{"data":{"type":"company_profile","id":118484,"entity_id":"wefunder:company:118484","attributes":{"canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/coils.to.locs","generated_at":"2026-06-18T23:18:38Z","updated_at":"2026-06-18T05:03:19Z","entity_ids":{"company":"wefunder:company:118484","slug":"wefunder:company_slug:coils.to.locs"},"profile_visibility":{"owner_published":true,"public_search_results":true,"site_search_listed":false,"privacy_mode":"unlisted","invite_only":false},"provenance":{"source":"wefunder_public_company_profile","as_of":"2026-06-18T23:18:38Z","claims":{"total_amount_raised":{"source":"FrontCompanySummary#amount_raised","last_verified_at":"2026-06-18T05:03:19Z","as_of":"2026-06-18T23:18:38Z","confidence":"high"},"total_investors":{"source":"FrontCompanySummary#number_of_investors","last_verified_at":"2026-06-18T05:03:19Z","as_of":"2026-06-18T23:18:38Z","confidence":"high"},"active_raise_states":{"source":"Fundraise.visible(nil, nil)","last_verified_at":"2026-05-27T14:02:34Z","as_of":"2026-06-18T23:18:38Z","confidence":"high"},"latest_fundraise_state":{"source":"Fundraise.visible(nil, nil).order(funding_started_at)","last_verified_at":"2026-05-27T14:02:34Z","as_of":"2026-06-18T23:18:38Z","confidence":"medium"}}},"company":{"id":118484,"entity_id":"wefunder:company:118484","slug":"coils.to.locs","name":"Coils to Locs","tagline":"Highly Textured Wigs for Medical Hair Loss: Doing Well By Doing Good in the $2 Billion+ Wig Space","elevator_pitch":"Born out of our own cancer experience, Coils to Locs has upended a long-held healthcare disparity, by being the first culturally sensitive mass wig distributor of highly textured wigs in the medical hair loss space. We run both B2B2C and D2C models. We are selling to cancer centers and medical hair loss salons, (B2B), where our wigs can be purchased with health insurance (reimbursement). We now also sell D2C where anyone can buy our highly textured wigs for all forms of hair loss, or based on styling preferences!","story":"Our hospital vendors have told us that the U.S. wig distributors serving the hospital and medical hair loss industry are not selling highly textured wigs, yet patients are demanding culturally sensitive wig choices in medical hair loss spaces.This missed opportunity to meet the needs of an untapped market of Black women who are driving 85% of the sales in North America alone in the wigs and hair extension market works to our advantage. Our highly textured wigs are an uncontested market product in medical hair loss spaces!That puts Coils to Locs and our investors in a position to address the needs of an untapped market in medical hair loss spaces, take our share of a $2+ billion dollar industry AND address a health equity issue while creating value for our target market of beautiful Black women across the U.S., Canada and eventually globally!Shhh! This secret is between us and our savvy investors!I'm Dianne Austin, CEO and co-founder of Coils to Locs, a national distributor of beautiful, premium fiber, tightly coiled and curly wigs. This business was started because of my lived experience as a cancer patient who was losing all of my hair because of chemotherapy.My cancer journey opened my eyes to a vast medical hair loss industry set up to support women interested in wigs for medical hair loss. But much to my sheer surprise and frustration, none of the hospital spaces that I visited while looking for a wig for medical hair loss, (called a cranial prosthesis or hair prosthesis), sold wigs that looked like the tightly coiled hair that I was losing.These medical spaces that are set up to support patients with resources only sold straight haired wigs...I soon learned after some research that this is a systemic issue across the country, in Canada, and other parts of the globe. Did you know that many private insurers will cover the cost of a wig for medical hair loss?And although you don't need health insurance coverage to purchase a wig for medical reasons, my health insurer covered the cost for up to $350 dollars as long as I submitted a prescription from my doctor along with a formal invoice.Yes, oncologists write prescriptions for wigs!But I was denied the opportunity to take advantage of my health insurance because I couldn't find a wig in medical spaces that spoke to my desire to look as much like myself as possible during my cancer journey.Let's look at the factsCancer is not the only reason for hair loss among Black women.\u0026nbsp;Hair loss comes in many forms.\u0026nbsp;Contributors to hair loss include:Traction alopecia, which is caused by hair styles that pull at the root of the hairMedication taken for chronic illnessesAutoimmune diseases, such as thyroid imbalances, and lupusAging Our line of premium fiber, highly textured wigs!I couldn't find the textured, coily wigs that so deeply represent who I am within the healthcare system, so we decided to do something about this disparity.