Meet Crystle Jones-Bond | Natural Hair entrepreneur & 2-time award-winning stylist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Crystle Jones-Bond and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Crystle, we’d love to start by asking you about lessons learned. Is there a lesson you can share with us?
The most important lesson I learned in my business/career is to enjoy the journey. In the past, I was so in a rush to get to the big dream that I would miss the valuable experiences. There is no short way to build a business. I know I used to think that all I needed was money for my business to work but now I know I need experience also.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Since I was 9 years old, I wanted to be a hairstylist. I love fashion and creativity. However, my family is full of educators so they told me I had to go to college. I went to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and majored in business entrepreneurship. After college, I went to hair school at Miller-Motte Tech. When I got my license, natural hair was becoming more fashionable. It was taught in school so I had to learn on my own. It was difficult but rewarding. Learning more and more about the craft allowed me to be a chemist and launch my haircare products, Classic Natural Haircare Salon system. During my cosmetology career, I have bounced around a lot. I have been a manager of a franchise salon, and educator at Paul Mitchell The School, and was quoted and featured in magazines such as Nashville Voyager, Birdie, Vegamour, and the Tease. I’ve been interviewed on a radio show and an author of a natural hair how-to book called” I Want to Go Natural Now, what?” on Amazon. I also style for country music star Ashlie Amber. It has been a long road full of ups and downs, tears and heartaches but I believe it is all a part of a bigger purpose. Life has its rewards. This year, I was shocked to receive 2 awards. The Texture Style Award for Coily up style and The Master Pioneer Legacy award.
All I want to do is keep presenting elegant representations of natural hair and inspiring the next generation.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I consider myself a big kid so I would go to a place like Dave and Busters. We can bowl, axe throw, drink eat all in one place. The next day I’d take her shopping but not before we eat at Pancake Pantry or Goodness Gracious Cafe. For dinner, I would take her to Rodizios. On the last day, we do a movie and spa day.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First, I want to shout out my late mother, Lisa Jones. She was always my biggest cheerleader! My family and friends are the best support system I could ever have. Next, I would like to thank my amazing team at Assuage Hair and Body Salon for helping me build a strong brand. Also, thanks to Tonya Osborne the best photographer and friend ever. Warren Collins and Cassandra Alexander for doing my makeup when I need y’all. Thank you to my mentors Anita, Susan, and Monae for seeing me and helping me. Last but not least my husband, Reginald Bond is the best supporter and hype man.

Website: https://linktr.ee/CrystleJB

Instagram: https://instagram.com/crystlejonesbond?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystle-jones-bond-9bba54150

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crystle.jonesbond?mibextid=ZbWKwL

Other: Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MSGQVVB/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabt1_KCBUFbX3KRY8K?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&ref=d6k_applink_bb_dls&dplnkId=fd71db29-9ae5-4f15-820e-07657842e3e8 Portfolio https://crysjjones.wixsite.com/crystlejonesbond

Image Credits
Photography: Tonya Osborne and Steif Fuller Makeup artist: Warren Collins Ashlie Amber