The Fybro, a new premium grooming system, is allowing men to achieve a fresh lineup right at home.
Indianapolis nativeAaron Russell came up with the concept of The FyBro in 2022, after failing to find a similar DIY hairline product on the market. Russell decided to take matters into his own hands by designing a single-use stick-on hairline stencil that, when paired with spray-on hair fibers, would achieve the same look and feel of a barbershop lineup.
“(Barbers) would take these hair fibers, which are basically very fine artificial hair, and they actually apply it around your hairline to build it up to create volume … when they come in with electric trimmers, they can create this very defined line,” Russell said. “I started to notice the guys at home were trying to do the same thing as the barbers. But there’s two problems. Number one, most guys lack the skills that a barber has with electric trimmers. Then number two, there were no tools to allow you to do this at home.”
Most men get their haircut and lineup about every two weeks. After a few days when hair begins to grow back around the hairline, the look starts to fade, “and then you go back to not feeling as confident as you once did,” Russell said.
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Unlike previous stencils, which are static or just a piece of plastic, The FyBro is the first-ever stick-on hairline stencil designed in the “perfect shape” of a forehead.
“I can take these hair fibers — well, first you want to use a holding spray to create a tacky base so it can stick to it — but I can take these hair fibers and I can spray it around all of the light spots,” Russell said. “Essentially, when I pull this off, it’s going to have a perfectly straight line.”
Growing up, Russell said he always had an “entrepreneurial spirit,” taking on odd jobs, such as shoveling snow or cutting grass, to make money. His interest in business followed him through higher education. He studied accounting at Ball State University and then accepted a job at a “big four” accounting firm.
After a few years, Russell realized a traditional 9-to-5 behind a desk simply wasn’t the dream career he’d thought it’d be, and that what he really wanted was to start his own business — and start building a legacy.
Using his background as a musician in the church, Russell started offering online music lessons in 2015. That business became quite profitable, which allowed him to take a massive leap of faith by leaving his full-time job in 2019 — with his wife’s full support, of course.
Things didn’t exactly go as planned. When Russell first told his wife, Chandice Tyson-Russell, about his plans for The FyBro, she was surprised but immediately got on board.
“Once he explained it to me, and the impact that it would have, not just for him, but for all men or even women, I was sold,” Tyson-Russell said. “I thought that it was a brilliant idea. I knew that there would be a need for it, and I really was excited about the impact it had in the Black and brown community, with men and women who would love to be able to achieve the look without having to go see a barber every week.”
So, as Russell stepped back to focus on developing his idea, Tyson-Russell said she stepped up and became the financial provider for their family.
In 2023, Russell finally had a prototype, which he used to compete in Impact Indiana’s PitchFeast. He impressed the judges and received a $10,000 grant to put toward securing a manufacturer and marketing for the first batch of The Fybro stencils.
Despite the ups and downs in the last few years, Tyson-Russell said watching and supporting her husband go through designing, developing, and now selling The FyBro has been “so incredibly inspiring.” She believes in the product as much as he does and knows that it will help many others regain their confidence as the hairline plays a crucial role in how Black men present themselves.
Together, Russell and Tyson-Russell have two young sons, and watching her husband work tirelessly to bring his vision to life “speaks to the work ethic, drive and legacy” they want to build for their family, Tyson-Russell said.
“Things take time,” Tyson-Russell said. “The process takes time, and if you quit, you’ll never be able to see it actually happen. I think that there was never an option to quit, no matter how much he wanted to. I wasn’t gonna let him.”
The FyBro is not meant to replace going to the barber, but it solves a problem that many Black and brown men face when it comes to their hair, , Russell said. A lineup typically costs anywhere from $15-$40 in addition to the haircut, but only lasts a few days. The FyBro is meant to be used between visits, to refresh the hairline for a day or two before being washed out in the shower, Russell said.
“There are so many celebrities and athletes and TV personalities who actually will fly their barbers in just to get a hair line up,” Russell said. “We’re not trying to get rid of barbers. … We love the barbers, but it [The FyBro] is a way to save money.”
However, it wasn’t until early 2025 that the product started to really take off with consumers — especially on social media, Russell said. Unexpectedly, it was women who seemed to really engage with the product, commenting under posts that they’d be interested in getting it for their husbands, sons and grandsons, Russell said.
As their sales increased, Russell introduced more products, including beardline and side hairline stencils, a FyBro-branded hair fiber spray, a holding spray and an applicator pump.
“It’s not just about creating wealth,” Russell said. “Madam C. J. Walker … She built her empire here in Indianapolis, Indiana, where she created innovative products to help women empower themselves and feel confident, and this tool is the same way. It’s about building confidence.”
For more information about The Fybro or to view products, visit thefybro.com. Select products are also available on the Fybro Amazon Storefront.
Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.
Chloe McGowan is the Arts & Culture Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. Originally from Columbus, OH, Chloe has a bachelor's in journalism from The Ohio State University. She is a former IndyStar Pulliam Fellow, and has previously worked for Indy Maven, The Lantern, and CityScene Media Group. In her free time, Chloe enjoys live theatre, reading, baking and keeping her plants alive.
