Nigerian engineer shocks the beauty industry after raising $7 million for a robot that could change hair braiding forever. Published: July 24, 2026 | 7:55 PM GMT A Nigerian-American entrepreneur is preparing to transform the professional haircare industry after raising $7 million to launch a robotic braiding system designed to make one of the most time-consuming beauty services significantly faster. The funding marks a major step toward bringing automation into textured-hair salons while preserving the role of skilled hairstylists. Investors back a new vision for hair braiding. Discover more Newspapers Currencies & Foreign Exchange Digital Currencies The funding round was spearheaded by Seven Seven Six, the venture capital firm founded by Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. Investment firms AlleyCorp and Bling Capital also joined the seed round, providing the financial backing needed to move the technology closer to commercial release. The fresh capital will be used to refine the product, prepare for manufacturing, conduct professional testing and expand partnerships with salons before the company begins its planned rollout later in 2026. HaloBraid is built to assist, not replace, stylists. Unlike fully automated beauty machines, HaloBraid has been created to function as a collaborative tool for professional braiders rather than a replacement. Stylists remain responsible for sectioning the client's hair, adding extensions where necessary and manually starting each braid. Once the braid reaches a certain point, the unfinished section is transferred to the robotic device, which completes the repetitive three-strand braiding process from the middle to the tip. Discover more Celebrities & Entertainment News According to the company, this automated stage can be completed up to five times faster than traditional hand braiding. Human creativity remains at the heart of every hairstyle. Despite its advanced engineering, HaloBraid has clear limitations that ensure hairstylists remain central to the creative process. The current version supports standard box braids and knotless braids but cannot create cornrows, braid directly against the scalp or decide the artistic layout and pattern of a hairstyle. Those design choices continue to depend entirely on the expertise of professional braiders. By focusing only on the repetitive portion of the work, the technology aims to reduce physical strain without sacrificing creativity. A lockdown challenge sparked the business idea. The inspiration for HaloBraid came during the COVID-19 pandemic when founder Yinka Ogunbiyi attempted to braid her own hair at home. Suggested Readings (News continues below) The process reportedly took four days to complete, leading the biomechanical engineer to question whether robotics could simplify one of the most labor-intensive beauty services. That single experience evolved into years of engineering research as her team developed more than 600 prototypes, experimenting with different materials and mechanical systems capable of handling textured hair gently while minimizing pulling and discomfort. Engineering expertise behind the innovation. Ogunbiyi brings an extensive academic and entrepreneurial background to the project. She holds bachelor's, master's and MBA degrees from Harvard University and previously co-founded Desora, a consumer hardware company known for developing patented smart kitchen appliances. Her latest venture combines robotics, biomechanics and beauty technology in an effort to modernize an industry that has historically received limited technological innovation. Tackling long hours and workplace injuries. Professional braiding appointments often last between six and eight hours, limiting how many clients salons can serve each day. The repetitive hand and wrist movements involved also expose braiders to fatigue and long-term health issues, including carpal tunnel syndrome and early-onset arthritis. HaloBraid is intended to reduce those repetitive motions, allowing stylists either to serve more customers during the same working hours or maintain their income while reducing physical stress. Business model removes high upfront costs. Instead of asking salon owners to purchase expensive equipment outright, Halo plans to introduce the technology through a revenue-sharing arrangement. Participating salons will receive the device without paying an upfront purchase price. In return, Halo will earn a percentage of the revenue generated from appointments completed using HaloBraid. The approach is designed to lower financial barriers for salon operators while encouraging wider adoption of the technology. Success will depend on real-world performance. Although thousands of professional stylists and salons across major U.S. cities have already expressed interest, HaloBraid's commercial future will ultimately depend on its performance outside the laboratory. The company must demonstrate that the device consistently delivers quality results across different hair textures, braid lengths and salon environments. Factors such as maintenance costs, long-term reliability and customer acceptance of machine-assisted braiding will also play a major role in determining its success. Robotics enters an underserved beauty market. For investors, Halo represents more than another beauty startup. It reflects growing interest in applying robotics to areas of the beauty industry that have historically seen little technological investment. While billions have flowed into skincare, cosmetics and general haircare innovations, tools specifically designed for textured hair have received comparatively less attention. HaloBraid stands out by addressing a practical business challenge rather than attempting to automate the entire salon experience. Commercial launch planned for late 2026. Halo expects to introduce HaloBraid in selected salons beginning in September 2026. The initial rollout will serve as an important test of whether robotic assistance can become a practical part of professional haircare. If successful, the technology could reshape salon operations by shortening appointment times, reducing workplace strain and helping businesses serve more clients without compromising the skills and creativity that define professional braiding. About Oke tope. Temitope Oke is an experienced copywriter and editor. With a deep understanding of the Nigerian market and global trends, he crafts compelling, persuasive, and engaging content tailored to various audiences. His expertise spans digital marketing, content creation, SEO, and brand messaging. He works with diverse clients, helping them communicate effectively through clear, concise, and impactful language. Passionate about storytelling, he combines creativity with strategic thinking to deliver results that resonate.

HaloBraid aims to help salons speed up braiding with its first device, slated to launch later this year, that acts as a braiding assistant for professional stylists.