Beauty / news brief
Hair Tech Startup Halo Raises $7M Seed for Braid-Assist Device
Halo, a technology company focused on haircare for all textures, has secured $7 million in seed funding to launch HaloBraid, the first braid-assist device designed to speed up professional braiding without sacrificing stylist control.
Founded by Yinka Ogunbiyi, Halo is developing human-centered hair products that address the complexities often overlooked in textured hair care. Its debut innovation, HaloBraid, is a patent-pending device that enables stylists to complete braids up to five times faster than traditional hand-braiding.
The device is not fully automated: a stylist begins each braid manually, then HaloBraid takes over to finish it, matching the stylist’s unique braid style. The goal is to reduce the physical strain and time burden of braiding, which remains a labor-intensive service in salons worldwide.
The $7 million seed round will fuel further product development, expand stylist testing programs, prepare for manufacturing, and build partnerships with salons. Halo aims to bring HaloBraid to market soon and transform the global salon services industry.
“Braiding is more popular than ever, but the way we braid hasn’t changed in thousands of years,” said Ogunbiyi. “It’s still time consuming and painful for stylists and clients alike.”