Halo's $7M braiding device promises to cut styling hours without replacing stylists

Halo has raised $7 million to commercialize HaloBraid, a device that handles the repetitive mechanical work in box braids, cornrows, and extensions—jobs that typically take six to ten hours per client. The key distinction: stylists remain in control of style choices and finishing work. The approach sidesteps long-standing resistance to automation in hair care by framing the tool as a productivity aid, not a replacement.