\u0026nbsp; This is when Coils to Locs was born.\u0026nbsp; Both myself, and my co-founder and sister, Pamela are integrally involved in the black hair culture as bloggers and influencers.\u0026nbsp; PS - you can read and learn more here.Dianne \u0026amp; Pamela, co-founders, Coils to LocsBetween our hair culture\u0026nbsp;background, entrepreneurial experience, and my understanding of the healthcare space having worked in the industry for over 20 years,\u0026nbsp;we knew we were well suited to both provide\u0026nbsp;a product that women would love to wear, and be able to get that product into medical spaces across America.We've made progress on both fronts...Coils to Locs Wigs has partnered with 27 medical hair loss spaces across the country (and growing)We have proof of concept: Hospitals, their patients, and women who purchase online love our wigs...We love feedback!It's what keeps us going...You can check out our exclusive hospital catalog of wigs here.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Click here to view our direct to consumer online store where we sell different wig styles to our customers who are experiencing all forms of hair loss and for women who just love wearing wigs!Market Opportunity \"African American customers have been driving the market growth for wigs and extensions in the U.S.\" -NielsenAddressing healthcare disparities can drive both social change and financial returnsForward looking projections cannot be guaranteed.The national media has recognized our innovation in bringing inclusivity into medical hair loss spaces!Pamela \u0026amp; Dianne on the Jennifer Hudson ShowThe Today Show with Hoda and JennaForbes: Coils to Locs: Cancer And A Life Pivot Creates A StartupBoston Globe: \"Black Female Founders Sell the Medical Wigs That Other Companies Won't\"People: \"This Mom \u0026amp; Cancer Survivor, Couldn't Find Curly Textured Wigs After Chemo, So She Created Her Own\"With the media highlighting Coils to Locs, and the unfortunately high number of women who truly need this product, we\u0026nbsp;immediately started receiving messages like:\"Hello, I have lost all of my hair due to years of dealing with diabetes And dialysis ... Please tell me how I can become one of your customers!!\"And\"I am not a cancer patient, but a Lupus survivor. I started to lose my hair in college before being diagnosed with Lupus. Your hair units are exactly what I love. More ethnic. More me.\u0026nbsp;We need beautiful and affordable hair too. Thank you for your vision and best of luck!\" The response was telling us that the market was thereWe have proven many times over that there is proof of concept both B2B and DTC.We are now laser focused on expanding beyond the 27 hospitals that we currently partner with and scaling Coils to Locs into a multimillion dollar enterprise. We will be the leader in bringing culturally sensitive wigs to medical hair loss spaces, while bringing profits to our early investors.Our strategy for becoming a leader in the medical (and non-medical) wig industryThe facts show that there is strong proof of concept that can be scaled with sufficient capitalCompetitive LandscapeThere are no players in the highly textured wig sector\u0026nbsp;with significant control on the wigs for medical hair loss industry.\u0026nbsp; In fact, there are NO players in the medical hair salon and cancer center space AT ALL that we can find and based on hospital feedback.\u0026nbsp; This means that for women of color who experience hair loss and need a wig that can be purchased in medical hair loss spaces with or without health insurance, there are\u0026nbsp;limited options.Those wigs in the market\u0026nbsp;that are highly textured can sometimes be found at select beauty supply stores, and they are notoriously of lesser quality.Coils to Locs is filling a void that the major wig distributors have neglected to fill in the healthcare space But we are also building a brand that reaches beyond cancer centers.\u0026nbsp; Hair loss can be the result of many factors both medical and non-medical.And we know that Black women embrace wigs not just because of hair loss, but as a form of protective styling and self expression. We are poised to meet the needs of both markets.Introducing Pamela, my co-founder, sister, and my partner in building Coils to LocsAffected by traction alopecia, Pamela said starting this family business with me was a no brainer! We're both dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion, helping Black women and other women of color feel more like themselves during hair loss due to medical or non-medical reasons. We're passionate about sharing Coils to Locs' mission in a way that ensures Black women in particular feel seen and heard.Our super power within this market opportunity is that we are our market. It gives us a unique advantage over the current major wig distributors!We understand this market through our lived experience as Black women immersed in the culture and history of Black women's hair and hair styling preferences from the days that we sat on a stool between our mother's legs to get our hair \"done\"!Both Pamela and I have lived with hair loss both medical and non-medical and Pamela is an avid wig wearer, not just because of hair loss but to change up her look when she's bored with a particular hair style, or just because...Our TeamCheryl McCloud, our talented \"sister-cousin\"\u0026nbsp;has been with us since the beginning, and she will continue to be an integral team member during\u0026nbsp;this raise and beyond.