Yanika Cordina, Founder, Cordina Hair, demonstrates her invention, the Flower Curl.
Published: October 25, 2020 | Updated: 26th October 2020
Her work colleagues couldn’t believe their eyes.
Every morning Yanika Cordina would turn up to the office sporting the most fabulous hair curls.
“What are using?”
“You must have been up all night doing your hair.”
“How do you find the time to curl it every day?”
Each query, Yanika batted away.
Because only she knew the truth.
And it was too early to spill the beans.
The then 26-year-old had invented a heatless curler.
After three long years of testing and refining, the Flower Curl was launched to the public in 2018.
Named after its petal-shaped design, the fabric-based product gives the same style as a heated curler but with none of the damage to hair.
It’s also comfortable to sleep in.
The UK patented hair product, designed to be worn comfortably day or night, is now a big hit in the United States which accounts for about 60 per cent of sales followed by the UK (30 per cent) and Europe.
Yanika, who came to the UK from Malta 12 years ago and lives in Poole, said: “I’ve always wanted curly hair but it’s never been possible.
“Then, in 2015, I was on my way to my office job when an idea for a new heatless hair curler popped up in my head.
“As soon as I got to my office desk, I grabbed a piece of paper, drew what I had in mind and put it in my handbag.
“I could not wait to get back home to start testing and making prototypes in my trusty old shed.
“I have always struggled to find an appropriate hairstyle for bed.
“Before the Flower Curl came about I used to wake up with messy, unmanageable and dry hair every morning from rolling in my sleep.
“I really wanted to put an end to that.
“After creating and testing numerous prototypes, I started turning up to my office job with the most amazing curls.
“My colleagues started to notice my new look and kept asking me what I use to curl my hair and how I find the time to curl it every day.
“I knew then, that I was off to a good start.”
Yanika, now 31 and with a partner, Daniel, and 11-month-old son, Brody, said the prospect of bringing her invention to market had been daunting.
She said: “It was clear I probably needed a lot of money, which I didn’t have.
“I had real doubts whether I could do it myself.
“At the prototype stage I had a major hair product company interested.
“In the end they decided not to go ahead and that gave me the push I needed.
“I’ve done everything myself on a very limited budget, using connections and social media to spread the word.”
The curler – available to buy through the Cordina Hair online retail store – has since reached countries across the globe, winning rave reviews.
They include:
Yanika said: “The great thing about the Flower Curl is that it is comfortable to sleep in.
“It does not cover your ears and it does not sit around your face, allowing you to roll in your sleep, without feeling discomfort.
“You can also achieve different hair curling results.
“The Flower Curl comes with detachable rings, so you can attach or detach the rings to the middle donut to create different hair curling results.
“The heatless hair curler is suitable for both fine and thick hair and can also be used on different hair lengths.”
Yanika’s invention has been granted a UK patent while patent approval for the USA and EU is pending.
She said: “So many people come up with amazing ideas but never follow through or give up too quickly.
“I arrived in this country at the age of 19 and with just £1,000.
“I started work as a check-out girl in a supermarket and then worked as a personal assistant to various company directors, including the CEO of BH Live.
“It was a big move to launch the Flower Curl but I couldn’t be prouder that my invention has transformed the lives, and hair, of women all over the globe.”
