Hello Hair

This Black History Month, we're proud to celebate Sheridan EDGE’s Rise program member, founder and author of Hello Hair Anita Grant, who has turned her personal experience of wearing her natural hair in the corporate world into a passion filled business. Hello Hair aims to educate, build confidence and self-love in young girls about their hair. Through a children’s book about four young girls discovering the versatility of Black hair, to a series of styling dolls based on the book characters, workbooks that showcases hair types, DIY treatments and best practices of healthy natural hair and cultural appreciation and skills development workshops. Anita received support through the Rise program, a Sheridan EDGE program designed to support social entrepreneurs looking to scale their impact enterprises. Funded by the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario | Agence fédérale de ... (FedDev Ontario), Rise provides individualized coaching, mentorship, networking opportunities and a community of entrepreneurs. Learn more about Anita’s entrepreneurial journey and how she plans on expanding Hello Hair with the help of EDGE’s Rise program: https://bit.ly/3QHtkLz

One year ago, we launched the Hello Hair styling dolls. But what most don’t see is the three years of trial, error and the moments of doubt. The times we thought we had it just right, only to start over again — when our community spoke up and told us what they didn’t like our doll eyes. We listened, we adjusted and re-launched a new design in less than a month. Now, it’s time to pour that same care into our packaging??. We’re searching for an innovative packaging partner who believes in the power of storytelling, in creating something that speaks to the next generation before they even open the box. If you have recommendations or would like to collaborate, I’d love to connect! ???

Natural hair care is a journey—and for many, it’s a learning process filled with discovery and growth. For children in foster care, especially in transracial homes, this journey can be even more challenging. That’s why we’re so grateful to partner with Peel Children's Aid Society (Peel CAS) who prioritizes resources and education to support children, youth, and caregivers. ?? ? At Hello Hair, we’re honored to teach not only the fundamentals of natural hair care but also the cultural significance and beauty behind it. Together, we’re creating a safe spaces that connect us all—regardless of stage, background or ethnicity. Because hair is more than just hair—it’s culture, history and community. ? As we said before, this year is all about getting into the community! ???? If you’d like us to host a workshop for your community or school, email [email protected]. Our program is rooted in our second book in collaboration with Shaneal Wilson focusing on the science of your hair!??????Let’s rise in our roots, together! ??? #HelloHair #HairEducation #RiseInYourRoots ? Special thank you to our incredible team, lead educator, stylist, photographer, product sponsor! Wouldn’t be possible without you ?? ??????: W1derus Educational Workshops Inc. ????♀?: Nikki Taylor ??: Ashik ??: SheaMoisture Canada

No better time than to shop local! Come on down to CBC Toronto FEB 6 and shop the Den! a collection of great entrepreneurs and amazing products as seen on the show… PLUS a fireside chat with me & THE Arlene Dickinson at 3:30pm! See you there!!! ORAKI Crafty Ramen Gingerbug Cheekbone Beauty Cosmetics INC Mary's Brigadeiro Handcrafted Chocolate The Scented Market Protein Candy goodvibes juice co. Cedar Valley KayTran Eyewear Smart Nora do+dare undie co. Hello Hair Balloonery.com @cbc

???I got very quiet as the holiday season approached. This year marked our first holiday season with the Hello Hair Styling Dolls and let me tell you—it was no small feat! From navigating inventory management and Canada Post closures to balancing the unique demands of B2B partnerships while keeping our B2C shoppers ready and excited, every day was a new challenge. Then came December. In just the first 11 days of the month, we completely sold out, thanks to the power of one viral video that I filmed in my basement. The joy of seeing people connect with what we’ve built was beautiful—but behind the scenes? It was a whirlwind of endless packaging, fulfilling orders, and literally no days off. As a CPG founder, this season taught me the importance of resilience, adaptability, and the grace to embrace every high and low. It wasn’t perfect, but it was ours—and it was successful. I’m deeply grateful to every customer, partner and supporter who made this first holiday season one to remember. Now, the focus shifts to 2025. Armed with lessons learned and a clearer vision, I’m working to ensure next year is even better. From refining our processes, to growing the team, the journey continues—and I couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead. Here’s to dreaming big, working hard and always willing to grow through it all. ??? Wishing you all a prosperous New Year and endless opportunities in 2025 ????