\u0026nbsp; Cheryl has deep bench knowledge in communications, PR marketing and community engagement with an emphasis on health equity engagement. Her focus is helping to build on our hospital relationships across the B2B space.\u0026nbsp; Cheryl is a cancer thriver who experienced losing all of her hair to chemotherapy.Nadja Vanterpool is our in-house expert on everything wigs. Nadja has deep bench experience in wig making, wig quality and wig care. She's a licensed cosmetologist who works with all clients and she has a deep understanding of the trends in Black hair care through her work with clients who sit in her chair. Whether she is educating her peers on how to work with natural hair, to leading a Coils to Locs webinar, we rely on Nadja for all things wigs. Our business advisors round out our team's expertiseWhat's in store for 2025 and beyond? We've shared our market strategy but here's what that looks like in practical terms:Growing our B2B partnerships continue to be a priority.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;We've hired a consultant who specializes in business development strategy execution specific to consumer brands. He's worked with major brands like Proctor and Gamble, and is the recipient of P\u0026amp;G's Triple Crown Award. He's not only training our team on best practices related to sales and building relationships but he is in the trenches; using his network and experience to cultivate partnerships that create revenue and provide value to the consumer. He has deep expertise in beauty brands, and multicultural marketing, and we are excited about our brand growth and expansion over the next several months!Dana Ammons, Founder, Value Growth PartnersWe will continue to actively pursue partnerships with the 50+ confirmed cancer centers \u0026amp;\u0026nbsp;150+ medical hair salons that specialize in working with customers experiencing hair loss, as well as the additional 200+ \"unlisted\" medical hair salons across the nation.We will hyper focus on building partnerships with the major health insurance carriers such as Blue Cross Blue Shield, Tricare, United Health, and Kaiser Permanente in order to partner as an additional cancer resource for members of their healthcare plans. We're International! Global expansion opportunitiesBlack women are driving sales of wigs and extensions in the international market, a $6 billion according to market data.There continues to be opportunity outside of the U.S. market and our goal is to tap into the global market in the next 12 to 24 months, with adequate capital.\u0026nbsp; Look Good Feel Better in Canada early partnershipThe visionary team at Look Good Feel Better in Canada has been engaging Coils to Locs based on their interest in raising awareness and access to our culturally sensitive wig line within the Canadian medical hair loss system!We continue to engage in conversations within the Canadian system to support our ability to provide access to our culturally sensitive wigs across the provinces.We also launched a direct to consumer ecommerce site for the Canadian market!We're doing the work to better understand how to expand into global markets with expert guidance from the Massachusetts Export CenterWe are continuing our relationship with Massachusetts Export Center MSBDC Network, who has been helping us to understand the complexities of the international market through market analysis and general guidance. This will support our next steps into business expansion globally over the next several years.Top markets identified include: Nigeria,\u0026nbsp;South Africa, United Kingdom,\u0026nbsp;Brazil,\u0026nbsp;France, among many others!Forward looking projections cannot be guaranteed.We raised over $78k from friends and family during our last raise in 2023!Help Us Reach Our Goal of $250K by August, 2025!Our projected growth curve Establish educational partnerships with hospital social workers, patient navigators, oncologists and nurses who provide resources to patients beginning their cancer treatment.Create brand presence at cultural touchpoints where our target customers authentically gather, including Black churches, HBCU alumni gatherings, Divine Nine sorority events, natural hair expos, and community wellness eventsOptimize sales within the existing direct-to-consumer\u0026nbsp;e-commerce site\u0026nbsp;\u0026amp; push the brand to all US and Canadian marketsFocus on one to two international business expansion opportunities outside of CanadaAcquire a partnership with the major healthcare insurance providersIncrease our revenue streams to offer wigs for men and children as well as white label wig productsCoils to Locs is offered at the\u0026nbsp;majority of the Cancer Centers and medical hair salons across the countryForward looking projections cannot be guaranteed.