We were lucky to catch up with Alysia Holmes recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alysia , thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
Resilience has been my greatest challenge and my greatest strength throughout my academic journey. My name is Alysia Holmes, and I am a full-time employee, entrepreneur, and content creator. Balancing these roles has not always been easy, but my determination to push through my shortcomings has become one of my most valued accomplishments as a student.
Before stepping into content creation, I spent years as a hairstylist, serving my community and helping others feel confident in the beauty God gave them. What started as hands-on styling slowly evolved into something bigger sharing natural hair care education and tips with my community on Instagram and YouTube. Transitioning from behind the chair to behind the camera required a new level of resilience. I had to learn new skills, show up consistently, and believe that my voice and experience mattered.
Through the ups and downs academically, professionally, and creatively I’ve continued to push forward. Life is too short to hold back on your gifts, and I refuse to waste any time pursuing the dreams God placed in my heart. My story is still being written, but resilience is the thread that holds every chapter together.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
It all started when I took my own hair seriously, as far as its health and maintenance of it. I received many compliments from various people during my high school and college years. The compliments expanded to receiving numerous questions on hair care. I was taken aback and appalled that people were coming to me asking and wanting them to do their hair. People wanted tutorials on my hairstyles via Instagram and YouTube. Covid-19 came, and it came hard. During 2020, many businesses shut down. The significant number of closures across the United States affected a lot of people receiving goods and services. In reference to that, I started doing hair as a side business, but I wanted to take my talents to the next level. I decided to create a YouTube page and provide natural hair content on my Instagram.
And now I provide hair tips, education, and encouragement to my community through Instagram and YouTube. Sharing what I’ve learned both as a hairstylist and as a natural hair creator has become another way for me to pour into others.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1. Resilience Resilience shaped every part of my journey academically, professionally, and creatively. Whether I was balancing full-time work with school, learning new content creation skills, or being a hair stylist to teaching hair care online, resilience kept me grounded.
Advice:
Start small. Build resilience by pushing through one challenge at a time. Celebrate progress, not perfection. When you fall short, reflect, adjust, and keep going.
2. Adaptability
My ability to adapt to educating others on Instagram and YouTube. It also helped me navigate new academic environments and shifting responsibilities at work.
Advice:
Be open to learning new tools, new methods, and new perspectives. Change isn’t a setback it’s an opportunity. The more flexible you are, the more doors will open.
3. Discipline
Discipline helped me stay consistent when things got overwhelming. Being a full-time employee, entrepreneur, and content creator means my time is limited but discipline ensures my goals still move forward.
Advice:
Create routines that support your success. Even 20–30 minutes a day dedicated to your goals will build momentum. When motivation fades, discipline carries you.
To anyone early in their journey:
Give yourself grace, but don’t give yourself limits. The qualities you need are built through action, not perfection. Keep showing up, keep learning, and trust that the small steps you take today will create opportunities you can’t even see yet.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://creationsbylysii.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creationsbylysii
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@creationsbylysii
- Other: https://linktr.ee/creationsbylysii
