Meet Khrystal Womack | Creative Enthusiast & Business Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Khrystal Womack and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Khrystal, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I wanted to do something different. I have a degree in Criminal Justice. I’ve worked with in the Juvenile Justice and Foster Care system and I have an extensive amount of experience in the mental health field. I did that for the first half of my life. I call this half “the back nine.” This is where I decided that it was time to do what was best for me. One of my good friends says, “Don’t be afraid to suck at something new.”

Throughout the front nine, I have always had a desire to work creatively and even did so on the side. At the end of the day, every day I found myself focusing more on my side hustle than my actual job sometimes. One day I thought to myself, what would happen if you dedicated these same nine, ten hour days to your craft. It was then I decided it was time so that’s what I did.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My business is Mess 2 Empress. It was an idea thought up by my sisters and me. We specialize in home made candles, cushioned high heel inserts, and hair care products for the straight haired naturals. Products for the straight haired natural is what sets us apart. I didn’t see a market for straight haired naturals to be able to manage their hair at home. That’s where we come in and what I’m most excited about.

We got where we are today through prayer, grit, and determination. It has not always been easy. Running a business is not for the faint of heart. The days where no orders come in and your social media strategy isn’t working can make for some difficult days, but they don’t last too long. We come together, brain storm what is or is not working and making the necessary adjustments.

Lessons I’ve learned along the way are don’t be afraid to ask for help, know where your money is going, make it work for you, and never give up.

I want the world to know that our company is based on the experiences of Black females in the US. We’ve gone through everything from trying to learn how to braid, to learning to love our hair in all forms and textures. The agony of wearing heels and the desire to make it more comfortable for all women to exist and thrive in spaces you previously wouldn’t have them.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
For brunch, we’re going to Scrambled and then Chez Genevie. We’ll do a high tea time at the O. Henry before we catch a play at Triad Stage later in the evening. After the play, we’ll have a night cap at McCoul’s before we head home for the night.

The next day, we’ll take a short drive up to Pilot Mountain for a quick hike and scenic views. From there, we’ll head back and have dinner at Hillbilly Hideaways. I can already hear what you’re thinking, but if you’re ever in the mood for a family style meal, then this is the place. They bring you trays and trays of options and you eat until your heart’s content. After that, we’ll take a short drive back to clean up before we head out to one of the three local baseball teams in the area. We have the Greensboro Grasshoppers, High Point Rockers, and the Winston-Salem Dash.

The following day, we’ll have brunch at Alex’s in High Point before we head to one of the numerous museums and exhibits in Greensboro. The Witherspoon Art Museum near the campus of UNC-Greensboro is a lovely place to take in art. It’s also relatively close to downtown which has a plethora of restaurants and activities to choose.

If adventurous is what you’re after, then Kersey Valley has a host of attractions such as an escape room, zip lining, and outdoor laser tag.

There’s plenty to do and see.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Absolutely! I would love to shout out my family. Particularly my sisters and my mother. They have been there to support me through the thick and thin. They’ve challenged and checked me when I needed it. They have also been my biggest support and cheerleaders. They provide the encouragement and the buckle-up-buttercup as needed. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.

Also the book, “Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway” was inspirational and necessary in my growth as a person. It really helped me to define my voice and my place on this Earth.

Website: mess-2-empress.square.site

Instagram: mess2empress

Facebook: mess2empress

Youtube: mess2empress

Other: Pinterest: mess2empress

Image Credits
RF._.studio Markus Spiske