\u0026nbsp;This business is about more than just wigs It's about closing the healthcare disparity that wig distributors have overlooked for generations.\u0026nbsp; It's about creating a brand of wigs that Black women feel confident \u0026amp; beautiful in.\u0026nbsp; We've ALL been touched by a friend, relative, or coworker who has experienced chemotherapy and other\u0026nbsp;forms of medical and non-medical\u0026nbsp;hair loss.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Join us on this journey to ensure that every woman has access to a\u0026nbsp;wig that resembles the hair that she lost.","location":"Boston, MA","website":"https://coilstolocs.com/","total_amount_raised":78800,"total_investors":148,"is_funded":false,"is_active":false,"quality_score":2,"related_urls":["https://wefunder.com/coils.to.locs","https://coilstolocs.com/"]},"media":{"share_image_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company/header_media_photo/118484/xxl_blob.jpg","logo_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company/logo/118484/large_blob","header_media_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company/header_media_photo/118484/standard_blob.jpg","cover_photo_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company/header_media_photo/118484/standard_blob.jpg","profile_video_url":"https://wefunder.wistia.com/medias/iy9okqpyji"},"links":{"company_url":"https://coilstolocs.com/","facebook_url":"https://www.facebook.com/CoilsToLocs/","instagram_url":"https://www.instagram.com/coilstolocswigs","youtube_url":"https://youtube.com/channel/UCYy7rTUByF9EdQ5sd0353YA"},"highlights":[],"quick_facts":[{"index":1,"claim_id":"claim-fact-1","value":"Black women support brands that align with their lifestyle and values"},{"index":2,"claim_id":"claim-fact-2","value":"50% of Black women experience hair loss; coily/curly wigs are impossible to find at hospitals"},{"index":3,"claim_id":"claim-fact-3","value":"‍Black women outspend other demographics on wigs and extensions by MORE THAN 85%"},{"index":4,"claim_id":"claim-fact-4","value":"Wigs/extensions is a $2+ billion market in the U.S. alone and growing to $4B+ over the next 4 years"},{"index":5,"claim_id":"claim-fact-5","value":"Founders have lived experience with hair loss + have worked within the health system for 20+ years"},{"index":6,"claim_id":"claim-fact-6","value":"We have proof of concept/partnerships with the top hospitals and consumers across the country"},{"index":7,"claim_id":"claim-fact-7","value":"Hospitals tell us that we are the only mass distributor of highly textured wigs that they have found"},{"index":8,"claim_id":"claim-fact-8","value":"Featured on the Jennifer Hudson Show, Today Show, CBS News, Boston Globe, Forbes, People \u0026amp; more"}],"team":[{"id":2863399,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_role:2863399","user_entity_id":"wefunder:user:2705139","role":"founder","name":"Dianne Shaddock Austin","title":"CEO and Co-Founder","bio":"Cancer survivor and serial entrepreneur with expertise and thought leadership in DEI, HR and Community Engagement. BS, Mass Communications, Emerson College. Babson BWEL \u0026amp; Cornell University Entrepreneurial Leadership Certificates.","avatar_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company_role/custom_photo/2863399/square_cropped_Dianne-Shaddock-2019.jpg?1730816257","profile_url":"https://wefunder.com/coils.to.locs.2","personal_url":"http://coilstolocs.com","linkedin_url":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianneaustin/","related_urls":["https://wefunder.com/coils.to.locs.2","http://coilstolocs.com"]},{"id":2848334,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_role:2848334","role":"founder","name":"Pamela Shaddock","title":"COO and Co-Founder","bio":"Pamela holds a BFA in Theatre from Adelphi University and a certificate in Women’s Entrepreneurship from Cornell University. She has extensive experience working in non-profit organizations that support children and adults diagnosed with cancer.","avatar_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company_role/custom_photo/2848334/square_blob.jpg?1730731738","linkedin_url":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamelashaddock/","related_urls":[]},{"id":5305802,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_role:5305802","role":"employee","name":"Nadja Vanterpool","title":"Wig Consultant","bio":"Nadja is the multitalented wig consultant with Coils to Locs with expertise in wigs and wig