We’re looking forward to introducing you to Crystal Jimenez. Check out our conversation below.
Crystal, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: Are you walking a path—or wandering?
I am walking a path.
That is a deep, personal question. For me, I’m on a journey. My journey is learning how to consistently walk with the Lord and trust Him in all things, good and bad. I am human and not perfect, but through Jesus’ death and resurrection, and by God’s grace and mercy, I know I can call on Him anytime.
When my business is slow, I thank Him for what I have. When I’m busy, I thank Him for keeping me busy. When life feels easy, I thank Him for the things we often take for granted. And when life gets hard, I thank Him because I know He will see me through it.
James 1:2–4 is a scripture I’ve leaned on this year, finding joy in all circumstances. Not just outward happiness, but inward contentment. When things go awry, they are out of my control, and the only One in control is God. In the valleys of life, my faith has to move from words to action.
We want to fix things immediately. Sometimes that just isn’t possible. When I feel stuck or defeated, I remind myself that God’s timing is perfect, even when it feels slow. I could lose everything in a blink of an eye like Job, and after a full-on panic attack and some tears (let’s be honest), I would still cling to the Lord, because nobody else can fix that.
Job suffered deeply yet never cursed God. That matters to me. No matter what I face, I will seek the Lord. He sustains me. He protects me. He is my path and my journey. Whether I walk alone or with others beside me, I will continue building my relationship with God until He calls me home.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi everyone! My name is Crystal. I am a follower of Jesus. Without Him I am nothing and with Him I have everything. I am married. We just celebrated 17 years and three kids. I am about to start my last semester of college! I am super stoked. I have been doing that part time while also doing hair. So it had taken me a lot longer than usual but I am here now. I have two classes and I will graduate in May with my bachelors in psychology. I am not sure yet if I am going to go back to a different school for my masters to get my LPC or get in somewhere and let them pay for it lol
My passion for the last 20 years is hair. God has given me that gift. Growing up I was not into doing hair or makeup. To this day I still do not wear makeup unless the occasion calls for it! But for some I decided to go to cosmetology school and I excelled.
Through all these years life situations happened and I quit and then I would go back. But there was a time where I had given it up for good. I was done. In 2021 God was calling me to get back to it. I was like huh? Ummm Lord how? I do not have the means to do that! There was a lot of prayer and lot of arguing lol but I followed through. I came up with Hairapy with Crystal. A play on both worlds of psychology and hair. It is what I do. A lot of stylist say that is part of our job, which is true, but I think I stand out in a way that not only do my clients talk to me, but I actively listen to them. With intent. I make sure I remember certain things so I can follow up for next time. I make my clients feel safe and confident. I never give unsolicited advice either. Sometimes letting people vent is better than saying anything at all.
Anyways, so back in 2021 I did not start back in a salon to build up. I built up on my own using Facebook and my friends. I created a business page Hairapy with Crystal on Facebook, IG, and TikTok. But I still have yet to figure out how to actually use Instagram lol do not be judging me lol but I have made it this far without so I am okay. The Lord provides. Well, in October 2025, I left the salon I was working in and decided to go mobile. I now go to my clients homes and still give them salon quality services. Since then, I have done so much better. I have gained more clients, I am not having to pay rent to anyone lol and my clients, especially my elderly ladies love it. Because they do not drive, they do not have to worry about rides. God has been protecting me while doing this. I have to be observant on who reaches out to me. I have to go with my discernment.
But, as I mentioned being in college and about to graduate, I do plan on continuing to do hair on the weekends. I will have to run a tight ship with my clients and put them all on a rotation! There are a few VIP clients no matter what. They are secured and locked in! But, I am just excited to see where God is leading me and the new chapter in life.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
Unforgiveness breaks bonds between people. It hardens hearts, builds invisible walls, and turns small wounds into lasting divisions. When we refuse to forgive, we do not just distance ourselves from others, we quietly imprison ourselves in bitterness or grudges, replaying hurt while calling it protection.
What restores those bonds is forgiveness rooted in God’s forgiveness toward us. When I think about how much God has forgiven me, how He extends grace even when I fall short again and again, it becomes clear that holding unforgiveness makes no sense. I cannot ask God for mercy while refusing to offer it to others.
God’s forgiveness does not minimize the hurt or pretend it did not happen. It redeems it. And when we choose to forgive the way God forgives, freely, fully, and without keeping score, we create space for healing. Restoration may look like reconciliation, or it may simply look like peace in our own hearts, but either way, forgiveness breaks what unforgiveness tries to bind.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
My defining wound would be when I was 17. Actually I could pin point several but those do give the reflection, hurt, pain, mental, emotional, betrayal, despair, and hatred like this one did when I was 17.
It was January 2000 and my mother says hey I will be back. It was normal. Nothing out of the ordinary. But, only this time, it was different. She did not come back. We did not understand what was going on. Just to add in here, I have a younger sister that is 7 1/2 years younger. So she was not quite 10 yet. Well anyways, I found out a couple weeks later that my mother was a drug addict. If someone would have asked me then if I would have ever thought that I would have laughed and said no. She always worked and provided for us. We were not rich but we were never without.
