Michigan Ross Students Discuss How Their Startup Helps Men Embrace Hair Loss

Applebaum Dare to Dream Impact Story

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Helping ‘Bald’ Become ‘Bold’

ene Onuorah, MBA ’21, of Raleigh, NC, and Mejoy Lawson, MBA/MS ’22, of Minneapolis MN, met prior to pursuing their MBAs at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business. They connected over their similarities: shared dreams of entrepreneurship, their African heritage and, well, their bald heads. As first-year MBAs, they decided to launch Comme Homme, a startup that understands the physical, psychological, and mental changes that men go through when they deal with hair loss by embracing the bald look — when they go from “Bald 2 Bold.” The pair took advantage of any programming they could to help their entrepreneurial visions become reality, including the Eugene Applebaum Dare to Dream program.

Offered through the Zell Lurie Institute (ZLI) of Entrepreneurial Studies at Michigan Ross, and funded by Applebaum Family Philanthropy, the Applebaum Dare to Dream program provided the seed funding, resources, structure, and knowledge needed to get the venture off the ground as the Comme Homme cofounders participated in each of the three phases of the program..

Kene and Mejoy recently launched their website, commehomme. co/, and will soon introduce their first products, including a scalp wash, exfoliator, and moisturizer, to the market. Here we interviewed the two business partners about their joint venture:

What was the inspiration to begin Comme Homme?

Kene: The inspiration for Comme Homme was my personal experience with hair loss. I initially noticed my hair was thinning in 2014. I can remember the exact time and place I was when I noticed it. I was immediately self-conscious and embarrassed.

I did my best to fight my hair loss from 2014-2017 to no avail.

Finally, after shaving my head in November 2017, I realized that I couldn’t find any scalp care products on the market made specifically for bald men, which, to me, presented an opportunity.

I met Mejoy in 2019 a few months before starting our studies in the MBA program at the University of Michigan. We connected due to our mutual interest in entrepreneurship, our African heritage, and not to state the obvious, but our bald heads. After striking up an initial conversation around entrepreneurship, I pitched Mejoy a very early idea around building a company targeting the needs of bald men. Having both dealt with the struggles of hair loss and the push to transition to a shaved head, we felt like there was an opportunity to build something specifically for this niche market.

How did the Comme Homme name come about?

Mejoy: “Come home” is a phrase typically used to encourage men to shave their head when they are experiencing hair loss. For example, if Kene was still battling with it and hadn’t yet shaved his head, I’d say “Kene, just come home.” It was important for us to find a name that was rooted in authenticity and that was empowering, since that is what we are all about. So we decided to spell it as such (e.g., Comme Homme) because ,while it is pronounced the same, in French it translates to “As a man” or “Like a man” — again all about empowering men throughout their journey.

How have your feelings on being bald changed over time?

Kene: I started dealing with hair loss in 2014 and struggled with it for three years before being comfortable enough to comme homme (shave my head). It took me a few months to really get used to my new look. Today I’m proud of my bald head and look at it as an advantage. Now I’m on a mission to help other men embrace their hair loss.

Mejoy: I can’t quite pin when I started dealing with hair loss, but I remember noticing it first in 2013. I moved to Boston and didn’t have a barber there, so I had to let my hair grow. In doing so, I quickly realized that some parts were growing faster than others. I fought the urge to commit to the bald look for four years but eventually decided to comme homme on January 1, 2017, and haven’t looked back since. I honestly can say that I am very confident in my bald look and wouldn’t have it any other way. I intend to continue to help others as they embrace their natural evolution as well.

What does Bald 2 Bold mean to you?

Kene: To me, Bald 2 Bold is a state of mind. One that accepts change in stride and with confidence. It’s clear that hair loss isn’t easy, but it’s also clear that it’s not the end of the world. The Bald to Bold mantra encourages men to rethink and reframe hair loss in a way that reveals the true essence of character. One that isn’t defined by external or superficial traits but rather internal characteristics and fortitude.

