Today we’d like to introduce you to Alyssa McDowell.
Hi Alyssa, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey really began long before I picked up a comb. I was a little girl who loved watching my aunt work in her salon back home in South Florida. I never thought I’d follow in her footsteps, but I loved the way she made people feel. She made them feel seen, beautiful, and confident. After serving in the Navy from 2009 to 2014 and being stationed in San Diego, I found myself longing for freedom in many different forms. I wanted control over my time, my creativity, and my impact on others and my community. I didn’t want anyone else deciding what my life should look like.
When I got out of the military, I knew I wanted to build something of my own that allowed me to help women feel the same confidence I had to rebuild within myself. So I signed up for beauty school in August 2014, and in September 2015, The Myami Experience was born. At first, it was just me with a dream and a chair, but I quickly realized this work was deeper than hair. I was helping women reconnect with their power, their beauty, and their identity. That fueled me and still does.
But even with success behind the chair, I hit a wall. I was making money, but I didn’t have systems in place. I didn’t understand financial management the way a real CEO should. Around 2020, I made a decision that changed everything: I stopped running from my numbers. I started learning the business and money skills that beauty school left out. That led me back to pursue my Bachelor’s in Financial Management and ultimately receive an Honorary Doctorate in Psychology, which deepened my understanding of both financial behavior and human transformation.
Through that process, I also became aware of how deeply our community’s lack of access to financial literacy impacts generational progress. Many of us were never taught how to structure our businesses or manage money beyond survival. That realization inspired the creation of Hair Money Mastery, my mentorship program that teaches stylists how to build their bank, not just their brand.
Today, I run both sides of my work with purpose: one that helps women feel beautiful from the outside in, and another that helps beauty professionals secure the kind of financial freedom that changes their lives. Looking back, every challenge prepared me for this. I realize now that my story isn’t just about hair. It’s about transformation, ownership, and showing others what’s possible when you stop shrinking yourself and decide to build the life you actually want.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely wasn’t a smooth road. I don’t think it’s supposed to be when you’re building something real. The beauty industry can look glamorous to others from the outside, but what people don’t see are the long days, late nights, the self-doubt, and the moments you question whether you’re doing enough.
In the beginning, my biggest struggle wasn’t finding clients; it was managing success. I built a strong clientele within my first year, but I didn’t know how to manage the money I was making. I was constantly booked, working long hours, and still felt like I couldn’t get ahead. When I wanted to grow and access capital, I realized I didn’t have the proper systems, accounting, or business structure in place. It was humbling and eye-opening.
That experience forced me to confront a deeper truth: the lack of financial structure isn’t just a personal problem, it’s something many of us face in the Black community because we were never taught how to build wealth or run businesses the right way. I had to unlearn old habits and rebuild from the ground up. Around 2020, I made a promise to myself that I would no longer just be a hairstylist. I would become a businesswoman, an investor, and a leader who could teach others how to do the same.
Every setback taught me something: how to pivot, how to lead, and how to trust myself. Looking back, those hard seasons built my character more than any class or award ever could. They forced me to become the woman I prayed I’d grow into.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
The Myami Experience is more than a salon brand. It is a luxury hair care experience rooted in confidence, creativity, and connection. I created it for women who want healthy, beautiful hair without giving up versatility or style. My work blends professional artistry with education and empowerment so that every client receives a personalized plan that honors her natural texture, lifestyle, and long-term hair goals.
What sets The Myami Experience apart is the emotional care behind the craft. My clients are not just coming for a hairstyle or extensions, they are coming for transformation. Each appointment is designed to help them feel seen, relaxed, and restored. I create a space where women can exhale, be pampered, and reconnect with the best version of themselves.
Beyond the salon, I also run the Hair Money Mastery Program, a separate mentorship program dedicated to helping hairstylists and beauty professionals build financial freedom by teaching them the business and financial management skills that beauty school left out. Both brands serve different communities but share the same mission: to elevate, empower, and create lasting impact. What I am most proud of is the effect that comes from that mission. Through The Myami Experience, I see women walk taller and smile brighter while they conquer the world. Through Hair Money Mastery, I see stylists take control of their finances and finally thrive in their careers. Together, these platforms allow me to bridge beauty, business, and purpose in a way that truly changes lives.
What’s next?
Right now, my focus is on growing the Hair Money Mastery Program, which officially launched in August 2025. This program is the heart of my mission to help one million Black hairstylists and beauty professionals build their bank, not just their brand. It teaches the business and money skills that beauty school left out: how to manage cash flow, create sustainable systems, build business credit, and invest for long-term stability.
My background in Financial Management has played a huge role in shaping this vision. I hold a Bachelor’s in Financial Management and an Honorary Doctorate in Psychology, and both gave me the tools to merge financial education with mindset development and real industry experience. I have walked the same road as the stylists I mentor, and I know exactly what it feels like to have talent but lack structure. For many of us, that lack of structure comes from a much deeper story within the Black community. We were never taught how to navigate the financial systems that build generational wealth, and as a result, many creative entrepreneurs end up exhausted instead of empowered. Hair Money Mastery was built to change that.
Over the next few years, I plan to expand the program nationwide through masterclasses, workshops, retreats, and digital courses so that stylists can learn from anywhere. By 2028, I will open Elevare Salon Suites: a luxury salon suite brand that will serve as a physical home for everything I teach. Tenants will not only have access to beautiful, elevated workspaces but also to exclusive masterclasses and workshops that help them grow at every stage of their career. That level of development and community support is what will set Elevare apart from every other salon suite model.
What I am most excited about is seeing this movement grow beyond me. I want to create a community of financially empowered beauty professionals who can build wealth, create opportunities, and break generational cycles for themselves and their families. This is more than a program. It’s a shift.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.themyamiexperience.com
- Instagram: @hairbymyami
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMyamiExperience
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssamcdowell1
- Other: http://www.hairmoneymastery.com
Image Credits
For the personal picture/headshot and the editorial photo of me laying down- Credited to Ante Smith @shotbykali
All other photos are either credited to me
or (for bridal pictures) the bride did not disclose their photographer’s information at the time of granting me permission to use the photos for promotional purposes.
