HairWave
Overview
Tools
Problem
New hair products are released into the beauty market each year. In a market oversaturated with product, there are so many options to choose from and products for every type of hair. But with all of these options, it can often be confusing and intimidating because not every hair product works for every hair type.
Problem Statement
Women need a way to find the right hair products for their hair type because they do not want to waste time or money on products that do not work for them.
Hypothesis
We believe that by creating a centralized place to buy hair products, establishing a discussion community, and having visual product reviews, we will make the search for hair products easier. We will know this to be true when once we see low product returns and frequent purchases from our store.
Research
User Interviews
I conducted one-on-one interviews to understand how users currently shop for hair products. Common pain points included:
Difficulty knowing whether a product will work for their hair type
Overwhelm from too many options with conflicting claims
Lack of trusted reviews or results from users with similar hair
Competitive Analysis
Many competitors offered generic quizzes but lacked depth or meaningful results
Review sections were often cluttered, unfiltered, or not visually useful
No existing solution provided personalized discovery + community support in one place
Key Insights
Users want visual proof (before/after photos)
Users trust recommendations from similar hair types
Lower-risk trial options (samples) increase purchase confidence
Process
Information Architecture
Outlined the core user journey from discovery to decision-making
quiz → recommendations → product detail → community.
Designed low- and high-fidelity wireframes for the homepage, quiz, product pages, and community forum
Created a visual review system with filters for hair type, concerns, and routines
Built and tested interactive prototypes, then iterated based on user feedback
Solution
Personalized Hair Quiz: Guides users through questions about their hair type, concerns, and goals to generate tailored product recommendations.
Visual Reviews: Users can browse before/after photos and filter reviews by hair type, curl pattern, goals, and routine.
Community Forum: A supportive space for users to ask questions, share experiences, and learn from others with similar hair needs.
Sample-Size Shopping: Encourages product testing before committing to full sizes—reducing risk and building trust.
Impact
HairWave helps users feel confident in their choices by reducing overwhelm and providing trustworthy, personalized insight. The platform supports informed purchasing, minimizes returns, and creates a community-driven experience that strengthens user trust and satisfaction.
