May 2009 Momtrepreneur of the Month: Melissa Gordon Founder of Happyheads

Lice are most certainly not nice. Melissa Gordon decided to take action against these nasty uninvited guests and in the process to take some of the stigma away from families affected by lice.

No mother wants to deal with these pests, but each year in daycares, preschools, churches and camps parents learn of lice outbreaks. The unlucky ones have a note sent home that reads, "Your child has lice."

This businesswoman personally understands the stress and anxiety of getting head lice. Gordon, the founder and owner of Happyheads Services, LLC, got one of these notes. When her twins were in kindergarten, they brought head lice home. And then they shared it with her.

Gordon was frustrated, confused and exhausted. But as a mom she knew she had to do the right thing for her family. So she went online to research treatments. The ingredients lists were frightful on the popular brands and there was a lot of conflicting information.

Through her research, she became a lice expert. She put her knowledge to work developing services and products for other parents. Gordon launched her In-Home Head Lice Removal & Nitpicker Service. The Happyhead mission is to "eradicate, educate and get children back to their regular routines as soon as possible." Families in Westchester, Putnam and Fairfield counties can make an appointment with Gordon and she sends a Happyheads professional nitpicker to the home. Happyheads uses natural, nontoxic products, a "bye-bye lice" shampoo, a combing solution and an expert combing technique for removing nits (eggs). Then they provide follow up education for the effected family.

Her business grew by word of mouth. Then it hit her-she should make this service available to everyone-not just families within driving distance. So Gordon created a Happyheads do-it-yourself kit. The family kit contains all the products, tools and information necessary to help families end the cycle of head lice (see tutorial here). She uses essential oils as a base for her repelling products. They are all nontoxic and smell wonderful to people, but not to lice. The lice killing formula in her shampoo, Happyheads Bye-Bye Lice Shampoo, is FDA registered, patented, pH balanced and safe for all ages. Melissa's website provides a video tutorial to help aid families.

For taking a problem that strikes thousands of families and making it a less daunting experience, Gordon is May's Momtrepreneur of the Month.

The year my business launched: 2007

Hometown: Pleasantville, NY

I'm most proud of: Having a business that provide parents with a safe option for treating head lice so that their children will not be exposed to harsh chemicals.

Recent success: Launching my own nontoxic product line for the treatment and prevention of head lice.

What I tell other women looking to launch a new business: Believe that you can do it, and it will happen!

When I'm not working on Happyheads you can find me: Enjoying time with my husband and three young children, at the gym (when I'm lucky), or doing graphic design work (my "other" career).

Before I launched this business, I wish someone had told me: How much "brain space" it could take up. I think about head lice 24/7 (ugh!).

The best business book I've read: The Answer, by John Assaraf & Murray Smith. It's awesome!

If I had an extra $1000 to invest in my business I'd buy: Probably more marketing/advertising. It's difficult to market a product as an independent small business owner.

The hardest thing about owning a small business: I have to figure everything out on my own. How to balance my own books, market, design and create my products, research, council families, answer the phone...

Best thing about owning a small business: I get to make all the decisions! And I love to take in the advice of my peers who are professionals in all sorts of businesses. Everyone has something to teach me, and I love learning as I go. I know I've made mistakes, but I just keep forging ahead. I try not to get distracted or discouraged and I try to integrate my peers' advice into what I'm doing.