Monarch Hair Solutions & Salon, LLC, Valdosta’s new cranial prostheses center, opened its doors Thurs., June 26 immediately following its ribbon cutting ceremony. Angela Roark, also the owner of Hair Spray Salon and Spa, is excited about her new business and looks forward to serving the Valdosta community.

2014 has been a very important year for the already successful entrepreneur. In April of this year, Roark was announced the winner of the 2014 Southwest Georgia Bank Business Plan Competition from which she received $10,000 in start-up capital to open her new business.

“I did a lot to prepare for the competition,” said Roark of her business plan’s success. “I went to several marketing classes at VSU; they guided me through the research and statistics and helped me make my business plan by showing me how much it would cost, informing me about profit loss and marketing, and helping me decide how much revenue would be needed for my business to succeed.” In addition to taking classes, Roark completed the medical grade certifications needed to provide her customers with custom-molded, state-of-the-art hair pieces. Roark used her award to renovate her storefront and purchase the equipment required for creating such pieces.

Roark says that that the idea for Monarch Hair Solutions & Salon, LLC came about through her own personal experience with customers suffering from hair loss. “I’ve experienced people going through hair loss due to hereditary, genetic, hormonal, and other medical reasons,” said Roark. “I started seeing people with wigs that didn’t fit, were not attached well, and did not look natural, but there was nothing in this area to help them with their needs.” Roark began researching the causes and solutions of hair loss and found several companies that offered medical grade hair systems, and ultimately decided to put her passion to work. Her zeal for helping her customers is as apparent as her dedication to the cause. “I want people to feel more confident about going out in public or even just looking in the mirror,” said Roark.

In addition to making custom hair pieces, Monarch Hair Solutions & Salon, LLC will specialize in specific scar coverage hair pieces. “There are some customers who have portions of their scalp in which the hair follicles have died and the hair will never grow back,” said Roark. “I can make special pieces that can be attached in that area, blend in with the natural hair and will not have to be taken off.” The business also offers specialty wigs for patients with alopecia, a condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the hair follicles and causes the entire scalp to go bald. These wigs are equipped with a special cap that adapts to the wearer’s body temperature and seals to the scalp. “The wearer can go skydiving in the wig if they want,” Roark commented. “In fact, they can go swimming, play tennis, do aerobics and participate in any activities that they normally would. By using the medical grade human hair systems to make my wigs, I can ensure that customers’ lifestyles are not hindered in any way. I want them to be comfortable in their own skin; to be happy.”

Monarch Hair Solutions & Salon, LLC is located at 404-G Northside Drive in Valdosta and can be reached at 229-292-9336.