Contestant's Case to Win

Read more about me in a StartupNation featured story

The Secret Mane is a specialty salon transforming those who suffer from many different types of hair loss. The most common but yet very secretive to talk about is a hair pulling disorder that affects 1-2 out of 50 people called Trichotillomania, commonly called “trich”. Most sufferers are women, and a woman’s self image and confidence are heavily tied in with her appearance, which is largely connected to the beauty, health and overall appearance of her hair. When someone has to “wear” their disorder in their outward appearance, it can make working and socializing unbearable. “Trich” sufferers oftentimes feel quite unattractive combined with their sense of shame, which compels them to continue this vicious cycle of hair pulling. Trich triggers on the onset of puberty and many are children who just want to go “swimming with the rest of their friends” but fear the embarrassment of being teased.

Since 2004, with now 90% trich clients, I've helped these women stop pulling their hair, have gotten their natural hair to grow back as long as twelve inches, restoring their beauty, self confidence, changing their lives and without the need for harmful medications; as one can see from the countless before and after images, success stories, videos, and testimonials in our website.

As a member of the Trichotillomania Learning Center, I have seen how desperately many of my clients need my support and my services and will travel as far as Canada, Mexico, all over the US. Unfortunately most health insurance does not cover my services, nor is there any other form of funding to supplement those who are financially not able to pay for the program. To help economically disadvantaged sufferers of trich who can benefit from my services, I have started the non-profit organization, HelpMe2Stop.org, a pending 501c3, so I can raise money for trich sufferers who are in need of these necessary hair treatments that can boost their morale and get them on the road to recovery.

Winning this competition will be a win win for all trich sufferers. We will get the publicity we need to expand and get this “shameful” OCD out of the closet. We will administer treatment at the start of the first diagnosis. We believe that the earlier trich is treated, the better the chances of becoming pull free for life. We envision more treatment centers all over the world, help for those with other trich related conditions, for trich to gain the exposure it needs like what breast cancer is doing as far as sponsorship events, walks, auctions, awareness merchandise for raising money, books to teach, classes, etc...

Hair pieces and extensions have been my passion since I was a teenager and have started my business because there are not any specialty salons who offer these specialty services. I've been a single mom for 17 years raising 3 children ages 17, 14 and 7 and yet still find the time to help others, grow a successful business, an active volunteer for trich and cancer and have dedicated my life to this vision. This competition, to me, also means about being a "Leading Mom". And as a single mom who struggled for many years trying to fulfill her dream, I want to inspire all the single MOMpreneurs. I know that there can be no other person in this world that have gone above and beyond and made a huge difference in the lives of trich sufferers and continues to make a difference in the world... which is why I, Charlene Blacer, should be considered as a winner of the Leading Moms in Business Competition.