CRYSTAL CARTER:
LEAP OF SUCCESS by Cyn The Great
Starting over typically implies
that we go back to day one. Some people become discouraged and let their dream dissipate because of all the time, effort and money spent on the first trial. They hold on to the fact that if it did not work the first time it won’t work the second time around. However, there are others who use failure as motivation to do better than they did before. To them, a new start means using the lessons from the first trial as stepping stones to avoid the same obstacles they encountered before. Crystal Carter, key hair stylist/ wig designer/ glam onset celebrity hair stylist/ and image consultant, used her failures as reasons why she had to reach her version of success. Moving over 700 miles from Detroit to Atlanta to pursue her vision was not an easy journey but with the support of her partner and children her leap of success turned out to be very fruitful. Every “no” she received on her way to the top was an inspiration to keep going until she reached a place where that word no longer applied to her craft.
Being able to tap into her passion is something that Crystal
recalls loving from a very young age. She recalls practicing on her younger sister’s hair as early as age seven and eventually working her way up to family members and friends. During ISSUE #5 | 23
her exclusive one on one interview she smiled as she shared “I remember it taking me 7 hours just to do a sew in when I first started but over and with the right opportunities I just got better and better.” When she was thirteen she became an apprentice for her uncle’s girlfriend, at a popular upscale salon called Truth Salon. She would assist by shampooing and blow drying hair; but more importantly she gained a lot of experience and realized that doing hair was her happy place. Crystal continued to hustle and do hair until she was able to open her own store front/boutique on 9 mile. She was able to book clients and bring in more business through word of mouth. Her boyfriend continued to support her and push her dreams further by investing in her first order of Indian hair. She then launched her own hair line called Love Lavish Luxe . Business started progressing for her but it was not enough. She then made the tough decision to uproot her five children and move to Atlanta, Georgia. She knew that she would
be able to rub elbows with the right people and the only way to know for sure was to take a leap of faith.
The big move over 722 miles
away started off slow. As scared as she was she knew she had to shake the comfortability that came with her
