Conversations with Crystle Bond

Today we’d like to introduce you to Crystle Bond.

Hi Crystle, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was born in Nashville, TN. I was raised by a single mom who was a teacher, my older brother, and my grandparents. When I grew up, school was hard for me. I was diagnosed with dyslexia, but I have always wanted to be a hairstylist since the age of 9. I sat in the mirror for hours doing my hair until it was just right. When I would braid my hair with extensions, it would take me days but it never bothered me. I never grew impatient, it was relaxing for me. Of course not for my arms! It was then I knew I loved doing hair. It’s something about the creativity and skill that had me captivated from the age of 9. When I told my family that’s what I wanted to do they were supportive but also they told me that I had to go to college anyway. I knew I want my own salon one day so business was the way to go. In 2007, I graduated from the University at Chattanooga with a Bachelor’s degree in Business with a concentration in Entrepreneurship. Immediately after, I enrolled in a neighborhood Cosmetology school. After six months there, they closed and I found out they didn’t report any of my hours to the state board. I had to start all over! I enrolled at Miller Monte Technical College for Cosmetology in Chattanooga. Finally, I felt like I was getting ready for my purpose. In 2009, I graduated with an Associate’s degree in Cosmetology.

I moved back home to Nashville and started my Cosmetology journey. I got my first job in a neighborhood salon and I was so excited. After six months went by, I didn’t feel like I was building a clientele there. One of the stylists there told me to work at Smart style in Walmart to build my name and skill level. So I applied and got the job. So I thought, Ok this is my chance! A year later, I applied to be the manager for a store in Murfreesboro, TN. I got it! I loved managing staff, retail, and doing hair. My clientele was steady and my numbers were great. In 2011, I wanted to shift, I applied to be a teacher at Paul Mitchell the School Murfreesboro and got a full scholarship. I loved teaching there it was a chance to give back to my industry and use my creativity. I got to see the students learn grow, have fun, and graduate. I learned so much too about the movement coming, Natural hair. I also opened my first salon, a salon suite called Serenity. I didn’t have much clientele; I was a full-time instructor. In March 2012, I married the greatest guy, but right after I got back from my honeymoon, I received a call. I got downsized by Paul Mitchell. I thought “What am I gonna do?” As soon as I started working full-time in the salon, I went from making $400 a month to $5000 a month in six months. My clientele was booming and I started to find my niche, Natural Hair. I spent years building and perfecting my craft. Then I realized there are not many that do Natural Hair in my area. I became a natural hair specialist. In the Fall of 2015, I had a newfound confidence. I had just gotten out of a terrible salon partnership and rebranded my salon to Assuage Hair and Body.

Over the years of listening to my clients, they complained about not being able to find products that worked for them. I liked the products I was using but I didn’t love them. I also referred people to buy other companies’ hair vitamins. Which had me thinking what if I could start my own product line. Days later, I saw an ad sponsored on Facebook about a class, but it was too expensive. I had taken a loss on this terrible partnership and I just moved and rebranded. I called my husband and told him what was happening. He said, Enroll in the class! He’s always so supportive of my dreams, but I couldn’t afford it. I stepped out on Faith. On April 7, 2016, I launched my first four products including vitamins under the name Classic. My mom bought my first product, some vitamins I named Intense. Products were flying out of the shelf in the salon. I started to work with chemists and manufacturers. By 2017, I was up to 12 products and a Natural textured extension line. The business was booming. In 2018 I partnered with an event coordinator to do my first Natural Hair show in Murfreesboro. It had vendors, education classes, and a fashion show. One of my instructors pulled out at the last minute so I had to stop and put my teaching hat back on. I didn’t realize how much I missed it. Sadly, attendance was very low at the show, but my loving husband and family were there, proud, especially my mom. I haven’t been able to do one since especially with covid-19. The education bug had bitten me again.

