When Ciara Imani May was growing out her hair in 2019, she sought a comfortable and sustainable way to keep her hair braided. When searching for extensions, she couldn't find an option that met her standards.
Through her research, she realized that the majority of synthetic braiding hair is terrible for the planet, as it's often made of harmful toxins and nonreusable plastics.
"It was contributing to pollution in a way that I hadn't accounted for," May said. "I needed a solution that would be better for me and my body, but also be better for the environment."
Later that year, May launched Rebundle, which sells plant-based synthetic braiding hair with an "end-of-life plan," meaning that after the hair is used, it doesn't end up in a dumpster adding to the world's already insurmountable plastic-waste problem. May left her fintech job in March 2020 to pursue Rebundle full time.
The brand's first product, Braid Better — lightweight, comfortable, itch-free, and biodegradable hair extensions — launched its limited product line in January 2021. Since then, Rebundle relaunched as a direct-to-consumer brand, raised a $2.1 million pre-seed round, acquired hundreds of repeat customers, and scaled to a seven-person team. The extensions, which are sold on the company's website, cost $45 per bundle.
As she builds her brand, May told Insider what a day in her life looks like, from meeting with investors to planning social-media campaigns.