Mejoy: For far too long, men have struggled with the idea that losing their hair is somehow minimizing. Bald 2 Bold is a mantra that empowers men to embrace what is inevitable and confidently. Additionally, Bald 2 Bold promotes the fact that bald men are perceived as more attractive, dominant, and intelligent.

Bald 2 Bold is here to reframe the narrative around the negative connotation that men associate with hair loss.

What products will be available?

Mejoy: Comme Homme will enter the market with three products: Scalp Wash, Scalp Exfoliator, and Daily Moisturizer. Our moisturizer is our hero product as it contains a natural ingredient that reduces the speed of hair regrowth. During our customer discovery, we uncovered that one of the biggest pain points for bald men is having to shave every two to three days to maintain a clean shaved head. So it was important for us to have a product that solved such a big pain point for the bald community.

Why did you choose to participate in the Dare to Dream program?

Kene: It was important to us that we took advantage of all of the entrepreneurial programming offered via the Zell Lurie Institute at U-M. Therefore, we opted for every opportunity that came before us and participated in nearly every opportunity afforded to us. The first day of school we walked into the ZLI office to introduce ourselves and learn more about the programs available.

We learned of Dare to Dream on that day and were committed to completing all three phases. We believed that the program would provide structure, resources, and knowledge to help us become stronger entrepreneurs — that presumption proved to be true.

Mejoy: It is also important to note that Kene and I chose Ross because of the entrepreneurial opportunities that ZLI offered.

During my first visit to Michigan as a prospective student, I was able to spend some time with Anne Perigo (ZLI associate director) to learn all about the entrepreneurial opportunities that ZLI offered. Knowing that entrepreneurship was my goal post business school, I was sold by the strength of the resources and support that I would receive.

How did Dare to Dream impact you?

Kene: Dare to Dream was the very first ZLI program available. It was our first taste of structured programming, and it proved to be extremely valuable from teaching us about customer discovery,

business model canvas, business planning, and more. In addition, the funds from Dare to Dream served as our first pre-seed check, which allowed us to drive Comme Homme further and further as we progressed through every phase of the Dare to Dream program.

Mejoy: Dare to Dream was undoubtedly one of the most valuable experiences that we participated in at Michigan. The programming around customer discovery, business model canvas, and financial modeling was invaluable to our growth as entrepreneurs. Additionally, the faculty’s willingness to support us whenever we needed help, whether for pitch practice, reviewing our finances, or just discussing our approach to various problems, was extremely helpful. Comme Homme would not be where it is today had it not been for our participation in Dare to Dream.

What is next for Comme Homme?

Kene: Currently, we are participating in ACT Tulsa, a Tulsa, OK based start-up accelerator. As two African American founders, it’s exciting to be working in Tulsa to build Comme Homme due to the history of black commerce in Black Wall Street and the Greenwood district. We are currently finalizing our product and packaging as we prepare to launch our sampling program and pre-orders. Some of the highest priorities for us right now are finding our customers and growing our community both online and offline.

Is there anything you want to express to Dare to Dream donors?

Kene:I’d like to express my genuine gratitude to the donors who make Dare to Dream possible. There are countless student entrepreneurs that walk through the doors of ZLI with just merely a half baked idea. Dare to Dream serves as the nourishing ground for many of those ideas. I can confidently say that Dare to Dream alongside other ZLI initiatives have played a significant role in the development of Comme Homme as a business and myself as a co-founder. Many thanks to the Dare to Dream donors!

Mejoy: I am incredibly thankful to the donors who make Dare to Dream possible. While entrepreneurship was my goal coming into school, admittedly, there is a lot that I didn’t know about what it actually meant to be an entrepreneur. And while I can’t say that I know it all today, Dare to Dream significantly supported my growth as a business leader, co-founder, and business partner. Additionally, Dare to Dream equipped me with the mental fortitude to tackle any challenge that will arise along this journey. I am eternally grateful to the donors for supporting the program, the faculty and staff, and Comme Homme. Thank you for enhancing my student experience and supporting my professional ambitions.