Thirteen-year-old Dylan Rovelli started her own mobile business in June 2024, called Kinda A Big Dyl Hair Tinsel.

Based in West University, Dylan Rovelli continues to grow the hair service through support from her neighbors and friends at school, posts on Instagram and Facebook, and encouragement from her mom, Meghan Rovelli, to gain independence.

“I'm definitely behind an entrepreneurial spirit anytime,” Meghan Rovelli said. “It's always great that she gets real money and can be independent. I love that, so I'll help anyway I can.”

How it happened

Dylan Rovelli said she got the idea after getting hair tinsels at a salon. She said she knew she could learn how to apply the shimmering hair extensions herself and charge a much lower price than the salon.
Hair tinsels are temporary, shimmering strands of thread that can be applied to hair using a braiding or weaving method. It can often last for several months, Rovelli said. (Asia Armour/Community Impact)
Hair tinsels are temporary, shimmering strands of thread that can be applied to hair using a braiding or weaving method. It can often last for several months, Rovelli said. (Asia Armour/Community Impact)
The thin, shimmering strands can be temporarily applied to hair to add sparkle and dimension. Kinda A Big Dyl offers essentially every color of the rainbow—including pinks, reds, greens, golds and other metallic shades.


Dylan Rovelli’s favorite color combo is pink and silver, she said.

How it works

Dylan Rovelli taught herself how to apply the tinsels by watching TikTok and YouTube videos, she said. She and her friends also practice on each other and share new techniques.

“It's like a slip knot, and then you put it through a strand of hair and knot it,” she said. “Then you triple it one time, and double it another time.”
Most of her clients are between ages 5-12 years old, and she enjoys doing birthday parties the most, Dylan Rovelli said. (Asia Armour/Community Impact)
Most of her clients are between ages 5-12 years old, and she enjoys doing birthday parties the most, Dylan Rovelli said. (Asia Armour/Community Impact)
Dylan Rovelli does both individual appointments and events, she said. She travels around West U and the furthest she’s gone was out in the Memorial City area.


Her main customers are younger girls between the ages of 5-12 years old, and she said she most enjoys doing birthday parties.

Who it’s for

Meghan Rovelli said Dylan Rovelli inspires her younger brother, who said he wants to start his own business one day.

She encourages other kids her age who may want to start their own businesses to market themselves on social media, and although it may be scary to start, she said she has gained a little bit more confidence from building her own brand, and it feels good to be recognized for her hard work.