I’m Lisha Lou, and my journey in the hair world began over 25 years ago with a simple love for doing hair. What started as a skill quickly became a calling. As a microloc expert, I’ve had the privilege of helping women embrace their natural beauty, step into their confidence, and reconnect with who they are. Watching that transformation never gets old.

But deep down, I always knew my purpose stretched far beyond styling hair.

That purpose led me to create Knot Your Average Academy, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting families and empowering women in transition. I work closely with foster and adoption parents, teaching them how to nurture and care for their children’s natural hair, and helping those children feel seen and celebrated.

My heart for service also opened the door to a partnership with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, where I lead a re-entry program for incarcerated women. Inside those walls, we focus on rediscovery; identity, confidence, life skills, and the belief that they are worthy of a new beginning. Watching these women step back into their power is one of the most meaningful parts of my work.

Every part of my journey, behind the chair, in the classroom, and throughout the community, has taught me this: everyone deserves to be seen, supported, and restored.

 And that belief guides everything I do.

BOOK ME

  • Master Loctician & Natural Hair Specialist honoring the sacred relationship between hair, identity, and self-care. Specializing in precision loc creation, maintenance, and scalp care, I transform hair into a refined expression of confidence, culture, and intentional beauty.

  • Lisha Lou holds a formal educational background that supports her work as an instructor and mentor, equipping her with the ability to design structured, effective learning experiences. She specializes in curriculum development for braiding education, natural hair care, and entrepreneurship. Through Knot Your Average Academy, Lisha creates inclusive, culturally informed training programs that empower students of all ages and backgrounds, ranging from aspiring professional braiders to transracial adoptive families and community-based initiatives.

  • Beyond technical mastery, Lisha Lou is highly skilled in transformational mentorship and community empowerment. She has a proven ability to inspire confidence, shift mindsets, and guide individuals toward personal and professional growth. Her work with incarcerated women, families, and emerging braiders demonstrates her strength in leadership development, emotional intelligence, and purpose-driven coaching. Helping individuals envision success beyond their current circumstances and equipping them with the tools to achieve it.

When I’m not behind the chair or building curriculum, you can find me outdoors soaking in God’s creation (yes, that’s me at the Grand Canyon), connecting at networking events, or posted up with a cup of tea, dreaming up my next big idea. I believe life is meant to be experienced fully, through community, conversation, and a little fresh air.