When we launched The Leona for the first time, I knew we had built something special. What I didn’t expect was how quickly it would go.

We sold out. Completely in just 6 months.

And in the days that followed, our community spoke up. Messages, emails, DMs, asking when it would be back, sharing results, telling us how you use your Leona. It was overwhelming in the best way. Haiama has always been rooted in community, but that moment made it very clear: we’re building something truly special together.

So above all else…thank you. For trusting us with your curls, your time, your edges. :) 

We didn’t want to just bring The Leona back as-is. We took our time and went back through everything you shared with us. What you loved, what you wanted more of, how you were actually using it week to week. That feedback shaped The Leona 2.0.

What’s different with the Leona 2.0?

We focused on making it more intuitive, more personalized, and easier to stay consistent with — because if there’s one thing we know about growth, it’s that consistency is what actually moves the needle. The core of The Leona is still the same: red light therapy to support healthier growth cycles, scalp stimulation to increase circulation, and targeted oil delivery that helps you get the most out of your routine. But this version feels more refined. More aligned with how you actually care for your hair. 

The Leona SOLO 2.0 offers optimized coverage for your entire scalp, a significant upgrade from the 1.0's spot-treatment focus. It features a slower oil-dispensing mechanism and operates without a timer, allowing for continuous application while you work.

For me, The Leona has always been deeper than just a tool. Quick story time: 

I founded Haiama out of necessity, after my daughter was born, I was seeking products that were non-toxic for her curls and sensitive skin, and was seeking things that were also safe for me to use when breastfeeding. I was always into herbal remedies and seeking homeopathic options, but was shocked to find so few clean options even for children's products. 

I started working on The Leona after experiencing pretty severe postpartum hair loss and shedding with both of my children. It caught me off guard in a way I wasn’t prepared for. My hair felt thinner, my edges weren’t where they used to be, and I found myself in that familiar place of trying to figure out what actually works versus what just sounds good.

I found myself having significantly less time to do my own hair, something that I prided myself on. I had been natural for 10 years at that point, and washing my hair every week -- a process that took hours was not something I was able to do whether time didn't allow or the emotional toll of caring for her. And when my hair started falling out and my edges began to thin at the 4-month postpartum mark? Forget about it. 

I want moms to know that there are herbal and natural remedies that can heal their hair and scalp, and that the practice of doing your hair doesn't have to be a burden -- it can be a welcome reset and escape to spend time treating yourself. 

Minoxidil kept coming up as the solution. But it didn’t sit right with me. The idea that you have to keep using it indefinitely to maintain results didn’t align with how I think about long-term care. And at the time, I was breastfeeding, which made it a non-starter anyway.

I wanted something different. Something non-invasive. Something that supported my hair without creating dependency. Something that worked with textured hair and the realities of our routines — not against them.

So we built it.

The Leona is the first red light electric scalp stimulator designed specifically for curly hair. That matters, because our hair isn’t an afterthought. It requires a different approach — one that prioritizes low manipulation, scalp health, and retention just as much as growth. One that doesn’t tangle our hair at the roots when massaging. 

There’s one more piece of this that feels important to share. The name “The Leona” comes from my great great grandmother. She was a matriarch in every sense of the word — a strong Black woman who never birthed children of her own, but chose to adopt and raise my grandmother as her own. From everything I’ve been told, she was tough, resilient, and deeply rooted in care for her family.

The Leona isn’t just about growth. It’s about restoration, resilience, and showing up for yourself in small ways that add up over time — the same way she did for her family.

What’s meant the most to me through all of this is seeing how our Curlfriends have made it their own. The messages about edges filling back in, about hair feeling stronger on wash day, about finally sticking to a routine.

Preorders are officially open now. And if the first launch taught us anything, it’s that it won’t sit for long.

If you’ve been waiting for it to come back, this is your moment.