Innovating the Salon Experience: Stefaney Norcross and the Infinity Shampoo Bowl
During this Women’s History Month, Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) wants to celebrate a female entrepreneur who has a flair for ingenuity, and we can look no further than Stefaney Norcross. She is a hairstylist at Capellini Salon with 24 years of experience, and creator of the Infinity Shampoo Bowl, a refreshing take on a fundamental, yet difficult step in the salon experience. Stefaney became frustrated with traditional shampoo bowls because they are typically uncomfortable for all parties involved: the hairdresser is required to bend in odd positions, and the client has undue pressure on the back of their head, which usually causes a post-wash headache. So, what did Stefaney do to address this issue? In true innovator style, she created something new!
The Infinity Shampoo Bowl was born in early 2024 when Stefaney and her husband crafted the first prototype, made of medium density fiberboard and white paint, which took six months to complete. Throughout the entire process, her goal remained the same: create a shampoo bowl that is comfortable for the stylist to use, offers a more enjoyable experience for the client, and accommodates all hair types and lengths. Her strong passion for hair care fueled her innovation, but Stefaney knew she needed more assistance to make her vision a reality. She had begun a social media platform to showcase her product, but she was struggling to get engagement online: “nothing was happening,” said Stefaney, “we felt so stagnant and didn’t know where to turn.” [Photo credit: Liv Schafer Photography]
Faced with these challenges, Stefaney soon realized that passion may not be enough to carry her through the challenges; so, she reached out to LEAP for assistance with creating a second prototype, marketing her business online, and creating a personal brand that would attract more clients. With the help of LEAP’s TREK Small Business Support Hub, Stefaney applied for the Local Accelerator Fund and TREK Accelerator Fund grants to further her vision. This additional funding allowed her to create a second-generation prototype through Thingsmiths in Ann Arbor, which features better neck support, new faucet attachments, and two water settings to better adjust water flow per the client’s preference. The stylists at Capellini are currently testing it out on their clients, and Stefaney says the feedback on the new prototype is mind-blowing. Stylists hail the Infinity Bowl as “the most efficient invention to be introduced to the salon world”, and clients report a more comfortable experience during the washing and toning processes.
The best part of this story? We are nowhere near the end! Stefaney recently donated three prototypes to stylists and cosmetology instructors in the United States, and she is hard at work to make sure every salon and cosmetology school has access to this product.
We here at LEAP could not be prouder of the work she has done, and we are excited to help her along her journey of innovation in the haircare industry! If you want to learn more about Stefaney’s invention, be sure to follow her on Instagram, or schedule an appointment at Capellini Salon to try it out for yourself! As always, check out our website, and follow LEAP on Instagram and Facebook to stay up to date with our latest innovation and developments.
Category: Entrepreneurship & Innovation, News & Announcements, SmartZone, Small Business