My name is Asmaou Balde, and I am the founder of JeRah Beauty Academy and JeRah Beauty Salon & Spa in Mississauga, Ontario.

For more than 20 years, I have dedicated my career to the beauty industry as a professional hairstylist, educator, and mentor. Throughout my journey, I have discovered that my greatest passion is not only creating beautiful hairstyles, but helping others discover their confidence, creativity, and potential.

As a bilingual educator, I teach in both English and French, making my programs accessible to a diverse range of students across Ontario. My workshops combine hands-on learning with lessons in self-confidence, cultural awareness, entrepreneurship, professionalism, and career exploration.

I believe that hair is much more than appearance—it is identity, history, culture, creativity, and self-expression. Through every workshop, I strive to create a welcoming environment where students feel respected, inspired, and empowered to learn new skills while building confidence in themselves.

Through my partnership with Braids On Call in 2022 and again recently in 2026, I had the opportunity to help train and support aspiring stylists as they worked toward becoming certified hairstylists. These experiences made me realize the importance of introducing hair education and proper hair care at an early age, rather than waiting until adulthood to learn how to properly care for and understand one’s hair. I learned that having this knowledge from a young age can make a meaningful difference in a person’s confidence and self-awareness. Understanding how to care for and embrace their hair can help young individuals develop a stronger sense of confidence, pride, and identity early in life. This experience reinforced my belief that hair education goes beyond learning styling techniques—it is about empowering people with knowledge, confidence, and a positive relationship with their hair from an early age.

My programs have received positive feedback from students, teachers, and school partners who appreciate my patient teaching style, engaging approach, and ability to make every student feel included. Whether I am teaching a beginner how to create their first braid or introducing high school students to careers in the beauty industry, my goal is always the same: to inspire the next generation to believe in themselves and discover new possibilities.

Today, JeRah Beauty Academy proudly offers educational programs for elementary and high schools throughout the Greater Toronto Area in both English and French. Each workshop is designed to provide meaningful, hands-on experiences that encourage creativity, leadership, teamwork, cultural appreciation, and career readiness.

At JeRah Beauty Academy, we are building confidence—one student, one braid, and one future at a time.