HairloomNG, an Abuja-based hair salon acclaimed for transforming traditional services into structured, scalable, and trusted brands in a highly informal sub-sector, has secured the Tony Elumelu Foundation(TEF) Entrepreneurship programme grant.

The Nigerian beauty industry arguably employs millions of women and generates billions in annual revenue, however, most operations remain informal with limited access to institutional funding or growth capital.

HairloomNG is however changing the narratives heralding a structure and innovative hair care operations in a highly informal sector.

Currently running in Lugbe and Gwarimpa districts in the nation’s capital , the salon operates with documented service protocols, advance booking systems, standardised pricing, and ongoing staff training – practices uncommon in a sector where most businesses run without formal operations.

The day-to-day operations of this innovative salon, besides its job creation potential, has attracted recognition from the Tony Elumelu Foundation, earning its selection from hundreds of thousands of applicants across Africa for its entrepreneurship programme.

The Tony Elumelu Foundation grant provides $5,000 in seed capital alongside business training and mentorship. Selection rates remain below one percent, with the Foundation evaluating businesses on scalability, job creation potential, and operational viability.

Founded by Aidee Erhimesioja Agoreyo, HairloomNG began as a home-based operation and now employs women in their numbers across its two current operational centres in Abuja.

The salon uses appointment scheduling to manage client flow, limits high-chemical treatments in favour of hair-health protocol, and maintains client records for scalp analysis and treatment tracking.

It has also introduced a product refill system that allows clients to return bottles rather than purchase new packaging, addressing waste concerns while building customer retention.

According to the founder, HairloomNG plans to invest the fund in innovative equipment and staff development rather than rapid expansion, maintaining focus on operational consistency before scaling.

The business continues to hire women who seek stable employment in the beauty sector, offering structured training and professional development opportunities, uncommon feats in informal salon operations.

“The beauty sector is massive but largely invisible to formal finance and support systems,” said an Abuja-based SME consultant. “Businesses like this show what happens when you build the infrastructure that institutions look for.”