Looking Back: Late ‘punk rock’ hairdresser had big heart

A glance back thirty years, when John Vogensen was the King of Hair|

In 1988, John Vogensen was on his way to becoming the king of hairdressers around these parts, though most who knew him remember the Petaluma native as more of a clown prince - with a wicked sense of humor and a huge heart.

Plus … amazing hair.

Thirty years ago, less than a month before his 26th birthday, the Argus-Courier’s A.L. Landers interviewed Vogensen (see excerpt in sidebar), a conversation that revealed as much about the talented stylist’s commitment to using his craft as a means of helping others discover their trues selves, as it provided evidence of his innate understanding of hair, locks and tresses of all kinds.

“In high school, John and I used to cut hair during our lunch breaks for free, for our friends,” recalls Sheila Clement. “We had a pretty good clientele going. After high school, John was working in the mall, working in a job that was going nowhere fast. My mom, who was a hairstylist and I - who also became a stylist - talked to John about going to beauty school. We both knew he could make more money doing hair. John listened, and became pretty successful. We always knew he’d do well. It was his calling.”

In the years since the article ran, Vogensen went on to work for a number of local salons, and eventually opened his own shop. All the while, he pursued his other passion: martial arts. In between cutting the hair of an increasingly star-studded roster of clients, Vogensen earned a third-degree black belt in judo.

Sadly, he passed away just under six years ago, on May 6, 2012, after a six-month battle with colon cancer. He was residing in Chino Valley, Arizona, at the time.

“The last time I saw him, it was not long before he passed,” says Clement. “He never told me he was sick. John always had an element of surprise. That’s what made him a good stylist.”

“He was the sweetest, kindest, and most likable person on the planet,” remembers Lisa Marie Risner, sharing an opinion that is echoed over and over by those who knew him, whether as friends or clients, or both.

“He had the best hair ever!” recalls Rachel Nixon, owner of Petaluma’s Urban Elements hair salon. “He was such an inspiration when I was younger, and still a new rebellious hairdresser. I was always in awe of his badass hair.”

“I went to school with John,” says Shelley Conger Maderos. “A good guy, and a very talented hair stylist. He also gave a great shoulder-neck-head massage with his cuts and styles.”

“He was the best hairdresser I ever had,” adds Terri Worden, who first met Vogensen at Petaluma High School, from which he graduated in 1980. “He did modeling companies, rock stars - and normal people like me. I was so sad when I heard he died.”

“John was a great hairstylist at Fourth Street Cutters, and also, he and others opened up a shop upstairs from the Hideaway in the late ’80s,” says Patricia Wong Dewey. “He used to do Night Rangers’ hair when they were around. He had incredible patience and an incredible sense of humor.”

“I was friends with John,” recalls Tricia Gilroy Bomar. “I worked with him for a few years at Vogenson Hair Studio before I opened my own shop. I loved him dearly, and will always miss him. He came by my shop the year he died but didn’t tell me he was sick. I have lots of stories - some too scandalous to share.”

“He was freaking amazing,” agrees Shannon Howard-Treviso, who was a regular customer of Vogensen’s back in the day. “We waited weeks to get an appointment with him. All us rocker girls would swoon,” Howard-Treviso confesses, adding, “He was the only person who knew what a feather was.”

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