Growing up in California, I spent a lot of warm nights playing steal the flag, hide and seek, and sardines. My mom purchased our home when we were small, and we spent all of our youth in that house.  

I left home after I graduated high school and spent the first year of junior college screwing around and not caring about my grades or whether or not I completed my classes. I struggled with being responsible for myself, and unfortunately, my GPA at the end of the year reflected it quite clearly.

Over the next few years, I migrated south from the Redding area to Chico where I went to school to be a Cosmetologist.  I had huge plans that I would be a hairstylist to the stars, but never quite made it that far.  I graduated in August of 2007 and started out at Supercuts for the first 3 years.  

I met my husband, Clint, in 2003, long before we began dating. We re-met again in 2009 and were blessed with our son in 2010.  When my son was 6 months old, I decided to go back to school and finish my degree. I started at the same junior college I had flunked out of earlier and earned a spot on the Dean’s List for each of the semesters I attended.  During my last semester, I concurrently attended Simpson University to complete my Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a minor in HR Management. I graduated in January 2013 with honors and began working for the court system.

After 3 years, I left the court system and went back to work as a hairstylist full time.  I have always enjoyed helping people feel better about themselves, and this job is a huge part of that enjoyment.  

In 2015, my husband and I were married in a very small ceremony at the City Hall in San Francisco.  We had both been married before, so neither of us wanted to waste any time or money planning a big event. 

We spent the next four years living in Chico, until 2019. In January of 2019, my dad was diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), which affects his speech, his ability to walk, and other vital life functions. In California, my parents both worked full-time in the medical field prior to my dad’s diagnosis. Afterward, it became difficult for my mom to afford my dad’s medical care and be the sole income for the two of them. So, they decided to follow my younger sister to Idaho Falls and start new lives here.  

I always tell people that when my parents left, it felt like the air was sucked out of California. I have always been close with my family, and with everyone out of the state, I struggled with a bit of depression.  My son also had a hard time, as he has had a great relationship with my parents since he was born and often spent weekends at their home.  

Shortly after they left the state, I contacted my mom and discussed bringing my family up to live with them until we found a home of our own. We moved up to Idaho Falls on November 1, 2019, and spent the next 15 months living in the downstairs floor of my parents’ home in order to be there to help my mother care for my dad.  

When we first arrived in Idaho Falls, I purchased a small shop on the corner of Cleveland and Holmes Avenue, repainted and threw out or sold what we didn’t need, and started my own hair studio, Evelyn Todd Hair Studio. Quite a few people ask me what the name comes from – and I often get called Evelyn. I then explain that the name comes from my family.  Evelyn belongs to my great, great grandmother, my youngest niece, and my baby sister, and Todd belongs to my dad and my son. The name is a daily reminder of how close my family is, and how much they are a part of my daily life.

I’m looking forward to spending a long time here in Idaho Falls.  My son loves the snow, and while my husband isn’t a fan of it, he enjoys all of the fishing opportunities. We spend a lot of time during the summer going camping and exploring our new state. We can’t wait to see everything Idaho has to offer!

Instagram – @SarahPracnaHair & @EvelynToddHairStudio

Sarah Pracna
Sarah is a California transplant and moved here with her husband and son to be closer to her family. Sarah owns Evelyn Todd Hair Studio here in town and has been in the beauty industry for 14 years.  She also has a degree in Business with a minor in HR Management.  Sarah is the 2nd of three girls in her family and works hard to help take care of her dad who suffers from ALS. She is an assistant den leader for her son’s Boy Scout Den and enjoys camping and spending time with her family and friends.