The United States Embassy in Nigeria has praised Nigerian-American biomechanical engineer and Harvard University graduate, Yinka Ogunbiyi, following the global success of her groundbreaking beauty-tech innovation, HaloBraid—described as the world’s first braid-assist robot.

The embassy highlighted Ogunbiyi’s achievement on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, describing her work as an example of innovation with global impact.

According to the post, HaloBraid is designed to reduce the physical strain experienced by hairstylists while significantly cutting the time required to braid hair.

The startup behind the invention has also secured $7 million in seed funding and attracted a waiting list of more than 7,000 professional salons.

Ogunbiyi said the idea for the innovation came during the COVID-19 pandemic after she spent several days installing her own knotless braids and experienced severe physical discomfort. Determined to solve the problem, she partnered with co-founder David Afolabi to develop a robotic assistant that supports professional hairstylists rather than replacing them.

The invention has drawn widespread admiration from the technology and beauty industries, with many praising it as a major step forward in combining robotics with everyday services.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) also congratulated Ogunbiyi, celebrating her achievement as a source of pride for Nigeria.