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28 | BEAUTY LAUNCHPAD | JANUARY 2018 L I V E & LE A R N Profi les C hris Volek, CEO of DreamCatchers (@dreamcatchershair), has a habit of biting off more than he can chew but crushing it anyway. In the '90s, the South African native stormed Europe, running dozens of shows and exhibitions across the continent; after returning home, new adhesive-free attachment methods for hair extensions piqued his interest. But when his start-up soon saturated his homeland, what was next? Conquering America, of course. "We went to the States in 2005 and got beaten to death," he laughs. "It was incredibly tough here with so much competition—but we also knew we'd eventually succeed if we were persistent." And Volek, who admits he's tried "anything and everything" career-wise, had a key trick up his sleeve in bringing onboard a celebrity spokesperson: It girl of the aughts, Paris Hilton. The move catapulted DreamCatchers; at his fi rst trade show in 2007, Volek spotted a key competitor in Hairlocs; today, he owns the brand. And for the fi rst time, the sister companies will be united at shows under one umbrella, World of Hair Extensions—but joining the new world order will be another big-name addition. "I was contacted by Cosmopolitan magazine because they wanted to enter the industry with a hair extension line," Volek explains. "It's a no-brainer for them, an international brand with name recognition in 82 countries, to partner with us. Everyone is loving the concept." Indeed, Volek believes this new venture, COSMOHair by Cosmopolitan, will become a worldwide hair extension leader by the end of the year. In the meantime, he's kicking off 2018 with a major splash at the International Salon & Spa Expo in Long Beach, CA, helming his brands' biggest-ever booth, introducing a new app, and spreading the word with stylists. "World of Hair Extensions is going to buzz this year, with two established brands and a third that's already a success story; we're taking it to the next level," Volek promises. "And even more exciting than launching here will be launching in new countries. With a brand that's recognized globally, I think my mission on this planet will be complete." DreamCatchers CEO Chris Volek is on the verge of unveiling his most ambitious venture yet—and anticipates nothing less than world domination. ÑTRACY MORIN Dream World COURTESY OF DREAMCATCHERS Chris Volek DreamCatchers partners with Cosmopolitan magazine to create COSMOHair by Cosmopolitan.