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Our Motivation
When I began wearing a hair system in 1987, I felt like a million bucks! After extensive research, I bought it from a local hair replacement salon for $1,800. I couldn't believe how good I looked and most importantly, how I felt. My career in the software field took off and I noticed that my peers and even strangers treated me differently. No longer was I the guy that people referred to as 'the bald guy'. My girlfriend (now my wife), who told me she loved me bald, confided in me that hair made me look better and younger. Today, I'm 51 and am often mistaken for being in my early 40's. Quite the difference.
My first system was the typical mesh base with a perimeter of thick polyurethane that allowed the system to be braided on. Being single, I didn't want to risk the unit falling off. As I became accustomed to wearing hair and visiting the salon every 5 weeks for $50 services, I noticed 2 things;
1.) the hair faded in color (they call it oxidation)
and
2.) the hair became coarse and gradually fell out. Thinking back to when the sales 'consultant' told me that the system would last 18+ months, I asked the salon about these issues. They responded with some lame answer. I soon learned that the system really needed to be replaced every 12 months, so I asked the salon to order me another unit and this time they quoted me $1,300. What a deal, I thought!
By 1990, I became smart and started to shop around for a better deal. I was surprised to learn;
1.) The industry is very close knit and originally began with barbers selling synthetic hairpieces. Then the smart marketing folks moved in and started advertising via TV. HCM led the way and before you knew it, every major city had 1+ hair replacment salons. (You'd be surprised how many hair replacement studio owners don't even wear hair!)
2.) All the systems are manufactured at several large factories in China and imported into the US by 6 primary 'wholesalers', such as New Image, Nova & New Man. These guys mark the units up, sell them to qualified salons and then you buy them at a huge markup.
3.) The industry is almost 100% marketing hype. The technology grows at a snails pace (compared to the computer sector) and no matter how many fancy sounding names the industry comes up with, the basic materials & manufacturing process is still the same. Sure, we have names like CyberHair, Folligraft, Graftique, Paragon, Super Skin, etc., but for the most part, very little differences separate all of these systems.
4.) Still, with all my findings, I really had to work hard at negotiating a better price for a hair system. By this time, I reached the conclusion that I enjoyed & deserved a new unit every 6 months, but the best price I could score was still ~ $1,000.
Over the years, the salons have become very aware of losing clients to hair transplant facilities and Rogaine. Many men started to complain about the cost of units, the frequency of needing a new one, the expense of services, so being the marketing geniuses they are, 'Program Hair' was invented! A dream gold mine for the salons! Now, they could look a client in the eye and explain how a smart client would recognize that to look good, they should commit to buying 4 systems per year AND pay ~ $250 / month AND for this $3,000 annual investment, they would receive a new unit every quarter and have all their cuts, coloring and bondings performed for no additional cost. (Note that Full Head Bonds were highly recommended so that the client was locked in.)
In 1994, I made the decision to leave the software business and start my own hair business. But, I decided to skip the typical salon model with expensive TV advertising and start-up costs and do it right. I felt that if I could offer existing hair wearers the same or better quality hair systems at a lower cost, while making it convenient to purchase new units and supplies, that I could make at decent living and please the client. (After all, you can't really ask your boss or neighbor where to go buy hair!)
Let me tell you, it wasn't as easy as I thought. Every door I knocked on to gain insight was slammed in my face. The hair replacement salons wouldn't help me. The suppliers and wholesalers blackballed me. Even the TV stations, TV commercial producers, brochure ad agencies and before/after photographers wouldn't help me. I soon realized that I had stumbled onto a very secretive business that generated such high profits, that my life would be endangered if I proceeded any further.
Not to be denied, I went to barber school to learn to be a 'cosmotologist'. I didn't care if I was the old guy in the class who wore a 'piece'. I was on a mission to learn the trade and get my license to hunt. Once I passed the tests, I could now call into the suppliers and wholesalers and pose as an interested business partner. Now the doors began to open.
I learned the trade, stocked the shelves with supplies and units and ran classified ads in major newspapers. My wife thought I was nuts. My friends thought I was a software consultant. How could I tell them that I wore hair?
By 1997, the internet began to open up and I quickly siezed on the opportunity.
The rest is history. Now the suppliers began calling me to re-sell their supplies. The wholesalers wanted my business. Even NBC & Martha Stewart called me to learn the real truth behind the hair replacement industry.
Then, the real breakthrough happened - the factories in China began calling me. (They speak perfect english, by the way). Seems that the same factories that make the units for all the big boys wanted to supply me with the SAME EXACT units that the salons were retailing for $1,000+. They knew, as I knew, that men are educated consumers. They'll do anything to look great, but they're not stupid. If they can buy the SAME EXACT product for much less money, they'll do it.
Ha, ha, ha. I finally cracked the cartel of hair replacement.
So, that's the story. Advent Hair has become the leader in offering fantastic quality hair systems thru the mail at great wholesale prices.
If you currently wear a hair system, call us. We understand what you're thinking and what you have been through. We can truly help you!
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