confidence.
• Launched in 2019, the studio highlights diversity and self-love while Johnson shares her passion for enhancing natural beauty.
• Her favorite beauty essentials include lash extensions, moisturizers, and soap, reflecting her commitment to holistic care.
• Johnson encourages others to pursue their passions in an entrepreneurial journey that is both personal and fulfilling.
Name: Shanequa Johnson
Title: Owner
Business Name: Barcode Glam Studio
Social Media Handles:
IG: @barcodeglamstudio https://www.instagram.com/barcodeglamstudio/
FB: @Barcodeglamstudio https://www.facebook.com/BarcodeGlamStudio
TikTok: @BarcodeGlamStudio https://www.tiktok.com/@barcodeglamstudio
Website: https://barcodeglam.com/
What made you start your business?
Since I was in high school my passion has been to enhance the natural beauty; thread the eyebrows & add lashes to the eyes. Of course, my lashes and brows were always on point during those younger years & I would also do my friends lashes & brows from time to time. It’s funny, I ran into an old high school classmate of mines a year ago & he asked me what I did for career. I informed him I owned a lash and brow studio in Cincinnati, Ohio; his response “ of course you do because I remember your brows and lashes were always perfect in high school.” It just put a smile on my face someone from 1999-2002 years would remember something like that about me.
In 2010 I received my Managing Aesthetics licensed in the State of Ohio. Began my career, but I soon realized in my career I was not built to be an employee. So, I began to envision opening my own studio. The money I was bringing in wasn’t enough to open my own business & survive. So, I temporarily quit being an aesthetician to fall back on my college degree & work a EMR Specialist (EPIC Software in the Hospitals). I made great money & soon forgot about my passion. In 2019 I was tired of working at a desk, not living in my ideal dream life. I decided to step away as a EMR specialist. I am an artist naturally & I thrive in being creative. So, I decided to go back to living in my passion and open the doors to Barcode Glam Studio December of 2019. Then COVID-19 struck & had to shut down the business temporarily in March 2020 to reopen it in June of 2020. But my passion couldn’t stop or discourage me for that love, enhancing the natural beauty. Barcode Glam Studio reopened & haven’t stopped growing since.
How does it empower you as a Black woman in the Beauty Field?
Being a Black woman in the beauty field is incredibly empowering. It allows me to celebrate and uplift the unique beauty of our community, breaking stereotypes and redefining standards. Owning Barcode Glam Studio gives me the platform to create a space where diversity is not just accepted but celebrated. It’s about more than just beauty; it’s about fostering confidence and self-love in every client. As I train new employees, I’m also passing on the importance of representation and the power of embracing our roots. This journey is not just professional; it’s deeply personal and a source of immense pride.
What are 3 of your favorite beauty items you can’t live without?
I have so many favorite beauty items and I love to support other small businesses too, so if I had to narrow it down:
#1. Is Lash Extensions- lash extension is just such a beauty convenience especially for a busy woman like myself. I literally “Wake up like this” every day. I just give the eyes a sexy flirtatious look without any effort. Of course I get my lash done at Barcode Glam Studio.
#2. Moisturizer- I don’t believe in being ashy on the face or body especially being a Black woman. I am also more of a holistic person so I love natural products. And I also believe sitting for 10 minutes to moisturize your body & face is self-care routine. So for this I am going to cheat a little because I believe in items for the body is not for the face.
Face Moisturizer- Skin Food by Bounty and Full https://www.bountyandfull.com/products/skin-food Farm grown raw ingredients with no chemicals or additives, just the most luxurious natural ingredient by Kelis a previous well-known musician/ hip-hop artist turned into a farmer
Body Moisturizer- Healing Frangrance Body Butter from Roots. They have multiple fragrances all natural but they feel so good and smell good too. https://www.facebook.com/RootsSeedsOils/ this is a local small business in Cincinnati, Ohio. I always shop here for other products too
#3. Soap-Soap is as simple as it gets. I love to be clean. So of course, I have a soap for the face and a different soap for the body
Face Soap- Natural Black Soap- I pick it up any natural store in the city (mostly Roots)
Body- Dove Soap- I pick this up at any commercial retail store.
Anything else our beauty readers should know about you? Being an entrepreneur is hard; social media and other outlets make it look easy. I have to get up every day and make it happen. But I would never choose another life career over this. If you are passionate in what you do, life is so much easier and fun. This is my balance; this is a part of my self-care.