In 2018, Classic Curls and Coils Events was formed to impart education to the natural hair community, and in 2020 licensed cosmetologists. I did a couple of education classes, recordings, panel discussions, and speaking engagements at hair schools. One of my mentors told me that year, I should write a book. I laughed! Even though I made it through 2 colleges, it wasn’t easy. I had to get my mom to proofread everything I ever wrote! She asked me to try it. I never spoke about it unless it was my mom, husband, or brother. My best friends didn’t even know! I worked on the outline and a few chapters in my free time. I sent it to my mom to proofread just like I was in college again. To be honest, I was scared to do it. So I didn’t touch the book again for a while. I was running from my purpose. “A book. Not me!”, I thought. In 2019, my manufacturer and chemist I worked with when to mass production that I wasn’t ready for or could afford. When I asked for my formulas, they wanted me to pay an outrageous price for each of my 12 products. I thought is there a way I can learn to do this myself. A couple of months later, I was running low on products and a sponsored ad ran across my feed. It was for an online certification In Cosmetic chemistry. I saved and made my payments. In May 2019, my mom died of breast cancer. While I was cleaning out her room, the rough draft of my book was laying on her bed. It was corrected in lots of red ink. I was determined to finish the book my mom and I had worked on, but I didn’t think I could make the time. I was still in school at night and was just chosen to pitch my company in California. In California, the experience was amazing. I pitched but after many follow-ups and no response. I just let it go and continued to focus on Cosmetic chemistry.

In Dec. 2019, I finished my certification. I learned to make my products and write my formation. I still couldn’t find the time to get back to my book. I worked 12 hours behind the salon chair, hours making products, doing education classes in the community, a husband, household work, etc. The book just kept on nagging me. In March 2020, Covid-19 shut down the world! Made some new products and I pulled out the rough draft of my book from my mom’s bed. It was time to finish it. On November 1st, I became the Author of I want to go Natural…….now what? On November 6th, I got an email, it was approved to be sold on Amazon and is now available for purchase. My husband was the first person to tell. I dedicated a book to my mom. It was bittersweet. She was always there supporting me and I hope I made her proud. I also decided to repurpose, retarget and rebrand. I came up with the concept of classic Natural Hair academy which I’m putting together as we speak. My mission is to bridge the gap between the natural hair community and licensed cosmetologists by building trust. Empowering stylists with knowledge, effective products, and techniques. I would like to do virtual Classes for techniques on natural hair like the proper way to do a twist out, the three-strand twist technique and so much more. I would also like to do virtual business classes and product knowledge. Classic is now called Classic Natural Hair Salon Systems as I would like licensed stylists that desire to do natural hair to have a production system that works.

In 2021, I was chosen to teach in a virtual/global natural hair industry conference. After I got some many cosmetologists messaging me tell me that they are making so much money from that one technique. I also found clarity on my purpose. In the future, I would like to open a natural hair salon/salon suites franchise. I would sell my products and so many other natural product lines for the skin and body. The salon would cater to all-natural curl types, have specialty wigs for cancer survivors, a hair loss department, nails, massage, and facials. The salon model would be a natural women’s self-care place in this chaotic world. My salon would have several charity/outreach programs such as backpack drives donating underclothes and warm food to the homeless. We would have a fund for struggling women to get self-care services that can’t afford it or for their kids, that can go on field trips, etc. Lastly, I would have classes for clients and stylists to learn natural hair practices.

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?
No, it has been a smooth road. I thought I could not be an author or certified chemist because I’m dyslexic. I’ve had failed business partnerships. I have lacked confidence in my gifts and achievements but through it all, I was rooted in God. Each difficult situation was a learning experience that made me into the person I am today.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a natural hair entrepreneur. That title consists of so many hats such as a salon owner, a stylist, a certified cosmetic chemist it with my own natural hair care line called Classic Natural Hair Salon Systems, a natural hair educator and now .an author of “I want to go natural now what?” on Amazon. My primary job is doing natural hair and that is what I’m known for as a licensed cosmetologist. I started my specialty line of products to cater to the hair types in my salon. I’m proud of being a voice in the cosmetology industry. What sets me apart from other stylists is my thirst for education to get better, my professionalism, and my passion for healthy hair.

How do you think about happiness?
As far as my job is concerned, what makes me happy is seeing a new client love their hair and be amazed at what their hair can do. Personally, I love seeing new things like beautiful scenery. It inspires me to be a better artist.

Pricing:

• $35 for I want to go natural now what? On Amazon
• $20 Intense Hair nutrients (hair vitamins)
• $15 Edge slick
• $20 Liquid gold growth serum
• $15 Curl Vitamilk

Contact Info:

• Email: crysjjones@comcast.net
• Website: www.classic-haircare.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/naturalhairbyCrystleJB
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crystle.jonesbond
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCxIzUQXR_THRU9w2vPnhSCA

Image Credits
Photos we’re taken by Tonya Osborne, Courtney Webb, and Japhet Odigie Make up by Tonya Osborne, Aignes Rogan, Warren Collins