Today we’d like to introduce you to Sariyah Wilson.
Hi Sariyah, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
From Passion to Purpose
My name is Sariyah Wilson, and I was born in Denver, Colorado. I’ve called Texas home for about seven years now. From a young age, I was drawn to anything creative, art, crafting, sculpting anything that allowed me to express myself and think beyond the norm.
I started doing hair when I was around 12 years old, though the passion began much earlier. I used to style my dolls’ hair (most of them ended up bald!), and I quickly realized how much I loved creating and transforming things with my hands.
By 15, hair became more than a hobby, it became an outlet. It helped me navigate the challenges and hardships around me. I started posting photos of the wigs I colored and the braids I styled, trying to build a small following for my services. In my free time, I researched everything I could about entrepreneurship, from algorithms and social media growth to starting a business and managing clients.
Eventually, my hard work started to pay off. I created a booking website and ran three business pages: one for braiding, one for wig coloring, and another for a lip gloss line I launched. I even registered an LLC for my beauty brand. Everything was finally falling into place, until my living situation suddenly changed.
I was told I couldn’t stay where I was unless I paid half the bills. At the time, I was balancing school and a job at Chipotle, and it just wasn’t possible. Moving out felt both freeing and frightening. I had no ID, hadn’t finished school, and had to quit my job since I didn’t have a car. I was staying with an ex-boyfriend who lived too far away to make commuting realistic.
That period of my life was incredibly difficult. I fell into a deep depression that felt different from anything I’d experienced before. I lost my motivation, my spark, and began to engage in self-destructive habits. I was hospitalized twice for my mental health and eventually had to move in with a family member after a painful episode that forced me to face just how much I was struggling.
But over time, something in me shifted. The sadness turned into determination, a hunger to rebuild. I started saving money in a vault I couldn’t easily open, got my ID, and eventually moved into my very first apartment.
Around that time, I reconnected with my high school sweetheart, and he moved in with me. Our relationship wasn’t perfect, but we were both committed to growing together. I earned my GED shortly after giving birth to my first child, then finally enrolled in cosmetology school, something I had dreamed of since I was 15.
Today, I’m proud to say I’m living my purpose. I’m working part-time as a concierge at a salon while building my client base and growing my brand. I’m also expecting my second child, and I couldn’t be more grateful for how far I’ve come.
Cosmetology school has been everything I hoped for and more, it’s opened doors I once thought were out of reach. I’m proud that I pulled myself out of one of the darkest chapters of my life and finished what I started. I have an amazing family, a growing career, and a future full of possibility.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Even after finally getting my own place, things were still difficult. Healing and learning to accept myself didn’t happen overnight. I often doubted my ability to finish my GED; something I needed in order to enroll in cosmetology school, all while adjusting to life as a new mother, which is never easy. During that time, I struggled with a lot of anxiety, but I was grateful to have support. My partner was there to encourage me when I couldn’t encourage myself, and his family showed me kindness and love, sometimes more than I had ever experienced from my own. Their support helped me keep going when I felt like giving up.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a hairstylist and beauty creator with a focus on braiding, hair cuts , and creative color work. I’ve always loved transformation; taking something simple and turning it into something bold, unique, and full of personality. My clients know me for the attention I put into detail and for creating styles that make them feel confident and beautiful.
What I’m most proud of is how far I’ve come, not just in my skills, but in believing in myself again. Every client that sits in my chair reminds me why I started. I put my heart into every style because I know what it feels like to lose yourself and then find your way back.
What sets me apart is my story and the energy I bring to my work. I’ve been through a lot, and I use that as fuel to connect with people on a deeper level. When someone leaves my chair, I want them to feel seen, loved, and inspired, not just like they got their hair done, but like they got a piece of their confidence back.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
A lot of my networking started through school. Cosmetology school has so many hidden resources if you take advantage of them, from career fairs to industry events to just talking with your instructors. I made it a point to show up, ask questions, and introduce myself to people who were already doing what I wanted to do. Even working front desk at a salon or assistant positions helped me build relationships and get my foot in the door.
My advice to anyone starting out is to put yourself out there, even when you feel nervous or unsure. You never know who’s watching your work or what opportunity might come from a simple conversation. Stay open, be consistent, and always keep learning, the right people will find you when you show up for yourself
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/novessance_hairdressing?igsh=MXg1NWgwdGtwMWw5YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
Image Credits
Sariyah Wilson
