Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina Cruz Terral.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Christina. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My journey starts with graduating high school in the small town of Lake Worth to attending Texas Wesleyan University in Southside Fort Worth. I “studied” there for two years, changing my major as many as five times. I struggled there because I knew I had a deep yearning for something different than what others had planned for me. That’s until I met my now wife Nicole, who also attended Wesleyan. She noticed my passion for hair and make up while getting to help friends and myself get ready for good times. I’m now grateful for her encouraging me to push passed my struggle for acceptance and to go after my dreams. Thanks, babe! I took a leap of faith withdrawing myself from school all alone and enrolling myself to start two weeks later at a small school called Fort Worth Beauty School. While attending, I had an apprenticeship with a well-known salon called Halo Salon and Color Lab. I stumbled along the way my first couple of years until I landed an opportunity at Parlour House Salon and Art Gallery in Grapevine, Texas. I worked there almost three years rebuilding myself when my wife and I made the tough and risky decision to relocate back to our hometown of Fort Worth. I once again created an opportunity to restart my new and amazing journey as an independent hair stylist now at South Main District Salon, once again on the south side of Funky Town. It has been quite a journey! But every moment was perfectly placed for the chance and enjoyment of doing what I love, where I love, every single day. And the blessings are real!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It most certainly has not been smooth! Lol. I wish I could say it was. However, I am beyond blessed for everything I’ve overcome! This industry is no punk. But with great sacrifice, comes even greater reward. My journey has led me bouncing from salon home to salon home my first couple of years. I was young, dumb, and trying to find my way. Every single place I wound up and every single person I encountered has been a major stepping stone to self and professional growth. I am so grateful for all of the days I came in early, stayed late and took free clients just to create my name. There have been some really tiring days. Days I swore I was getting nowhere. It truly has built my character and helped form my work ethic. Which comes in handy now that I work for myself. It’s never an easy day when trying to cultivate your brand. My advice to young women entering the industry is to know you will only be as successful as the laziest day you work. Find somewhere with a strong education system and that will expect more out of you than you expect out of yourself. NEVER stop dreaming and NEVER stop pushing. Your first few years are meant to humble and prove to yourself what you’re really made out of. Keep going, you got this!!!
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
For years, I was known as a makeup artist. I absolutely loved this time in my career. But as the years went on, I developed a major love and respect for hair in the industry. Through my apprenticeship my first 2 years, I was only allowed to cut hair. Which at the time I didn’t appreciate enough. Because now as a loving color correctionist, as I create a plan for my client the haircut is what ultimately maps out my thought process or plan of action. My favorite educator Santos Chavez (working at Honeycomb Salon and Color Lab in FTW) taught me about shapes and correlations between color and cut. I strive to color the cut, not cut off the color. I love balayage, vivids, and of course color correction. It forces me to think out of my box and allows the nerd in me to truly get scientific and artistic in solving someone’s hair catastrophe. I would say I’m pretty well known for my color corrections. About 80% of what I come across in new clients is that. Which I’m cool with. I’m always up for the challenge! I would say what I’m most proud of and most known for is taking those clients that almost every time tell me that they’ve countlessly been turned away because of their previous hair history. I get clients with a list of friends with similar stories. The reaction I get when the service is completed and they finally feel that feeling of true love and satisfaction of what they see in the mirror is what keeps me going. It’s what I live for! It’s why I do what I do. And it seriously never gets old!
It would be great to hear about any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve used and would recommend to others.
On a serious note, I wish I was into reading books or a good podcast! Unfortunately, that’s just not my jam. The thing that really centers me and keeps me going is music! Seriously. It’s the very first and last thing in my day that gets my mind right. For instance, I’ll keep it real! If I know that my day is going to be relatively easy, my speakers sound something like Frank Ocean or Miss Lauryn Hill. If I know my day is going to be one to deal with, it’s probably going to start with some Cardi B or Sir Kendrick Lamar. I love music. It serves a serious attitude adjustment, relief, or simply just my time to sing my lungs out! Either way, it’s my thing!
Contact Info:
- Address: 207 S. Main Street Fort Worth, Texas 76104
- Phone: 682-622-9244
- Instagram: christinat_hair
- Facebook: Christina Terral
Image Credit:
Wyld Cosmia
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