From my home to your screens, from an idea to a business—I’ve been reflecting on how far we’ve come in the last two years. Our books and dolls now have a place in so many homes, creating moments to learn and grow together. ?????? ? ? I’m endlessly grateful for this community and blessed by your support. This is my why. ?????? ??: CityNewsTO

Thank you to Anita Grant of Hello Hair for leading a fun and informative workshop for our foster caregivers and youth last weekend! Participants learned about the cultural history and beautiful versatility of textured hair. The workshop included interactive activities, group discussions, experiments and hands-on training. It was an empowering opportunity to build knowledge and confidence in styling and caring for hair with diverse textures and we had a great time! #HelloHair #Yourcrownisbeautiful #naturalhair

Today we're celebrating both #WomensEntrepreneurshipDay and Global Entrepreneurship Week #GEW2024! At Innovation Factory, we’re proud to support women founders as they break barriers, build thriving businesses, and make their mark on the world. Join us in celebrating the achievements of some of these incredible innovators: ??Discover how Anita Grant of Hello Hair and Amanda Nguyen of Boardball Inc. took their innovative ventures from local success at Innovation Factory’s #LiONSLAIR to the national spotlight on CBC’s Dragons’ Den: https://loom.ly/UEIf1CM ??Earlier this year, Afynia Laboratories closed a $2-million CAD round of pre-seed funding to develop and begin bringing their EndomiR test to market. EndomiR is the first-ever microRNA-based molecular screen for endometriosis. As a femtech company, navigating the funding landscape comes with it's own set of challenges, which is why this announcement continues to be such a big deal: https://loom.ly/HLGEwQo #EmpoweringWomen #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #CDNtech

The Mississauga innovation ecosystem came together at Sauga Pitch, with incredible innovations displayed at last night’s event. 9 incredible founders took the stage to pitch their innovations across the Early, Growth, and STEM Innovation Categories for a chance to win $16,500 in cash prizes!?Congratulations to the Sauga Pitch & Showcase 2024 award recipients! Kushi Kaur (MangoVisa)?earned recognition in the Early Stage and Student category, Ankita Sharma (Philer AI) was honored in the Growth category, and Diana Virgovicova (Xatoms) received the award for the STEM and Innovation category. Abdel Ali, MBA, CFA (Kiwi Charge) received the People’s Choice Award, voted by the audience as the favourite pitch. Moderated by Donna Heslin, we’d like to thank our panel of trailblazing entrepreneurs that shared how they do Business as Unusual. Thank you Anita Grant (Hello Hair), Latchmi Raghunanan, Ph.D. (Maman Biomedical), Jason Johnson (Turtle Island Charity), and IDEA Mississauga’s very own Gezim Ramabaja (zpayd.com) for your valuable insights. We’re excited to see what’s next for these incredible founders! #saugapitch #entrepreneurs #innovation #mississauga Sheridan EDGE ICUBE UTM SpinUp at UTM

?? Meet Anita Grant, founder of Hello Hair—a brand dedicated to empowering the textured hair community with inclusive products, education, and creativity. Starting with a children's book, Hello Hair has evolved into a lifestyle movement featuring styling dolls, multimedia projects, and more! Through Elevate's eCommerce North Innovator Challenge with Moneris, Anita found community, inspiration, and tools to tackle CPG challenges and grow her vision. ?? Follow Hello Hair's journey to redefine natural hair care! ?? Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gMb6p8EV #HelloHair #NaturalHair #Entrepreneur #ElevateTechCA