Nearly five decades is long enough to watch fashions disappear, return, and become new again. Hair Benders Internationalé has lived through all of it. What began in 1978 became part of Chattanooga itself: a family business shaped by curiosity, hard work, and an enduring fascination with what hair could become.
Our History
1978: Bobby and Voula Founded HBI
In 1978, Bobby and Voula founded Hair Benders Internationalé in Chattanooga. The couple built the business together, working seven days a week during the early years of its founding. Their focus was simple: develop exceptional cutting and coloring skills, provide highly personalized service, and continually improve through education. Over time, that small family business grew into one of the Southeast’s largest and longest-established hair salons.
1980s-2000s: Chattanooga and the Wider World
Bobby and Voula believed that staying current required looking beyond their own market. They traveled regularly for education, including trips to Paris, Milan, London, New York, and Miami. Bobby pursued continuing education with influential figures in the hair industry, including Vidal Sassoon, Jacques Dessange, José Eber, Pivot Point founder Leo Passage, Oscar Bond, and William De Ridder.
The exchange worked both ways. HBI brought Paris educators to Chattanooga for intensive training and introduced techniques such as balayage, ombré, and hair painting locally long before they became widely familiar through social media.
1990s Onward: HBI Joined Intercoiffure
In 1990, Bobby and Voula were inducted into Intercoiffure America by John Jay, the organization’s president for an unprecedented 23 years and an industry icon who styled Jackie Kennedy, Betty Ford, and Barbara Bush. Joining this invitation-only international organization of leading salon owners and artists positioned HBI within an international community of respected hair professionals. HBI remains Chattanooga’s only Intercoiffure salon.
Bobby served on the Intercoiffure Mondial board and held membership leadership positions. Bobby was ultimately elevated to Commander in L’Ordre de la Chevalerie, Intercoiffure’s incredibly rare international order recognizing distinguished service. Only 15 officers have ever advanced to this position.
The Intercoiffure tradition continues today. Curtis Fairbanks, Bobby’s nephew, has also become a member of Intercoiffure, inducted in October 2026, continuing HBI’s connection to the international organization into its next generation.
Today: The Next Generation
HBI expanded into its 11,000-square-foot Gunbarrel salon and day spa in East Brainerd and added a boutique Northshore salon in North Chattanooga. We have also developed our own in-house education system. Licensed cosmetologists joining HBI must complete extensive apprenticeship and hands-on training in our methods before becoming HBI stylists.
Today, Curtis and Hariett carry the Hair Benders legacy into its next generation. Nearly five decades later, HBI continues to operate around the principles on which it was built: strong technical education, international perspective, and an expectation that the work never stops evolving.
