From Lice and Loss to Legacy: How I Built My Hair Helpers

By Amy Chinian

Founder of My Hair Helpers

I never planned to start a business—especially not one built around lice.

In 2000, while pregnant with my fifth child, I discovered that not only did my children have lice—I did too. I was overwhelmed, exhausted, and heartbroken. I scoured the market for safe, effective solutions that wouldn’t harm my children or my unborn baby. But nothing worked. That personal struggle opened my eyes to how underserved families are when it comes to lice—and how much shame surrounds it.

Still, I didn’t act on the idea right away. It wasn’t until 2007, in the midst of the recession, that my life truly changed.

My husband lost everything in his business. We were forced to sell our home. With five children to support and no stable income, I had a choice: sink—or rise.

I chose to rise.

With nothing but faith, grit, and a red picnic basket filled with carefully researched, non-toxic lice treatment products, I started knocking on doors—literally. I offered in-home lice removal services to families who were just as desperate as I once was. I had no budget, no marketing, and not even a business card—just a desire to help and a deep empathy for what they were going through.

Word spread.

One client turned into five. Five turned into dozens. What started as a survival move became a mission. I realized this wasn’t just about lice—it was about restoring peace of mind and dignity during one of the most frustrating parenting experiences a family can face.

Over the years, My Hair Helpers grew into something bigger than I could’ve imagined. Today, we’re a multi-million-dollar business with six salons (and counting), a line of enzyme-based, non-toxic lice treatment products, and a trusted name in family wellness. Our product line is also available on Amazon, making our solutions accessible to families nationwide. But none of that would’ve happened without the lowest moment of my life—a moment that forced me to step up when everything else was falling apart.

My proudest accomplishment isn’t the revenue. It’s the little girl who missed months of school because of lice and stigma—and walked back into class with her head held high after we treated her. It’s the mom who cried tears of relief when we arrived. It’s the knowledge that what broke me once now builds up others daily.

Here’s what I know for sure:

• Your setback might be the very thing that sets you on your true path.

• You don’t need a full business plan to start—you need a reason to serve.

• Compassion scales. People don’t just remember what you do—they remember how you made them feel.

• Legacy isn’t built with titles or funding—it’s built when you're on your knees (in prayer), doing the hard work no one else wants to do.

I’ve now made it my mission to give back through our nonprofit, Lice Free Forever Charity, which brings free treatment to underserved communities, including schools, shelters, and even orphanages in the Philippines. Our work is about more than lice—it’s about giving kids the chance to feel normal again.

Looking ahead, I’m expanding our product line to tackle other common hair care challenges like dandruff and hair loss, all while keeping our values rooted in safety, service, and trust. My faith has carried me through every high and low, and I hope my story encourages others to see obstacles not as endings, but as divine redirections.

Because sometimes, the thing you think will break you… ends up building your legacy.

Connect With Amy

Instagram: @myhairhelpers

www.myhairhelpers.com