After 2 years of living in camper, couple open their own hair salon
The Smith couple once made good money.
Dillon, 29, worked as a truck driver and his wife, Crystal, 31, was a hair dresser.
About two years ago, Crystal had a mental health crisis and her husband had to take a month off to care for her. When his company said his leave couldn’t be extended, though Crystal was still struggling, he quit.
Unable to keep up on the bills, they moved out of their Murrieta home and into a motel for two weeks. Dillon did odd jobs and they sold stuff out of storage to scrape together enough money to buy a camper.
They lived in it for nearly two years, shuttling between Lake Skinner and Menifee, managing the pandemic as well as the six kids they have together as a blended family.
And you thought the COVID-19 times were hard for you.
One time they were camping in Idyllwild and realized they needed to go back down the mountain, but needed gas and had only 6 bucks between them. So they did meal deliveries until 11 that night to round up the money for gas and a bite to eat.
They were definitely hustling.
During the same adventurous time period, Crystal recovered from her struggles, and they knew they’d made the right decision to give up their jobs to get her better.
“Mental health is nothing to mess around with,” Dillon said.
Crystal started cutting hair again, with people lining up outside their camper in the campgrounds at which they stayed. They had seen Crystal cutting the kids’ hair. A friend asked if she’d like to share a salon space. They prayed about it together and decided “this is what we’re supposed to do,” Dillon said.
She did well. Dillon helped out and soon they had enough money to open their own space in June — Smith Hair Salon near the Promenade Temecula mall on Margarita Road. Thanks to their growing income, they could afford to rent an apartment as well.
“It feels amazing, and with our experience of being homeless, it really gave us a new perspective of what people go through and really just how hard it is to get out of that social class,” Dillon said.
They’re also helping others in need.
When Ciara Green, director of communications for Pechanga Resort Casino near Temecula, reached out to them about taking part in a fundraiser in which stylists offer free haircuts and the excess hair is used to make wigs for people suffering from medical conditions, the Smiths signed up right away.
They even took their campaign to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood to cut hair before a big Monday Night Football game in October.
“It’s been great to work with Dillon and Crystal,” Green said. “They’re both very accommodating. Dillon and the stylists get back to you promptly and with good information. It’s easy to see why they’re doing well with their salon.”
The Smiths are looking to give back in other ways with a charity they’re launching, Crown of Glory Ministries, to help needy people. They staged their first event in Murrieta this month and offered free haircuts, food, crafts and activities to “just make it a good time for families,” Dillon said.
The event was a success, and they’re hoping to do it a couple times a year. They’re also planning to raise money to help needy families monthly.
In this, the ultimate season of giving, the Smiths are doing what they do best.