Lenise

Lenise owns Parlour RVA. She trained at Empire Beauty School and graduated in 2008. Before hair became her full-time work, she left a corporate job testing software in IT at age 35. Her experience includes booth rental, salon ownership, suite renting, brand ambassadorship, education and mentoring. She launched Parlour in 2016 and opened Bloom Salon & Suites with business partner Star Coston in July 2024. She focuses on scalp health and hair care for curls, coils and waves. Outside the chair, she gives talks to young people on money management, interviewing, self-branding, and starting a business and setting goals. She sat on a panel about moving into brand ambassador work at a Beauty Pro Meetup, and has judged a VCU Alpha Kappa Alpha chapter pitch contest and a SkillsUSA event. She has taught Texture Basics and Textured Updos workshops for salons and brands, and has also run Teens Talk Tresses sessions at The ARTS Community Center, Camp Diva and Boys & Girls Club, plus summer camps.