Japanese startup’s wigs restore confidence to people affected by hair loss

JStories ー For many individuals, their hair is each an necessary method to specific themselves and carefully tied to self-confidence. So, when somebody loses their hair because of sickness or medical therapy, not solely can it trigger psychological struggling, however it might additionally limit actions similar to socializing and sports activities, considerably decreasing the individual’s high quality of life. Modifications in look can even result in prejudice from others, inflicting harm and loneliness.

Japanese startup harih Corp. was based in February 2023 with a mission to develop wigs that enable people to stay authentically and free themselves from the hardships brought on by hair loss. Its title comes from the Sanskrit phrase “harih,” that means “that which removes struggling.” True to its title, the corporate helps the day by day lives of people that have misplaced their hair. Using expertise to pursue performance in addition to magnificence, it sees wigs not as one thing to cover bodily imperfections, however as an extension of the physique itself.

Harih CEO Junko Ikeno Photograph courtesy of harih Corp. (Similar under)

Ikeno started growing wigs following the inconvenience and misery she suffered when autoimmune-related alopecia precipitated her to instantly lose her hair in 2018. She tried ready-made wigs however discovered they slipped simply throughout sports activities and different bodily actions and couldn’t be worn in water. Having skilled the impracticality of such wigs, she determined to make her personal.

Nevertheless, though she had some expertise in attire, she was a whole newcomer to the wonder area. So, for 10 months she took a job at a big wig firm, working within the again workplace and researching the design and manufacture of wigs.

“Possibly I can design a wig myself,” she thought.

Ikeno realized that repairing wig base nets was a stitching activity and have become satisfied that this was a area the place she might make use of her abilities from the attire enterprise. Later, she took a “BusiNest” course run by the Group for Small & Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation, which gave her information about enterprise improvement. Her startup journey had begun.

The particular factor in regards to the “sports activities wigs” developed by harih is that, as an alternative of specializing in “pure look,” their design prioritizes fixing consumer points that make wigs uncomfortable or tough to put on, similar to slipping, feeling heavy, inflicting sweating and undesirable odors.

Sports wigs convincingly mimic real hair — Sports activities wigs convincingly mimic actual hair

To realize this, harih wigs make use of revolutionary applied sciences not present in different merchandise. For instance, they make use of a patent pending molding technique known as “seamless base unit.” Conventionally, wig molds are made utilizing vinyl baggage, however harih takes extremely detailed 3D scans of the wearer’s head to create a wig base that matches completely.

The wigs additionally use a brand new materials developed by Mitsui Chemical substances known as “Humofit.” This materials, which is used across the wearer’s face, self-adheres in response to physique temperature and expands with warmth. Because of this revolutionary becoming technique, the wig may be hooked up with simply the warmth from a hair dryer and gained’t slip even throughout vigorous train.

Because of this, the wig is simpler on the wearer’s scalp, and is much less more likely to slip. The bottom web, in the meantime, consists of a single mesh layer, making it light-weight and breathable. It may be worn comfortably even throughout the sizzling Japanese summer season, not like typical wigs that are likely to really feel clammy.

The wigs are comfortable to wear even when running — The wigs are comfy to put on even when operating

The internal caps have a 99.9% pure silver coating, which gives sturdy antibacterial and odor-reducing advantages. Even after per week of carrying, the wigs stay freed from odor, and since they’re additionally quick-drying, there isn’t any want for frequent washing. Moreover, the wigs’ seamless design reduces rubbing and makes them extra light and cozy to put on in opposition to the pores and skin than typical hairpieces.

Ikeno explains her formidable bounce into the wig enterprise as “bringing collectively all of the issues I’ve accomplished so far,” permitting her to leverage the expertise she gained at main attire corporations similar to Lacoste, Adidas Japan, and Goldwin. Her experience with sportswear, which is designed to reinforce an athlete’s efficiency, has led her to make wigs lighter and embody superior materials. On the identical time, her expertise of planning and improvement, and of selling, has helped her drive ahead her enterprise’s development.

The wigs do not slip even in the rain — The wigs don’t slip even within the rain

Ikeno arrange harih within the central Japanese prefecture of Toyama. Deciding components have been beneficiant help from the prefecture, together with grants of as much as 2 million yen from the Toyama UIJ Flip Firm Assist Program to facilitate relocation and firm institution, and being chosen for the startup help program T-Startup. Ikeno was additionally in a position to transfer into Scop Toyama, a startup help facility that mixes residing and dealing areas, offering an extra enhance to her enterprise’s launch.

The corporate’s gross sales efforts embody collaboration with Ikeno’s sister, a medical beautician residing in Tokyo, showing at occasions on the Osaka Worldwide Most cancers Institute, and connecting straight with potential prospects through social media. Going ahead, Ikeno plans to make use of a nationwide community of shared magnificence salon areas and medical beauticians to effectively present wig upkeep providers.

Along with being chosen for the T-Startup program and receiving improvement funds from Toyama Prefecture, harih raised 750,000 yen by means of crowdfunding as much as 2023. On August 8, 2024, the corporate additionally secured funding from Inexperienced Core Co. Ltd., permitting it to hurry up analysis and improvement.

A specific concern for Ikeno is hold down the price of wigs for customers.

“Sufferers having chemotherapy are likely to get their hair again inside a yr on the earliest and two years on the newest, though there are particular person variations,” she explains.. “So, it’s fairly a monetary burden for them to purchase a number of costly wigs.”

For that motive, she is trying to introduce a subscription mannequin. This may reduce the monetary and psychological burden of shopping for pricey wigs, whereas additionally decreasing the environmental impression and boosting sustainability through the upkeep and reuse of wigs.

A sports wig in the making — A sports activities wig within the making

Ikeno can also be contemplating a “wig donation system” that would make the most of 3D scanning to supply optimum wigs to much more individuals. As well as, because the caps worn underneath hairpieces have turned out to be well-liked with bike helmet wearers in addition to wig customers, the corporate plans to develop its enterprise in two important areas: wigs and internal caps.

Japan’s girls’s wig market is predicted to develop to 85 billion yen by 2028 and covers not simply medical wigs but additionally vogue wigs and wigs for aged customers. Human hair is the costliest wig materials, however synthetic hair and synthetic human hair mixes cater to varied value wants.

Ikeno says that harih goals to leverage its distinctive expertise and providers to achieve gross sales of about 50 items and 20 million yen in fiscal 2025, round 300 million yen in 2026, and round 1 billion yen in 2029.