ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE MYSELF

Hello ladies and gents,

Normally I would give you information on how to take care of yourself and your hair, but this month I am going to truly introduce myself to you the readers and tell you a little bit about myself.

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY MONTH!!!!! THIS IS THE DAY THE EARTH STOPPED AND TOOK A BREATH LOL. I AM THE X-FACTOR, GOD ONLY CREATED ONE LOL!!!!!!

LOL, so how do I begin; well on the night of November 29th, 1973 lol I am joking lol. I won't do that to y’all.

My name is Crystal Denise Lewis, I am a Beauty Expert, Educator, and Philanthropist. I am the President/Owner of I Say Yes Salon & Spa ®️ in the beautiful township of Cinnaminson, New Jersey. I Say Yes Salon & Spa ®️opened its doors to the public on November 17, 2012. The company has only been open for 10 years, flourishing and continuously proliferating in the beauty business as we serve our community. I Say Yes Salon & Spa ®️ caters to a diverse clientele.

I started my career path in 1992 when I attended Gordon Phillips Beauty School and graduated with a license in Cosmetology and Hairstyling in 1995. When you meet me, you will find out that I love Old Hollywood glamour hairstyles, and then I add my own modern/urban mix to your style. I also have a beautiful spunk that draws customers into the salon. I am more concerned about educating my client’s hair care than the client’s hairstyle. This is why I make sure all of the salon’s hair care products have natural components and ingredients in them.

In 2014, I was asked to sit on the Advisory Board of the Empire Beauty School which is located in Cherry Hill, NJ, and now in 2022, I am in school to receive my teacher's instructor's license in cosmetology and teacher’s certification so I can open my own beauty wellness university. Stay tuned!

You will always find me in a class teaching or learning new trends in the hair and beauty industry. I am very proud of the title that my clients have bestowed upon me, “The Hair Doctor of South Jersey,” because of my detailed attention in my one-on-one and group consultations and my work on the hairstyles that I create for them. l graduated from the Latin American Economic Development Association’s (LAEDA) Entrepreneurial Development Training Program in Camden, New Jersey, which was a nine-week business course. This has helped me learn how to be a businesswoman.  

The company I am building is to be an active partner with the community and businesses in Burlington County, Camden County, and the surrounding townships. As a visionary, my goal is to take the company globally. This Salon & Spa is a dream I have yearned for since a very young age when I took all of my Barbie Doll Collections and cut, styled their hair using a mixture of different colors of Kool-Aid for hair color. (my mom was very upset with me.) My goal is to educate leaders, stylists, and students in the beauty industry. The salon is always sponsoring monthly education and training sessions by experts in the field.

I am proud to say that I am a Military Brat whose father served in the United States Air Force for 23 years. As a result of my military childhood life, I have compassion for and have partnered with the Hearts Apart Program at the Joint Bases McGuire-Fort Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey to give free makeovers to Military wives while their spouses are deployed. I also volunteer with the American Cancer Society with their “Look Good…..Feel Better Program.” Once a month, I help out in the American Cancer Society, Cherry Hill, NJ office to fit women with a wig while they are going through their chemotherapy treatments.

I have developed a business where I can be a blessing to others. I am sought after for my creative styles in Fashion Shows and Beauty Pageants, Movies, TV, Commercials and editorial magazines. I am very blessed to be a part of the Queen Size Magazine Team as a contributing writer. I am coming out with my makeup line KRUSTOLLAS BRAIANT in November 2022 for my birthday. I love what I do and it shows. I want to make sure everyone knows how to keep their hair healthy, skin healthy and inside healthy. I provide all of my clients with their maintenance plan to use when they are not in my salon chair and how to have that beautified look that I give to all of my clients. I service all textures and types of hair and skin care.

Often, when I complete a beautified look, having fun with my customers, I have the customer look into the mirror while I say, in a fun-loving, sassy way, “Shake it but don’t break it.” Also, I give my customers valuable advice, reminding them to drink plenty of water and take their vitamins. All in All, I would not be able to have this successful business without my partners which is my mother Barbara Hall-Bryant, my father Davant G Bryant, my sisters Celeste M. Bryant, and April V. Bryant. I saved the best for last, my daughter Crystal D Singleton, she is the reason why I truly decided to start a legacy to be the next Madame C J Walker to build generational wealth.

Once you have spent time around me for a while, everyone seems to quote my favorite words, “I SAY YES.” I LOVE EVERYONE TO LIFE!! FOCUS ON YOUR FUTURE, STAY HUMBLE AND GROUNDED, FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS AND GO TOWARD THE DIRECTION OF YOUR HEART KEEP JESUS FIRST. REMEMBER WE ARE TO LIVE ON EARTH AS WE ARE IN HEAVEN LOVE AND BLESSINGS, You ARE NEVER FULLY DRESSED WITHOUT A SMILE –MARILYN MONROE

images shot by Philip Drew @photosbypdrew