We recently connected with Crystal Perez-Jimenez and have shared our conversation below.

Crystal, appreciate you joining us today. Do you wish you had started sooner?

While the thought of going back in time and starting my dream of cosmetology school earlier in life sounds great… I believe that that all of struggles it took to get there later in my life is what made me who I am today.

From a very young age, I had a passion to learn everything there was about hair and beauty. Life came first and I got married, had my beautiful children, worked full-time, and later ended up divorced and struggling to find a way to support my family on my own.

I wanted to be who my kids looked up to, I wanted to be their strength, their motivation, as well as their mother . So I picked myself up, studied for my GED, passed it, and 24 hours later I was registered in cosmetology school!

I loved every second of cosmetology school! Anything I could learn I did! It was a struggle going to school during the pandemic due to the remote learning in addition to working and keeping up with my kids. But I did it!

The struggles and all the waiting to pursue my goals is what gave me the motivation to never stop and keep on learning. So if I could change when I started my career, would I? I would not. I believe everything happened when it was meant to and because if that, I became the strong, motivated, passionate, NEVER-GONNA-STOP STYLIST!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I have always had a passion to be creative. I would see things online and think to myself, “I can do that.” and off I’d go (and still do). I started out making blankets and burp cloths for my first born and branched off to tutus for her dance class, Halloween costumes, jewelry, and eventually hair, makeup, and nails.

I love to see the smiles on my customers/clients faces when they see something I have made whether it’s a costume, their hair color, or nails.

What I want my clients to know is that I will always do my best to give them exactly what they want. I constantly research styles, colors, products, etc.. It’s extremely important to me to never stop learning. Products and styles are constantly changing so I never want to stop learning!

Have you ever had to pivot?

A time I had to pivot…What stands out the most to me is my first salon job after receiving my license.

I was immediately hired at a chain salon. I loved the location, loved my clients, and learned so much from that experience. The main thing I learned was that I needed to be in business for myself and I needed to act quick but also be smart about it.

Seeing how quickly we had to get clients in and out of the chair was not how I wanted to work or learn. While that may work for others (clients included), it just was not giving me a warm fuzzy feeling.

So I had to pivot. I decided to take a chance and start my own business. I put in my two weeks notice (even had a co-worker come with me), rented a two-chair suite and got right to work! It was terrifying (people said it was too soon and I could not do it) yet exhilarating all at the same time! I posted on social media, ran specials, had family and friends spread the word (and continue to do those things today).

Not much longer, my co-worker had to make a hard decision that she could no longer continue styling at that time. I was left in a bind that required me to pivot again. I went down to a smaller suite and started right back up!

Each setback/experience just pushed me forward even further. I continue to grow every day and I am both grateful and humbled by it.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I would have to say seeing a client smile. When I see it written all over their face that they love the work I have done whether it be a hair trim, color, manicure, etc..

Knowing the blood, sweat, and tears were worth it to make someone feel happiness.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://bewitchingstylesbycrystal.glossgenius.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/bewitching_styles_by_crystal?r=nametag