12 Hair Product Line Success Stories [2024]
Starting a hair product line can be a fun and profitable way to build a new income stream. It's also fairly easy, as long as you plan it out (and maybe do a little bit of market research before creating your sales funnel). There's a reason we often talk about trends in hip-hop and pop culture when we talk about hairstyles — they often have a lot to do with advancements in the hair product industry. The industry is expected to grow to 102 billion dollars by 2024.
In this list, you'll find real-world hair product line success stories and very profitable examples of starting a hair product line that makes money.
1. Hairstory™ ($24M/year)
Eli Halliwell, the co-founder and CEO of Hairstory, came up with the idea for the business after witnessing the decline of the professional hair care channel due to the rise of eCommerce. He realized that technology could enable hairdressers to participate in eCommerce, leading to the creation of Hairstory. The company generated $30 million in sales in 2021 and has been self-funding since its founding in 2015.
How much money it makes: $24M/year
How much did it cost to start: $5M
How many people on the team: 26
Hairstory, a haircare startup, is on track to generate $30 million in sales this year, profitably, after having been self-funded since its inception in 2015, and implementing a DTC and hairdresser-perpetual-affiliate marketing model.
2. Private Label Extensions ($7.8M/year)
Mikey Moran, one of the owners of Private Label Extensions, came up with the idea for the hair distribution and technology company when he learned about the high prices women were paying for hair extensions. With a background in e-commerce and a commitment to providing the best quality products at the lowest cost, Moran and his team have seen significant growth, with over $650,000 in monthly sales and a ranking on Inc Magazine's list of the fastest-growing companies. Despite initial challenges and mistakes, Moran's dedication to listening to customers and investing back into the business has been key to its success.
How much money it makes: $7.8M/year
How much did it cost to start: $14K
How many people on the team: 20
Private Label Extensions is a hair distribution and technology company that builds hair brands from A to Z for entrepreneurs, achieving over $650,000 in monthly sales and ranked #278 of the fastest-growing companies by Inc Magazine for 2018.
3. Urban Betty ($6.6M/year)
Chelle Neff, founder of Urban Betty, started her business by opening her own brick and mortar salon after five years of being in her own salon suite. She gradually expanded her team and transitioned from contractors to all commission-based employees. Eight years later, Urban Betty has two locations and over 50 employees, generating $3.3 million in revenue.
How much money it makes: $6.6M/year
How much did it cost to start: $69.9K
How many people on the team: 81
This case study follows the founder of Urban Betty, who started her salon business with only one contractor, and now has two locations with over 50 employees, growing from 1.5 million to 3.4 million in revenue from 2014-2018, and investing around 2% of its gross income every year in Yelp, Google, and Facebook Ads.
4. Plaine Products ($2.4M/year)
Hello! Meet Lindsey McCoy, the CEO of Plaine Products, a hair and body care company that is on a mission to eliminate single-use plastic bottles. After witnessing the environmental impact of plastic pollution during her time in The Bahamas, Lindsey decided to create a solution by offering refillable aluminum bottles. With over 300,000 plastic bottles diverted from landfills and oceans, Plaine Products is making a significant impact in the fight against plastic waste.
How much money it makes: $2.4M/year
How much did it cost to start: $50K
How many people on the team: 6
Plaine Products CEO, Lindsey McCoy, rids the world of single-use plastic bottles and turns her passion for sustainability into a $2.4M/year hair and body care brand, diverting over 300,000 plastic bottles from landfills and oceans.
5. Antonio’s Barber Shop ($1.5M/year)
Antonio Camilleri, a seasoned barber with over 18 years of experience, opened his first barbershop in Leister, UK, after working as an apprentice and further improving his skills in the Netherlands. Recognizing a gap in the market for old-school barbering in Malta, Antonio moved back and opened the official Antonio's Barber Shop with 8 chairs, quickly growing to 14 barbers across 2 locations. With an annual turnover of 1.5 million euros, Antonio's Barber Shop offers top-notch customer service, a range of grooming products, and a barbering academy.
How much money it makes: $1.5M/year
How much did it cost to start: $500K
How many people on the team: 25
Antonio Camilleri built Antonio's Barber Shop from a small two-chair operation to two locations servicing over 250 daily clients and €1.5M in annual revenue with a product line generating a 30% profit.
6. T is for Tame ($1.44M/year)
Becky had been an ex-ad executive and spent most of her days developing ads for her clients. When she found no good product to tame her twins' hair, she wasn't suprised. She had always dreamt of working on something she believed in.
How much money it makes: $1.44M/year
How much did it cost to start: $30K
How many people on the team: 0
T Is for Tame's founder developed a safe and clean hair product for babies which generated an 85+% revenue growth for their business when they recently expanded into Target and Walmart, while they remain focused on deepening their relationships with customers through micro-influencers and employing social media tools.
