( ENSPIRE She Did That ) Founder Amy Chinian Overcoming Setbacks & Creating a Purpose-Driven Brand Empowering Families
ENSPIRE Contributor: Katherine Moy
Amy Chinian, the founder of My Hair Helpers, is an incredible example of a resilient, faith-driven entrepreneur turning adversity into impact, making her an inspiring voice. More than just a business, My Hair Helpers is about overcoming setbacks and creating a purpose-driven brand that empowers families. When the Great Recession forced Amy’s family into financial hardship in 2007, she had to rebuild her life from the beginning. Rebuilding is a process of time and many obstacles–it’s always unpredictable. However, Amy possessed great faith, determination, and a single red picnic basket of carefully researched products that led to the launch of what is currently Southern California’s most trusted resource for extensive lice care. From My Hair Helpers originally being an in-home service–it has now expanded to multiple salon locations and a nationwide product line available on Amazon and her official online store.
Amy’s passion and authenticity stems from her turning loss into opportunity, building a successful business from the ground up. She witnessed firsthand the struggles of financial hardship, and is continuing to build her foundation of success with the power of faith and determination. My Hair Helpers is proof of a mission-driven business that inspires balancing entrepreneurship with compassion, service, and social impact–impacting countless families. Amy shares the pivotal moment that encouraged the creation of My Hair Helpers, how faith has helped her succeed, the biggest obstacles she has faced amidst expanding her business, how she ensures her business remains mission-driven, and gives advice for aspiring entrepreneurs who are facing personal issues as well.
Your business journey began during a financial crisis in 2007. What was the pivotal moment that inspired you to launch My Hair Helpers despite the economic uncertainty?
What inspired me to start My Hair Helpers was a personal experience I had when I was pregnant with my fifth child in 2000. My family faced a lice infestation, and I quickly realized there were no safe, effective solutions available at the time. The existing products on the market weren’t working, and I couldn’t find anything that was both safe and effective for my family. This sparked a desire to help other families who were going through the same thing.
Years later, when my family was hit hard by the 2007 recession, my husband’s business collapsed, and we were left without a stable income. With five kids to care for, I needed to figure out how to support my family. That’s when I decided to start offering in-home lice removal services, armed with a basket of carefully researched, non-toxic products. Through word of mouth and my commitment to helping families with compassion, My Hair Helpers grew into the thriving business it is today.
You started with just a red picnic basket of products. How did you research and develop your initial offerings, and how has your product line evolved as you’ve grown?
I started with just a red picnic basket of products, and to develop my initial offerings, I researched different products I found online and tested them on my customers to see what worked best. Everything I developed and used in my business was something I had tried out in my salons first to ensure its effectiveness. I focused on natural oils, as I found them to work the best for lice removal—they suffocate the bugs and loosen them, making it easier to comb everything out.
Over time, my product line has evolved as I’ve continued to experiment with new solutions. I’ve refined and developed products that are both effective and safe for families. As my business grew, I developed and sourced products that have been successful, ensuring that they were always effective and something I would confidently use on my own customers.
How has your faith influenced your business decisions and helped you navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship?
My faith has played a significant role in influencing my business decisions and helping me navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship. Through every obstacle and uncertainty, I’ve relied on the belief that God was with me, guiding me. During times when I didn’t have all the answers, I would pray and trust that God would provide the right direction. This faith allowed me to persevere, even when things seemed unclear or daunting. I took each step, no matter how small, with confidence that I wasn’t alone in the process.
As my business grew, particularly when expanding from in-home services to salon locations, my faith continued to be a source of strength. For example, when looking for my first salon location, I wasn’t actively searching, but God led me to a spot that felt perfect for the business. That kind of guidance and reassurance has helped me make decisions with peace, knowing that I don’t need to rush but instead take deliberate steps while praying for clarity. Even today, I trust that God is my CFO, guiding my decisions and showing me the right path.
My Hair Helpers has expanded from in-home services to salon locations and a nationwide product line. What was the biggest obstacle you faced during this expansion, and how did you overcome it?
The biggest obstacle I faced during My Hair Helpers’ expansion was stepping into unknown territory. I questioned whether it would truly work and if it would be successful, especially with such a small budget. The challenge was also finding the right opportunities, like securing salon locations, without having a clear roadmap. However, I overcame these obstacles by having faith that God was guiding me and opening doors of opportunity. For example, my first salon location came about when I wasn’t actively looking for one. I drove by a small yellow cottage, saw a “for rent” sign, and felt it was the right place. I ended up renting the entire space, and it became my first salon. This kind of faith-driven decision-making, combined with taking slow and deliberate steps, has continued to help me navigate challenges as I expand.
Lice treatment often comes with stigma and misconceptions. How has your business worked to educate families and change the conversation around this common issue?
To combat the stigma and misconceptions around lice treatment, My Hair Helpers works to educate families by emphasizing that head lice is not a hygiene issue. I explain that lice is simply about being in the wrong place at the wrong time, as 99% of lice is passed head to head. It can happen to anyone, regardless of age, hair type or socioeconomic status, and there’s no need to be ashamed of it. Lice actually prefer clean hair, not dirty hair, so it’s important for families to understand that it’s not related to hygiene.
Many entrepreneurs struggle to balance profitability with purpose. How do you ensure that your business remains mission-driven while still growing commercially?
To ensure that My Hair Helpers remains mission-driven while still growing commercially, I always keep the focus on helping people and putting my customers’ needs first. My goal is to bless others and provide assistance, which is why I also run a nonprofit, called Life Free Forever Charity. I never want to turn people away because of financial constraints, especially when I see children being ostracized or bullied because of head lice. It’s heartbreaking to witness, and it drives me to offer support to everyone, regardless of their financial situation.
While commercial growth is important, staying true to my mission of helping families is what keeps me grounded. I make sure to serve with compassion and give back, ensuring that even as the business grows, its core purpose remains focused on supporting those who need it most.
What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs who are facing financial hardship or personal setbacks but dream of building a successful business?
My advice to entrepreneurs facing financial hardship or personal setbacks but still dreaming of building a successful business is to start small and take things one step at a time. It’s important to become an expert in your field and ensure that you’re the most knowledgeable and skilled person in what you do. Study other companies in your industry, learn from them, and take what works to improve your own business.
Also, protect your brand. When you’re building something, make sure the people you hire respect what you’ve created and are dedicated to doing a good job. It’s tough, but eventually, you’ll need help to scale. Be mindful of who you bring on board, as not everyone will stay loyal to your vision. I’ve had experiences where employees started their own businesses using what they learned from me, and that was a difficult pill to swallow. Nonetheless, through it all, persistence, education, and taking small but deliberate steps are key to overcoming setbacks and building something successful.
Amy Chinian’s journey with My Hair Helpers stands as a testament to the power of resilience, faith, and purpose-driven entrepreneurship. From the humble beginnings of a single red picnic basket during financial hardship to becoming Southern California’s most trusted lice treatment resource, her path demonstrates how personal challenges can transform into meaningful solutions that serve communities. By addressing a stigmatized issue with dignity and education, Amy has not only built a thriving business but has empowered countless families during vulnerable moments. In transforming her own adversity into opportunity, she has established a legacy of impact that continues to grow with each family served. For more information on My Hair Helpers and supporting its mission, follow Amy on Instagram or visit https://www.myhairhelpers.com/.
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