June 3, 2025
Today we’d like to introduce you to Alisha Hinton.
Alisha, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My journey began in high school when I started braiding hair. What started as a skill quickly became a source of financial support throughout college. No matter where my career path led me, I was always able to rely on doing hair ‘on the side’ to earn extra income.
Around the time of the pandemic, I made the decision to take my passion more seriously. In 2020, I began planning my exit from the education field and decided to bet on myself by pursuing hairstyling full time. During the transition, I balanced both worlds—teaching middle school during the day and working in a salon in the evenings.
Within a year of making the leap, I opened my own salon. I’m incredibly thankful for resources like SCORE and the SBDC at USF, as well as my phenomenal mentor, who helped guide me through those early steps. Now, I’m proud to be in a season of continued growth—personally, professionally, and as a mentor to others on similar paths.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’d love to say the journey has been smooth, but the truth is, I’m more of a doer than a strategist. One of my biggest challenges has been accepting and implementing growth strategies. For years, my business thrived through word of mouth, and while that still brings in clients, it’s been difficult to expose a broader audience to what I do beyond hair.
Marketing—especially staying on top of trends and social media algorithms—has never been my strength. It’s not where I naturally lean. And now that I’m stepping into more educational roles, I find myself in uncharted territory. A lot of what I’m doing now, particularly in the education space for parents and braiders, isn’t something I see widely replicated.
Despite these challenges, I’m committed to figuring it out—not just for myself, but so I can reach back and support others on their journey. If I can help someone else avoid some of the struggles I’ve faced, then it makes the challenges worth it.
As you know, we’re big fans of Lisha Lou LLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
My business specializes in braiding and microlocs, and with over 20 years of experience in the natural hair care industry, my clients know they’re in trusted hands. They feel safe with me as their stylist because they know I’m deeply educated and passionate about what I do. Most recently, I became certified as a Trichologist, which has allowed me to offer even more personalized hair care experiences. I’m now able to have more meaningful conversations with clients about scalp health and help address their specific concerns with a deeper level of expertise.
What truly sets my business apart is care. It’s not just about the money for me—I genuinely want the best for every client. I’ve turned people away from certain styles if I know their hair isn’t strong enough or if what they’re requesting isn’t in their best interest. My goal is not only to be known as a reputable stylist, but also as someone who always puts her clients first.
One of the things I’m most proud of is launching my nonprofit, Knot Your Average Academy, which is now officially a 501(c)(3). Our mission is to serve families by educating and empowering parents—especially those caring for children whose hair textures differ from their own. We provide one-on-one and small group trainings for parents and children, helping them feel confident in natural hair care.
In addition, we partner with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office to serve incarcerated women. Since 2020, we’ve educated over 100 women in hair braiding, entrepreneurship, and self-confidence. The experience is transformative—many of the women show up each week with determination and pride, knowing they’re working toward something greater.
Lisha Lou LLC is built not just on beauty, but on purpose, education, and community.
How do you think about luck?
I don’t believe in luck—I believe in blessings from God. I do my best to put God first in all things, and I trust Him to lead me. If something doesn’t turn out the way I hoped, I don’t see it as a loss. I view it as a sign that it wasn’t my time, and I use it as an opportunity to reflect, revise my strategy, and keep moving forward.
Over the years, I’ve learned that you either win or you learn—and I welcome both with open arms.