7. The Longhairs ($1.2M/year)
Chris Healy and Lindsay Barto, founders of The Longhairs, came up with the idea for Hair Ties For Guys after they both started growing their hair long and realized there was a lack of quality hair ties designed for men. They created a funny and punchy commercial for the product, and from there, The Longhairs was born. They built a brand and started publishing weekly content that established them as the go-to source for men with long hair, attracting a loyal community and customers from around the world.
How much money it makes: $1.2M/year
How much did it cost to start: $10K
How many people on the team: 3
The Longhairs started their business in 2014 with no following and over four years they’ve grown their audience to 60K monthly website visitors, 20K email subscribers, and 28K YouTube subscribers, with monthly revenue of $30K by creating original, quality content, building their community, driving email optins and converting subscribers into customers.
8. Luna Nectar ($600K/year)
Mia Fiona Kut, the founder of Luna Nectar, came up with the idea for her hair density and haircare products after her sister used a chemical-based lash growth serum that caused side effects. Determined to create a safe and effective alternative, Mia researched for a year and a half and developed the Moon Boost Lash & Brow Enhancing Serum. The product gained traction through word of mouth, and the business has since experienced notable growth, with revenues of $100,000 in the first year, $350,000 in 2020, $420,000 in 2021, and $600,000 in 2022.
How much money it makes: $600K/year
How much did it cost to start: $3.7K
How many people on the team: 2
Luna Nectar, founded by Mia Fiona Kut, makes all-natural, vegan, and cruelty-free hair density and haircare products; starting out selling one sole product in 2019 which made $100k, the business has seen steady growth to hit $600k in 2022 and will soon launch two new products.
9. Natural Girl ($360K/year)
The founder's admiration for natural textured wigs led to the idea of posting content about textured hair on her Instagram page. She received inquiries about the availability of the products, which validated her business idea before entering the market.
How much money it makes: $360K/year
How much did it cost to start: $3
How many people on the team: 0
Natural Girl Wigs is a 7-figure business, reaching six-figures just six months after launch, by creating Afrocentric extensions and protective styles catering to black women all over the world, with strategies including Instagram and Whatsapp, viral word-of-mouth, and targeted Facebook ads and email marketing.
10. PocketGel ($30K/year)
Nathan Failla, the founder of PocketGel, came up with the idea for his on-the-go hair care company when he got caught in the rain and wished he had a portable styling product. After creating a prototype and finding the right manufacturers, Nathan launched his business with a Squarespace website and social media accounts. His big break came when Walmart accepted his products, leading to nationwide distribution and recognition in Forbes. Marketing strategies like targeted Facebook and Instagram ads have helped attract and retain customers.
How much money it makes: $30K/year
How many people on the team: 0
PocketGel, founded in 2015, offers packets of on-the-go hair styling products and has sold in over 200 Walmart locations nationwide. Their top strategies for attracting and retaining customers include social media marketing on Instagram, using email marketing via MailChimp, and offering free samples.
11. Scruffie ($24K/year)
Reid Simkovitz, the founder of The Scruffie, came up with the idea for his neck shaver after struggling to find a convenient way to trim the hair on the back of his neck. Frustrated with relying on others or awkwardly attempting to shave it himself, he decided to create his own neck razor, leading to the successful launch of The Scruffie in April 2020. The product gained significant attention, being featured on platforms such as Business Insider, Cheddar, Yahoo's In The Know, and Barstool Sports, and even raising over $5,000 on Kickstarter.
How much money it makes: $24K/year
How much did it cost to start: $25K
How many people on the team: 1
This case study is about a college student who invented The Scruffie, an innovative neck shaver, after struggling to find someone to shave the back of his neck, which has garnered over five million impressions, funding a Kickstarter and generating $2,200 in sales from customers in over ten countries.
12. Bristle Products- L. Archie Brands LLC ($6.6K/year)
Leslie Wheeler, founder of Bristle Products and Bristle Hair Shop, came up with the idea for her haircare business after noticing a demand for products that catered to teenagers. Through extensive research and experimentation, she created a line of all-natural haircare products that are sulfate and paraben-free. Despite facing challenges with manufacturers, Leslie launched her business both online and in-store, leveraging her role as a hairstylist to attract and retain customers. She also gives back to her community by offering free hair services to foster youth. Although facing initial losses and the impact of COVID-19, Leslie remains optimistic about the future of her brand and focuses on helping others.
How much money it makes: $6.6K/year
How many people on the team: 2
Bristle Products' Leslie Wheeler shares her journey of starting an all-natural haircare product line; going from prototypes to two different manufacturers and the process of launching both online and in-store.
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
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