What began as a personal quest to repair damaged hair has transformed into a multi-million pound business success story that's inspiring young entrepreneurs across the UK. Lucie Macleod, a former English Literature student at the University of Warwick, has built haircare brand Hair Syrup from humble beginnings into a thriving enterprise that generated £5 million in revenue last year.
The Lightbulb Moment That Started It All
Like many young women, Lucie had struggled with her hair for years, using straighteners, dye and bleach that left her locks dry, brittle and 'frazzled' by age 21. The turning point came when she noticed broken hair fragments on her black clothing, prompting her to seek more natural solutions. "I didn't really know what to do and although I tried different products, none were really working for me," she recalls.
This frustration sparked an intensive research period where Lucie examined ingredients in conventional haircare products and began creating her own formulations using raw materials like essential oils and aloe. "It was as simple as trial and error," she explains. "I did a lot of background research and I looked into cosmetic formulation. There were errors during the trials - it took me about a year before I was happy."
Viral TikTok Success and Business Launch
The real breakthrough came when Lucie documented her hair transformation journey on TikTok, sharing before-and-after photos and explaining her process. The video went viral, amassing 600,000 views and overwhelming interest from viewers desperate to purchase her products. "Everyone was asking me how to do it or to sell them a bottle," she says. "I'd never considered selling it before - I wondered what they were talking about. I didn't think anyone would take it seriously."
Initially so overwhelmed that she deleted her TikTok account, Lucie soon realised the commercial potential when determined followers tracked down her other social media profiles. Persuaded by this enthusiasm, she launched Hair Syrup with just £300 capital, working from her parents' kitchen during Covid lockdown while simultaneously completing her university degree.
"I was probably spending 90 hours a week between the business and my degree," Lucie admits. "I barely slept, but it was worth it." Her dedication paid off with a first-class degree in English Literature and a business that quickly outgrew the family home.
Rapid Growth and Retail Success
In February 2022, Lucie took the terrifying leap of signing a lease for her first studio, describing it as feeling like "signing my life away." The risk proved worthwhile when, just one month later, major beauty retailer Beauty Bay began stocking Hair Syrup products. "I was really proud of myself because I felt like it gave the brand a lot of credibility," she says.
The business continued scaling up, with Lucie learning as she went since "no one had ever done anything like this before so I didn't have anything to follow." While initially cautious, her family became her biggest supporters - her mother now works with her, and her father regularly appears in her TikTok videos.
Despite facing rejection on Dragons' Den in January 2025, this setback didn't deter Lucie's ambition. Hair Syrup is now stocked in high street pharmacy Boots among other retailers, and she projects £12 million in revenue for 2025. Her achievements were formally recognised in September when she won the Sunday Times Young Founder of the Year award.
Now employing a full team and producing hair syrups, conditioners and accessories, Lucie reflects on how the experience has transformed her. "It's been a journey for everyone involved. I've grown with it. You wouldn't recognise me if you met me four years ago. It's made me a lot more tenacious."
Looking ahead, Lucie dreams of global expansion with beauty giant Sephora and sees Hair Syrup as "a symbol and a voice for resilience, hope and aspiration for young people." From hoping to sell ten bottles to building a multi-million pound empire, she concludes: "I would never in a million years have dreamt of being here."
