AT A GLANCE
- Harvard alumni Yinka Ogunbiyi and David Afolabi invented a patent-pending hair-braiding robot.
- Halo Braid won the 2025 President’s Innovation Challenge Award, securing $75,000 in funding.
- The robot can complete braids in minutes, potentially transforming the multibillion-dollar hair industry.
- A pilot salon in Boston is planned before the end of 2025.
Harvard Innovators Bring Robotics to the Salon Chair
A pair of Harvard alumni are taking centuries of tradition into the future with Halo Braid, a robot designed to braid hair in a fraction of the time it takes human hands.
The groundbreaking invention, created by Yinka Ogunbiyi and David Afolabi, took home the $75,000 grand prize in the Alumni & Affiliates Open Track category at this year’s President’s Innovation Challenge Award.
A Timeless Practice Meets Modern Technology
Braiding is an ancient art, but one that still demands hours—sometimes days—of manual labor. Ogunbiyi, who has worn braids all her life, understands the physical and financial toll. “Imagine if every time you got your hair cut, it took six hours, cost two to $300 and gave your hair stylist arthritis at age 29,” she said during the competition.
Her company’s solution? A cream-and-gold standing device that uses machine learning to mimic and perfect the intricate hand motions of professional braiders. The robot takes over after a stylist starts the braid, finishing the look with precision in a matter of minutes—up to five times faster than traditional methods.
@peekstudio A robot that does braids? Where? Sign me up. I wonder what the price will be?? #robotbraids #robots #braids #braiders #fyp ♬ original sound – SNEAK PEEK 🫣: Braids Studio
From Prototype to Real-World Impact
Halo Braid’s technology has already been tested thousands of times, including on Ogunbiyi herself. The founders spent the past 18 months refining more than 450 prototypes to ensure it works seamlessly with real human hair.
The startup plans to open a Boston salon this year to test the device on a larger scale before moving into manufacturing and commercial release. Stylists and salon owners can now join a waitlist to bring the robot into their own businesses.
A Future of Efficiency and Empowerment
“This will make braiding joyful, not painful,” Ogunbiyi said. Beyond saving time, the invention could reduce repetitive strain injuries common among braiders and help salon professionals expand their clientele without burnout.
Halo Braid’s mission is simple yet ambitious: save billions of hours spent braiding hair each year and revolutionize an industry that hasn’t changed in 5,000 years.
