Charlene Blacer

PRESS: CharleneBlacer.com 

I'm passionate about helping people with their hair health and regrowth needs. As a Hair Health and Regrowth Expert, I specialize in custom, high-quality hair extensions and hair loss solutions for medical and fashion purposes. This passion also led me to found HelpMe2Stop.org, a 501(c)(3) non-profit supporting those affected by Trichotillomania. Here's my story:

My background includes nursing experience gained as a student nurse throughout high school and college, including an internship at the Hospital for Joint Diseases in Lower Manhattan. I have particularly strong memories of my work with victims of the Armenian earthquake. However, a summer job at a salon in 1987 (age 16) shifted my career path. Assisting with a hair extension installation ignited a passion that led me to beauty school, graduating in 1992 at age 21. In Manhattan, specialization is common, so I focused on hair extensions. As a single mother, I moved to Stroudsburg, PA, to raise my children in a small-town setting. With the rise of the internet, I launched my own specialty salon website, attracting a wide clientele, including those from California and Canada.

My focus on hair extensions naturally led me to clients seeking hair loss solutions, prompting me to expand my expertise into hair replacement. This, in turn, brought me into contact with individuals with Trichotillomania. My work as a Look Good Feel Better volunteer then revealed a stark contrast: significant salon support for the cancer community, but a profound lack of resources for those with hair-pulling disorders. This disparity inspired me to found a non-profit to serve this underserved community.

Starting with hair extensions, my business expanded to include hair loss solutions and then specialized in hair disorders, culminating in the creation of a 501(c)(3) non-profit. I've been fortunate to have been featured in many articles and interviews, but a highlight was a 30-minute segment at the State Capital in Harrisburg, PA, which, remarkably, resulted in an acknowledgment bill. My business has been very successful.

The changing hair industry, driven by economic shifts from 2008, the growth of YouTube tutorials, and the rise of direct-to-consumer sales, particularly on Instagram, required me to broaden my skillset. While my initial training in Manhattan focused on specialization (hair extensions and hair loss solutions), I embraced the opportunity to develop my artistic abilities. My experience with JCPenney Salon and The Salon at Ulta Beauty was key to expanding my services and brand knowledge, including Aveda, Matrix, Redken, EasiHairPro, Keratin Complex, and Olaplex.

It's ironic that my nursing education has come full circle in my career as a hair extension, hair loss specialist. Now in my 50s, I see how following my passion has created unexpected connections and incredible opportunities. To anyone charting their career path: pursue your passion—it will guide you.