Today we’d like to introduce you to Anisha Hicks.
Hi Anisha, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey began with a simple purpose to help people see the beauty in their natural selves. Long before I had a salon, I had a pair of hands, a vision, and a deep love for locs. Doing hair wasn’t just a job for me; it became a calling. I started small, renting booths and learning every lesson the industry could teach me. There were moments of doubt, long days, and plenty of growing pains but through it all, I held on to faith and the belief that my gift had a purpose.
Loc Nation Jax was born from that purpose. I wanted to create more than a salon I wanted to build a safe space. A place where people could walk in feeling uncertain and leave standing taller, prouder, and more confident in who they are. Every twist, every loc, every conversation in my chair has reminded me that this work is bigger than hair it’s about self-love, culture, and community.
Today, as a salon owner, educator, and product creator, I look back with gratitude. Every step, every setback, and every success has shaped the woman I am. My story is still being written, but if it inspires even one person to chase their dream or embrace their natural beauty, then I know I’m living my purpose.
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?
My journey definitely hasn’t been smooth, but it has been worth it.
As a salon owner, loctician, and single mother, the road to where I am today has come with a lot of bumps, lessons, and late nights. I transitioned from working in aviation to stepping out on faith and building Loc Nation Jax from the ground up, often with no blueprint, no safety net, and the pressure of making sure my children were always taken care of.
Some of my biggest struggles have been learning how to run the business side of a salon, maintaining consistent income, and finding the right team while still showing up with a smile for every client in the chair. On a personal level, healing from childhood mental and physical abuse, managing my mental health, and choosing not to repeat the cycles I grew up in has been a daily fight, even while growing a brand.
But every challenge has shaped me into the woman, stylist, and leader I am today, and those struggles are the reason clients trust me not just with their hair, but with their confidence and their journey. If anything, the obstacles along the way have reminded me that I’m built for this and that purpose is always bigger than the problems.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
What I do
I am the owner and master stylist of Loc Nation Jax LLC in Jacksonville, Florida, where I specialize in healthy loc care, maintenance. With over a decade in cosmetology, my work focuses on helping clients start, grow, and maintain their locs in a way that protects their hair and honors their natural beauty.
What I specialize in / known for
I specialize in traditional locs, loc maintenance, repairs, trims, and creative styling, with a strong focus on scalp health and education so clients understand how to care for their hair between visits. Loc Nation Jax is known as a go-to salon in Jacksonville for locs and natural hair, offering a welcoming space where clients feel seen, heard, and taken care of from the moment they walk in.
What I am most proud of
I am most proud of building a salon that not only serves clients, but also mentors and grows the next generation of stylists, many of whom are in school and chasing their own dreams while working beside me. I am also proud of being recognized as a 2026 Best Boss semi-finalist and expanding my brand into products like my hydrating Rosewater spray for locs, which helps clients keep their hair healthy at home.
What sets me apart
What sets me apart is that I do not just do hair I pour into people. Clients and stylists come to me for honesty, education, and an atmosphere that feels like family, where they can be vulnerable, laugh, and leave lighter than they came. I combine professional techniques, strict quality and safety standards, and a true heart for mentorship and community, so every style is backed by care, knowledge, and purpose.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My Favorite childhood memory was when .I would travel along with my dad and go to people house and watch him do they hair He was also a cosmetologist and a barber before he passed away in 2017. My dad is where I get my inspiration from late Andy Hicks
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.styleseat.com/m/v/nishamarie2
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loc_nationjax?igsh=MWdkZ2RzaDllNWNwcA==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/17VZcaUV92/?mibextid=wwXIfr
