Ngozi Opara worked as a hairstylist in Washington, D.C. During that time, she noticed a recurring trend: African women desired to embrace their natural hair but found it challenging to maintain. They needed protective styles that allowed their hair to grow without damage, but the available hair extensions didn’t match their natural textures.
Women who wanted to transition from relaxed to natural hair had to straighten their new hair growth or struggle with extensions that didn’t blend. She felt that if women could wear hair extensions that mimicked their natural kinks, coils, and curls, they wouldn’t have to compromise on their hair journey. This insight inspired her to establish Heat Free Hair, a company dedicated to creating 100% natural hair extensions specifically designed for women with natural Afro-textured hair.
Unlike most hair companies that sourced their products from third-party manufacturers, Opara knew the importance of understanding the intricacies of hair manufacturing and took the bold step of travelling to China. There, she immersed herself in the industry, gaining invaluable insights and expertise. This experience culminated in establishing her factory, ensuring that Heat Free Hair products were ethically sourced and manufactured to the highest standards.
She launched the company with savings from her previous job, investing around $10,000 to get the business off the ground.
“Being natural is more than a movement. It’s a lifestyle.”- Ngozi Opara, Founder of Heat Free Hair.
Heat Free Hair offers a diverse range of products, such as weft hair and clip-ins to wigs, all tailored to various natural textures. Each product is designed to celebrate and enhance the unique beauty of African natural hair without the need for heat or chemical processing.
Ngozi Opara is committed to quality and authentic products, which have resonated with a global audience and led to impressive milestones. While the company is headquartered in Washington, D.C., USA, it ships worldwide through its online store. Customers from different countries, including those in Africa, Europe, and the Caribbean, can purchase the hair extensions. Over 300,000 women have embraced Heat Free Hair, with over 110,000 units of ‘Kinks, Koils, & Kurls’ sold globally.
The company has disrupted the US Afro hair extension market by providing products that authentically match natural textures. It has also championed ethical sourcing and manufacturing practices, setting a new standard in the industry.
Recently, the company launched ‘The Perfect Extensions Kit,’ a comprehensive haircare collection designed specifically for hair extensions. This innovation addresses common challenges such as tangling and hair shedding.
Through Heat Free Hair, she has empowered countless individuals to embrace their natural beauty, transforming the landscape of Afro hair extensions and setting a precedent for future innovations in the industry.
