When we first sat down to brainstorm ideas, we wanted to figure out what the gaps in the professional beauty industry were. What stood out was the disconnect between the virtual and real worlds of beauty and the fragmentation of the market across different apps and websites.
After analyzing consumer feedback and conducting competitive research, it was clear that while there were a multitude of tools available, none bridged the gap between online consultations and in-salon treatments or offered real-time personalized advice.Through social media, customer questionnaires, and reviews, it became apparent that people felt overwhelmed by the range of beauty platforms but none provided a single solution with all the features needed. There was also a noticeable lack of tools for beauticians to interact with clients more easily and anticipate their needs.
That's when the solution began to take shape: a virtual immersive experience that complemented face-to-face interaction. It became clear that our platform needed to bridge the gap between the virtual and real-world beauty experiences. The vision was to create something where consumers could seamlessly interact with experts, learn about new trends, and receive personalized, real-time advice, all in one destination. The hope was to create something truly game-changing, altering the way people approach their hair beauty routines at home and in the salon.
The theme of harmony kept appearing in our discussion, and it perfectly encapsulated what we wanted to bring: an experience that brought everything harmoniously together. We wanted to create a site where consumers could easily try on new styles, interact with pros, and get personalized tips in real time.
"Hair Harmony" appeared to fit our objective of bringing all of it neatly together. It stemmed from the perception that technology would make people's lives easier and not confuse them, and professionals in the business of beauty merely need simple tools to talk with clients. What we sought to do was transform the manner with which people address beauty, irrespective of where.
After weeks of brainstorming and refining, Hair Harmony was born, combining augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and live stylist connections into one app. The solution was created to tackle the fragmentation in the beauty sector, uniting the best of human and digital touchpoints to revolutionize how people experience beauty.
Below is why we chose each feature:
1. Create your profile
Personalization is key. By having users fill out a detailed profile about their hair type and history, we can provide personalized recommendations right from the start. This helps make the experience feel tailored and relevant to the individual user.
2. Virtual styling with AR
Augmented reality simplifies and makes it fun for users to experiment with new hairstyles. It enables them to try on new styles virtually, which helps them make confident decisions prior to committing to anything in reality. It's an excellent method of merging digital and physical beauty experiences.
3. Loyalty points & rewards
We thought of ways to keep the users engaged and interactive with the platform. The loyalty system makes the users eager to experiment with new styles, book appointments at salons, etc. By rewarding them with discounts and entry to exclusive events, we render the experience new and exciting.
4. Ari - your personal AI assistant
AI allows for the delivery of personalised recommendations in real time. Ari looks at each user's profile and preferences, helping them decide on the best hairstyles, treatments, and products for them. It learns and gets better with each use, providing more relevant advice.
5. Search for salons nearby
We know that salon visits are a massive part of the beauty experience, so we wanted to make them as effortless as possible. The app enables users to easily find nearby stylists, book appointments, and convey their desires beforehand. This creates a seamless connection between the digital and in-store beauty experiences.
6. Explore salon products and understand their environmental impact
We wanted to allow users to learn about salon-quality products and make informed choices about their hair care. By providing detailed product descriptions along with tutorials, we allow users to buy products with the confidence that they are right for them. By allowing users to track the environmental impact of their products and find eco-friendly alternatives, we enable them to make conscious choices while reaffirming L'Oréal's commitment to sustainability.
8. Social integration and community engagement
Beauty is about sharing inspiration, so we wanted to make it easy for users to interact with others. By incorporating social media, users can share their favorite hairstyles and salon appointments, join challenges, and be a part of a positive beauty community.
Through months of collaboration, we were able to finally deliver Hair Harmony. As the designer, I played a key role in bringing the concept to life. I focused on effectively communicating our vision through slides, a video, and UI mockups. The final deliverables included four slides and a one-minute video that clearly showcased our concept.
Other than designing the slide, I also created a one-minute video that brought Hair Harmony to life, using storytelling to showcase the platform’s features and benefits. The video includes UI mockups to demonstrate how the platform works, from onboarding to AR and AI personalization.
Although we didn’t win the contest, the experience was invaluable. It taught us the importance of collaboration, creativity, and having a clear vision. I gained a deeper understanding of how technology can address real-world challenges and came out of it as a stronger designer, video editor, and team player.
