Today we’d like to introduce you to Crystal Giles.
Crystal, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
As cliche as it might sound, it started when I was a little girl. Cutting all my dolls hair and trying to relax Barbie’s hair with Dark’n’Lovely, to which it all fell out. Two of my clients today, were my very first clients as a child (like 11/13 years old) they trusted me then and still do.
I was a C/B student in high school because I didn’t care for any subjects except Math. So upon graduation, I had one those parents that said, “You gotta do something”, so to everyone’s surprise, I joined the United States Army Reserve. I couldn’t see myself wasting money for college when I didn’t care for high school. Basic Training for six weeks, A.I.T. for eight weeks, I was officially a US Army Reservist. (one weekend a month, two weeks a year). Coming home from the military, I finally got to my passion and enrolled at Atlanta Area Tech for Cosmetology. And in one year I was a Master Cosmetologist. Just to add, I was a straight A, President’s List, NHS student then. (Because I Loved what I was learning).
Fast Forward past salon hopping as a young stylist, I moved to Norfolk, Virginia, got pregnant and ran back to Atlanta all within a year. I had my son in May of ‘99 and less than two months later, I started my career as a Master Cosmetologist. Six years ago, I opened up my dream salon, Gresham Giles Salon. (Gresham is my maiden name and Giles is my married name) My first time owning and operating a freestanding salon. (I had a salon in my home for five years) I was so excited and nervous.
My goal for my salon has and will always be to offer an Experience of Substance & Style to everyone who enters My goal for my team members is to help cultivate eager and passionate stylist who want to learn how to run their careers like a business and not just having an “I do hair” mentally. Gresham Giles is a Boutique Salon that offers an array of styles and services where we specialize in Healthy Hair and offer an Experience of Substance & Style.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
No, it has not been a smooth road opening a salon. Especially for someone who has never managed people. My first three years were extremely rough. Over ten different stylist with different personalities and all their personal issues!!! I got to a point where I hated going to my own salon. My 4th year, I wanted to give up, but GOD said no. So I invested in Business and Salon Coaches and Mentors. My life has forever changed! I focused on myself first and then I was able to work with others.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Gresham Giles Salon story. Tell us more about the business.
We are also a salon that gives back to our community. We have hosted the SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Conference) event, titled, “Pampering For Peace” where we gifted our services to over 75 women. We also host our own event in January where we pamper and serve 25 women with a full day of hair, nails, massage, makeup, breakfast, lunch, and gift bags. Along with that, we collect items for natural disasters victims and the less fortunate. Yes we do more than just “Do Hair”!
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Luck?!?! I’m not sure but FAITH, GRACE, and MERCY has brought me through. I’ve learned to trust the process even when it doesn’t feel good. Learn the lesson from every good and bad experience. And keep dreaming and driving towards what I expect out of my life and business.
Contact Info:
- Address: Gresham Giles Salon
1465 Chattahoochee Ave NW STE 500
Atlanta, GA 30318 - Website: greshamgilessalon.com
- Phone: 404.963.2187
- Email: greshamgilessalon@gmail.com
- Instagram: Greshamgiles
- Facebook: Gresham Giles Salon
- Yelp: Gresham Giles Salon
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