In December 2009, hairstylist Newman Millhollon Turner came up with the idea to create a website, MyHairNetwork.com. The concept: to connect people with salons offering hair replacement services for hair-loss. Newman was inspired by clients while helping them as they were facing medical treatment and alopecia. Early on, Newman realized that other hairstylists and salons commonly encountered the same challenges. Determined, he set out to discover solutions that would empower and equip hairstylists and salons to be readily available to provide hair replacement services and help clients with hair-loss.

 

Newman conducted a survey to identify and locate professionals and businesses that provide “readily available” hair replacement services. Approaching 40 licensed hairstylists and 12 salons in and around the city of Redlands, California, Newman asked questions in semi-structured interviews. Of 40 hairstylists interviewed, 29 verified having had experience with hair repalcement services, such as hair selection, fitting, cutting, and styling or had had requests for these services within the last year.

 

The interviews revealed that generally, hairstylists have the desire and ability to provide hair replacement services. However, most salons consider themselves ill-prepared to offer readily available hair repalcement services on their menu.

 

Based on the interviews, Newman created a solution that he believes will empower hairstylist and salons to provide hair replacement services without the expected hassles and costs. The concept became clearer once he identified three main reasons why hairstylists and salons don’t include hair replacement services on their main menu:

 

#1 - Strategy

 

Typically, salons don’t have a policy specifically for hair replacement services. When the need arises, salons and hairstylists are unprepared and ill equipped. As a result, clients are encouraged to go elsewhere for help.

 

#2 - Training

 

Most hairstylists believe that participating in professional training would improve their skills, increase their confidence and encourage them to provide these services more readily, but they feel as if they don’t have the time. Hairstylists are understandably reluctant to invest the time to train for services that are not available on the menu.

 

#3 - Supplies

 

Hairstylists most often express that they are reactive to the clients’ hair-loss. To be proactive, the hairstylists emphasize needing “ready access” to hair replacement products that they themselves can "professionally" recommend. Unfortunately, salons are unable to justify the expense of investing in inventory to keep these products available for hairstylists.

 

The solution is ProMember Hairstylist Network (PHN), coordinating in-salon hair replacement services with backup support and supplies.

The unique characteristic of ProMember Hairstylist Network is its focuses on fulfilling the need as it arises. Therefore, hairstylists and salons are not obligated to contracts or planning costs. ProMember Hairstylist Network gives hairstylists and salons the confidence to include hair repalcement services on their menu at all times because the backup support is ready for them when they need it to help their clients.

 

The ProMember Hairstylist Network program is designed to team with hairstylists and salons to:

 

• Empower hairstylists to provide hair replacement services
• Provide access to hands-on training, support and products
• Increase availability of hair repalcement services in salons
• Equip salons to be ready and prepaid
• Inform medical professionals about available hair repalcement services
• Help clients when they need it the most instead of sending them away

 

To secure the program’s future success and growth, Newman connected with manufactures to present his concept and to enlist their sponsorship. Newman was introduced to Mr. Bijan Todd, the Chairman of Leading Man and Woman, a Los Angeles based company that manufacturers exclusive hair replacement systems for men and women. The meetings were a success, and the company joined the Promember Hairstylist Network as the program’s official Development Sponsor. In addition to the sponsorship, Mr. Todd brings his expertise to the program, including 30 years experience in research and development of quality hair products worldwide.

 

The Promember Hairstylist Network pilot program was introduced in Redlands, California, in March 2010. The initial presentations received positive feedback and five salons joined within a week. The program is being presented to hairstylists and salons located throughout the Inland Empire and Palm Springs, California. The long-term goal for the program is to identify and train nationwide PHN Coordinators to implement the Promember Hairstylist Network in new areas.

 

Joining Promember Hairstylist Network is FREE, no fees and no hidden costs. The program’s structure creates earning opportunities equivalent to other high-end services offered in salons. As members, hairstylists are empowered to help their clients, and salons are readily available to provide in-house, full menu hair replacement services for clients experiencing hair-loss.

 

By Jean D. Delgado and Newman G. Millhollon Turner