Today we’d like to introduce you to Crystal Ortiz.
Hi Crystal, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hello my name is Crystal, I’m from Mesquite Texas. I taught myself how to braid practicing on my little sister when I was around 14 or 15, during that time I would do friends hair from school and family friends’ hair but not really trying to run a hair business. I did it for about a year until most of my clients (which were male) started cutting their hair off so, I got into the workforce. Over ten years later, at 28 I was at a point in my life where I wanted to have my own schedule to be with my family more but, I had no idea what I was going to do! The only thing I had left was to trust in God. I said a prayer out loud asking God to lead me to what I was distant to do because I was ready! March of 2013 I was fired from my job that I had been at for almost 3 years. After that happened, I made the decision to stay home and be with my then one year old son. That July I went to get my hair done for my anniversary and the stylist I was going to had an assistant helping her braid down the foundation of a sew in for her next client, this was the first time I had ever seen it done and a light bulb went off in my head. I told myself I can do this! I went home and looked up on YouTube how to do sew ins, I would watch videos daily until I felt confident enough to do one on someone. That September I did my first sew in on my cousin and it turned out so well that you would think I had been doing it for years, it just came so natural to me and for to first time I decided then, that I would go to a beauty school! I went to regency beauty institute in Mesquite TX. I graduated got my license, started in a salon worked there for three months, and switch to a different salon where I stayed at for nine months. During that time, life was changing and I needed to be home, so my husband and I decided to move my salon into our home, where I’ve been running my business now for the past six years
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Honestly it’s been fairly a smooth run, When I put my mind to what ever I need done, I get it done! So with me wanting this to work I’ve worked hard to make sure I succeeded. The most I love about the business is being able to meet new people in the industry, one of my challenges though, is that I’m trying to come out of my shell, to get from behind my work and show people outside of my chair who I am. This is something I’ve been working on for almost two years now.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’ve always been into art as a whole, I used to draw and still paint. Getting into the hair industry has allowed me to still be creative while making other people happy with my gift. I’ve strived to have great customer service since I started. I also run my business like a business (I don’t just do hair). I make sure I show up on time and rest to work, I appreciate my clients and let them know it all the time. I value my clients time so I’m very good with managing my time well.
What does success mean to you?
To me success is happiness, doing something you enjoy, something that you can learn from and teach others and to be able to still live while having it also support you financially.
Contact Info:
- Email: cnhleo@gmail.com
- Website: StyleSeat.com/crystalclearstyles
- Instagram: Crystal_clear_styles_llc
- Facebook: Crystal Nicole Ortiz
