Novi Business Helps Clients Go from Hairless to Care-less

Novi — A 19-year-old man sat in a styling chair at Salons by JC in Novi, hoping to not only hide genetic hair loss but also to restore his self-confidence. Traveling all the way from Kalamazoo, the college student sought the help of Project Hair Company for what they call a “hair system”—a device that blends seamlessly with a client’s biological hair.

The hair wig and extension market is booming. According to DataHorizzon Research, it totaled $7.7 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach a staggering $15.7 billion. The young Kalamazoo resident emphasized that this business offers a rare option for dealing with hair loss, helping him look his age and fit in with his peers. The service, which costs $600, was a price he was willing to pay for renewed confidence.

Highlighting the importance of this market, August is National Hair Loss Awareness Month, and the U.S. market for hair replacement totaled $1.5 billion in 2022 according to Grand View Research. Experts predict this market will continue to grow steadily.

Rebekah Lakies, a hair replacement expert, aims to raise awareness around cosmetic hair replacement options, pointing out that there are solutions beyond wigs and transplants. “When you make people happy, confident, and you see the whole picture come together after so much nervousness, it’s huge,” she said.

The service targets clients experiencing hereditary pattern baldness, burns that inhibit hair growth, chemotherapy, various forms of alopecia, or scars from other hair growth methods like surgery. These services can either be performed by Lakies or Sara Micallef, the founder of Project Hair Company. “People are beginning to realize that hair loss can have many different causes, such as cancer, alopecia, thyroid or hormonal issues, or genetic factors,” Micallef noted.

The hair replacement experts offer a range of services including full bonding, perimeter bonding, clip-on “toppers,” toupee-like “systems,” and strand-by-strand extensions to add density. For women, a “topper” can cost around $1,000 and is clipped onto the top of the head to hide thinning or hair loss near the hairline.

The company serves about 200 clients on a yearly or monthly basis, with clients traveling from as far as Chicago and Ohio. Clients range from as young as 16 years old. Micallef and Lakies work with clients to develop personalized plans, creating hair prototypes with desired color, length, and texture. Installed hairpieces can last from a couple of months to up to a year.

“Usually by the time they arrive in our chair, they’ve tried everything,” Micallef said. Some clients have even traveled to Turkey for hair transplant surgery. “We have clients whose own spouses have never seen them without their hair out. This is part of who they are. This is their image. The first thing people see is your face, your hair… and it’s very, very important for confidence.”