The First US-Based Plant-Based Braiding Hair Company Now Has A Patent For Its Tech
Rebundle, the first US-based, plant-based braiding hair company, now has a patent for its flagship innovation. In June, the brand’s founder, Ciara Imani May, announced that the company learned the United States Patent and Trademark Office approved Rebundle’s patent for its hair extension line called braidbetter.
“The patent protects the core innovation behind braidbetter, giving it its unique texture, durability, and scalp comfort,” May said in an Instagram post. “For our community, it’s further proof that this product is protected, scalable, and here to stay.”
Rebundle solving a solution
After May noticed that synthetic braiding hair was making her scalp feel itchy and inflamed, she created a healthy hair alternative that benefits not only the human body but also the environment.
Many popular brands of synthetic braiding hair, human-made extensions contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), human-made chemicals found in paints, industrial solvents, and other products, according to a study by Consumer Reports (CR). Exposure to VOCs can lead to health problems such as respiratory issues, nausea, and fatigue, and long-term exposure has been linked with increased cancer risk and organ damage, The Guardian reports.
May said these reports highlighted what has always been an open secret in the Black community. The brand has been creating a solution to this issue from its headquarters in Missouri since 2019. Rebundle’s braidbetter extensions are made with natural, biodegradable materials that affect the scalp’s microbiome and can be reused up to three times.
Rebundle becoming patent approved
Rebundle s braidbetter technology becoming patented was always part of May’s plan. She and her team worked with intellectual property lawyers who helped Rebundle submit a strong application to the United States Patent and Trademark Office in 2021. Free help from Saint Louis University helped May file her business as a micro entity, reducing the amount of fees Rebundle had to pay.
The Patent and Trademark Office has a program giving pro bono services to under-resourced inventors and entrepreneurs. Having good lawyers on her side was the key to her success in getting her patent approved, May says. It’s why she advises business owners to check with their closest university for free legal aid.
Rebundle is an environmentally-friendly, community-centered brand. The braidbetter hair is compostable. Rebundle recycled almost 1,000 pounds of synthetic braiding hair before pausing that program to search for a more collaborative recycling company to work with, May said.
Image: Ciara Imani May