making as well as hair styling. She’s also a Senior Stylist at G2O Spa Salon in Boston, MA. Nadja's \"chair\" is diverse and she services all hair types!","avatar_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company_role/custom_photo/5305802/square_blob.jpg?1741727756","related_urls":[]}],"featured_investors":[{"id":5912,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_investor_profile:5912","investor_profile_id":2231763,"investor_profile_entity_id":"wefunder:investor_profile:2231763","subject_entity_id":"wefunder:user:2763584","name":"Sheila Cutchlow","role_title":"","bio":"I believe in the power of collaboration.","avatar_url":"http://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/user/avatar/2763584/medium_c32f64b18b67f598081c20221013-69-m3s96s.jpg","profile_url":"https://wefunder.com/sheilacutchlow","endorsement_name":"","investment_total":5000,"investment_info":"Invested $5,000 this round","is_lead_investor":true,"memo_paid_for_by_company":false,"related_urls":["https://wefunder.com/sheilacutchlow"]}],"investor_memos":[],"tab_counts":{"posts":0,"ask_questions":2,"featured_investors":1,"faq_entries":2},"active_fundraises":[{"id":124814,"entity_id":"wefunder:fundraise:124814","state":"open","offering_type":"4(a)(6)","funding_type":"note","structure":"ttw","security_type":"","currency":"USD","testing_the_waters":true,"min_purchase":100,"max_purchase":9,"funding_target":250000.0,"minimum_target":"50000.0","maximum_target":"250000.0"},{"id":65833,"entity_id":"wefunder:fundraise:65833","state":"successful","offering_type":"4(a)(6)","funding_type":"note","structure":"safe","security_type":"equity","currency":"USD","testing_the_waters":false,"min_purchase":100,"max_purchase":9,"funding_target":50000.0,"minimum_target":"50000.0","maximum_target":"250000.0","funding_started_at":"2023-01-20T17:35:52Z","funding_closed_at":"2023-05-01T04:07:31Z","auto_close_at":"2023-05-01T03:59:59Z"},{"id":66197,"entity_id":"wefunder:fundraise:66197","state":"successful","offering_type":"4(a)(6)","funding_type":"note","structure":"ttw","security_type":"equity","currency":"USD","testing_the_waters":true,"min_purchase":100,"max_purchase":9,"funding_target":250000.0,"minimum_target":"50000.0","maximum_target":"250000.0","funding_started_at":"2022-08-22T18:41:19Z"}],"latest_fundraise":{"id":124814,"entity_id":"wefunder:fundraise:124814","state":"open","offering_type":"4(a)(6)","structure":"ttw","testing_the_waters":true,"can_invest_now":true,"funding_started_at":null,"funding_closed_at":null,"terms":{"eb":null,"nb":"$2M","txt":"valuation cap"}},"recent_posts":[],"q_and_a":[{"id":233219,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:233219","question":"I believe Coil to locs is a game changer and is disrupting the industry. I believe that the company has created a new Industry indeed.","author_name":"George Simons","votes":3,"created_at":"2023-02-02T21:07:39Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/coils.to.locs#question-233219","answers":[{"id":233220,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:233220","answer":"Thank you George. We are targeting a space in the medical hair loss space that is not being addressed and our goal is in fact to disrupt the industry in this space. More to come and thank you for your support!","author_name":"Dianne Shaddock Austin","votes":0,"created_at":"2023-02-02T21:11:25Z"}]},{"id":276761,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:276761","question":"Dianne, I failed to invest in the previous campaign (funded May 2023). Any plans to do a Wefunder campaign this year?","author_name":"C Prescott","votes":2,"created_at":"2024-02-20T21:53:29Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/coils.to.locs#question-276761","answers":[{"id":276765,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:276765","answer":"Hello- Thank you for your interest. We actually have been in conversation about launching a second campaign this year. Actually, it is highly likely. If we do, it will be in the summer. We'll keep everyone abreast of what we decide to do on this platform.","author_name":"Dianne Shaddock Austin","votes":0,"created_at":"2024-02-20T22:05:26Z"}]}],"faq":[{"question":"I believe Coil to locs is a game changer and is disrupting the industry. I believe that the company has created a new Industry indeed.","answer":"Thank you George. We are targeting a space in the medical hair loss space that is not being addressed and our goal is in fact to disrupt the industry in this space. More to come and thank you for your support!"},{"question":"Dianne, I failed to invest in the previous campaign (funded May 2023). Any plans to do a Wefunder campaign this year?","answer":"Hello- Thank you for your interest. We actually have been in conversation about launching a second campaign this year. Actually, it is highly likely. If we do, it will be in the summer. We'll keep everyone abreast of what we decide to do on this platform."}]}}}