Crystal Carter 27 Nate Hughes CONTENTS16 23

CRYSTAL CARTER: LEAP OF SUCCESS

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

by Cyn The Great

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

boutique in Detroit. The good thing about being a hairstylist according to Crystal is that it’s fast money and you can move around with more flexibility. She started off in ATL by connecting with people she knew from back home and they began to spread her name by word of mouth. Crystal shared that she’s a perfectionist so she had to make sure that she lived up to the expectation that came with her work.

Her big break came from her and her boyfriend scrolling on Instagram one day and stumbled across Sukihana, rapper/tv personality, page. Her boyfriend gassed her and told her to jump in her DM but she was afraid so he wrote her on her behalf. Crystal went into a meeting shortly after and Suki responded asking if she could come ASAP. When Crystal came out of the meeting her boyfriend was smiling from ear to ear when he showed her the message and from there she just took off. Crystal expressed how thankful she is for the opportunity because it led her to meeting her best friend Brianna ( will get IG tag) who is a celebrity MUA.

Crystal worked her way onset for the TV show Social Society through her best friend and instantly made herself at home. Crystal shared that she manifested her success through the power of her words. She recalled times where she used to tell herself that she would be in Atlanta doing big projects for celebrities. She has been doing photoshoots, video shoots and working nonstop. She’s worked with rapper Spice, The Clermont Twins, Keisha Green, LaBritney Franklin and Crystal shared that for her it is important to give back to others by dropping gems that helped her to get to where she is. She keeps old videos and photos on her social media to show her transition from where she started to where she is in order to share the transparency of her journey. Crystal expressed that hair is a component that adds to women’s identity. She believes that it is a big deal to give women the opportunity to express how they feel through their hair.

Her overall goal is to make women feel good about themselves and network with as many people as she can. Being a hairstylist is more than just hair; you spend a lot of time in the shop or in the chair; so learning about people’s stories and sometimes even becoming their therapist or mentor is something that comes naturally. Breaking generational curses is another goal that Crystal is already tapping into. She is finding ways to help family members by putting them to work for her business.

When asked about her short term and long term goals, Crystal expressed that she’s already crushing the goals she’s set. She is literally living in the moment and enjoying every opportunity that comes her way. She shared that the universe is going to keep bringing her blessings to her. As she continues to flourish her light touches everyone she encounters. Within the short timeframe of 2 years in a new city Crystal is living her dream and leaving her mark one person at a time. Taking a leap of faith turned into more success than Crystal could have imagined when she started out as a little girl.