Yinka Ogunbiyi, a graduate of Harvard University and biomechanical engineer, showcased the automated braiding system called HaloBraid in a recent demonstration, illustrating how the device can finish protective hairstyles up to five times faster while easing the physical strain on stylists.
Key points from the demo include:
- The machine handles the repetitive weaving along the hair shaft, allowing stylists to focus on sectioning, product application and finishing the ends.
- HaloBraid can reduce braiding time by as much as 80 % compared with traditional hand‑braiding.
- Founder Ogunbiyi says the concept stems from her own childhood experience of watching her mother braid her hair.
- The startup secured $7 million in seed capital, with the round led by Seven Seven Six, the VC firm co‑founded by Reddit’s Alexis Ohanian.
- Despite automation, the stylist remains essential for initiating the braid and sealing the final look.
How does HaloBraid work?
The process begins with the stylist dividing the hair into sections, applying any required products and manually starting the braid. Once the initial loop is formed, the hair is fed into the HaloBraid device, which continuously weaves the strands along the length of the hair. After the machine completes its portion, the stylist returns to finish and secure the ends, delivering a complete protective style.
Why was the device created?
Ogunbiyi recounted that her first braid at age four sparked a lifelong awareness of the time‑intensive nature of braiding. After accumulating thousands of hours in the salon chair and hearing repeated complaints from both stylists and clients about fatigue, she leveraged her engineering background to develop a solution that blends human skill with automation.
What does the recent funding mean?
The $7 million seed round, led by Seven Seven Six, provides capital to scale production, refine the technology and expand market reach. Investors are attracted by the growing demand for time‑saving beauty‑tech tools and the potential to commercialise the device across salons worldwide.
Overall, the demonstration highlighted that HaloBraid does not replace stylists but augments their work, delivering faster, less strenuous braiding without compromising the artistry of the final hairstyle.