So finding that out was like devastating. So, because I was 17 and still in high school, I would be out in the streets with my friends cruising around. I would see her and pull over. I would beg her to come home and she would say no. After several attempts of that and reminding her that she still has a kid at home, I gave up. I went on with my life. My hurt turned to anger.
Soon she would end up in and out of jail. Her life spiraled out of control fast. I graduated high school and I made sure that happened and that my home life was not going to make me a statistic. I had two kids I kept from her because I did not want that around my kids. I grew around drugs from the youngest uncle (her youngest brother) and I do not think that is right to have around children. So I made certain choices regarding that. I harbored a lot of hatred towards my mother for what she did. How selfish could be? Were we not worth sticking around for? Just a few more years and she would have been free of minor children and then if she wanted to go be about that life then so be it. But she walked away from a child that still needed her in crucial phase of life. She missed out.
August 2007, yes 7 years she stayed in that lifestyle with no desire to be done with it. By then, I was barely getting into doing hair (well it had been two years) and I did not think twice about what she was doing. I had my own life and my own family. So August 2007 comes and well that phone call came. The one every parent dreads but this time it was the daughter who got it. I answered the phone. I heard the words “your mom is dead. She was hit by a truck.”
Me and my sister go to scene which was down the street. I parked my car and ran to her but was stopped by a cop. She was walking in a heavy drug area and was crossing the street. She was clipped. Knocked out of her shoes. It was like a parade. People everywhere. Lights from emergency services. I had to call my aunt who called my grandma.
It was after that, during the time leading up to her funeral, that my anger resurfaced. Something I worked so hard to suppress. I suppressed other things early on in life because I had no choice. But this? This was different. She was our only parent. So no matter how rough life had gotten she was always there to figure it out. I grew up with her. My sister did not get that chance. I did.
For months it affected my life. Personal and social. It messed with my head. I had nightmares consistently. I finally started to learn to move on.
Four years later, I started going to church and started learning about forgiveness and harboring grudges, bitterness, hate, etc. I did not want that for myself. I had to pray and tell God I forgive her and I release and break the animosity I held inside towards her. That releases my grudges and allows me my freedom of forgiveness and redemption through Jesus. But, I am truly not healed. I still cry because I want her here. I miss the mom I knew. I miss cooking fires lol I miss her loud laughing. I miss being at the stores and buffets with her. Maybe I am still a little angry. I do not know. I am 43 years old and she was 44 when she died.
Sorry this was a long story. If you need you to condense it that is totally fine. I understand. I just like to be able to allow anyone else who may have experienced this situation or is currently dealing with something like this, you are not alone. Do not try and fix it. Take it the Lord. Give it to Him. There is nothing He cannot heal. He will carry you and let you express it. Just do not curse Him or blame Him. But just know there are others out here that went through it. It made me grow up fast. Think differently. Do things differently. Because of that, I use it as examples for my kids when they were old enough to understand the consequences of our actions. It is always best to try and do what is right.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
Honestly? They are getting it wrong on Instagram, TikTok, and basically everywhere that screams, “This is the life you must have.” Perfect kitchens with matching containers refilled on schedule, shelves color-coded like a Pinterest board, smoothies in mason jars with perfectly aligned straws…all while my cats are fighting, my laundry soap tap is dripping onto the washer, and I am wondering if I remembered to feed myself.
Everything is about algorithms now; what to watch, what to buy, what to eat, who to be friends with. The smartest people think if they just follow the formula, life will look perfect too. Meanwhile, I am just trying to keep my shenanigans together, one small disaster at a time. And honestly? That is the fun part. Life is not about perfectly curated feeds or flawless schedules. It is about the messy, chaotic, laugh-until-you-cry real moments that algorithms will never predict.
So maybe the smartest thing we can do today is laugh at the perfection trap, embrace the mess, and keep our own little chaos in check. Matching containers are cute, but my cats will still fight, my tap will still drip, and somehow, somehow, life will still be fine. And I will take that over flawless Instagram and TikTok aesthetics any day.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
If I had to lay down everything: my name, careers, possessions, roles, etc., I would still have my character, my spirit, my faith, God because He IS, I will still remain me. I may not have what the world deems as success or riches or life sustaining measures, but if I had to give it all up for whatever reason then okay. When I die I cannot take any of it to heaven anyways. It is all temporary. None of that defines me. My identity is in Jesus and in Him alone. I am all those extra things because of humanity. They are just mere titles. But I found myself thinking of this song by one of my favorite Christian artists, Colton Dixon called You Are. These lyrics are from the bridge:
“If I had no voice
If I had no tongue
I would dance for you like the rising sun
And when that day comes and I see your face I will shout your endless glorious praise”
In the same circumstances, if I am left with nothing, I am still going to praise Him.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hairapy-with-crystal.square.site/
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