An interview with Lucy Palmer, founder of Hair Gain

This week, we speak to Lucy Palmer, founder of Hair Gain. Hair Gain launched Hair Gain launched in 2018 and quickly gained a cult following, introducing Gummies, a Nourishing Treatment Hair Mask, and hair accessories quickly after. Helping women reduce the impact of hair loss, nationwide.

Why do you think it is important to recognise, and celebrate International Women’s Day?

I think it’s really important to shine a spotlight on the success and achievements of women to provide encouragement and positive role models for young girls and young women to aspire to. Despite progress in the right direction, recent world events like the Covid-19 pandemic has set women back and we are not near achieving gender equality in the UK. For example, even pre-pandemic, only 1 in 3 UK entrepreneurs were female – a gender gap equivalent to 1.1 million missing businesses (1). We have to push women up as hard as we can and amplify their voices. This is what International Women’s Day is for – celebration, unity, support, advocacy and action.

Are there any situations where being a woman has positively affected your career?

Hair Gain was born out of a distinctly female experience. Postpartum hair loss is a struggle that only women face and without going through this myself, I wouldn’t have gone on the journey that I did to develop a hair supplement that helps support women experiencing the same.

What, or who, inspired you to start Hair Gain?

As mentioned above, it was my own experience that started me on this journey. I suffered with extreme post-partum hair loss after the birth of my first daughter Molly nine years ago. It was such a horrible experience, I lost handfuls of hair each day and it really knocked my confidence. The more I spoke to other women the more I realised that hair loss is a huge problem and one that we tend to suffer with in silence. 8 million women in the UK suffer from hair loss at some point in their lives and there are many causes. Stress, anxiety, over-styling, hormonal fluctuations, menopause and nutritional deficiencies can all cause hair loss.

I furiously researched for an antidote that could stop the shed and help with regrowth, but found nothing that spoke to me. It made me determined to create an ultimate nutritional supplement that would feed follicles at source. My background is in nutrition and supplements and I was fortunate enough to come across an incredible ingredient called AnaGain™ which is derived from the small but mighty pea shoot.

I spent the next two years working with nutritionists and trichologists to create a world class food supplement with AnaGain™ as its central ingredient – for which I’m proud to say the Hair Gain range is now famed.

What are you most proud of achieving in your career?

My big focus at Hair Gain is to break down the taboo of hair loss. We want women to know they do not need to suffer in silence and go through it alone and I’m so proud to have developed an antidote that can help stop hair shed and help with regrowth. This is why Hair Gain was born and it brings me so much joy to see women with their hair and confidence restored knowing that Hair Gain has helped. We hear from so many women around the world who tell us that Hair Gain is the only product that has made a difference. Some have spent years suffering from hair loss and spent thousands of pounds on products to try and restore it. Nothing beats knowing that Hair Gain has given them their hair and confidence back and it’s this achievement that makes me feel proud of what I am doing every day.

Which woman do you admire the most and why?

There are too many I admire to name just one. It’s not just those in the public eye that give me inspiration though, I find it in the women around me every day.

What is the most important advice you have been given?

Don’t be ashamed to say you don’t know what you’re doing. Talk to somebody that knows more than you. There will be people out there who are better at you at certain things, lean on them, lean on friends, lean on family, lean on somebody on LinkedIn; don’t be embarrassed to say when you don’t understand.

If you could give your younger self one piece of advice what would it be?

Don’t be afraid of failure, everyone fails, it’s part of learning and growing and you shouldn’t let that hold you back from developing and acting on your ideas.

What inspires you?

My children, my family and friends and all our lovely customers who have struggled with hair loss and been brave enough to share their story and help break down the stigma around it.

What are your must-have beauty products?

Well, the Hair Gain supplements and Hair Mask of course. I also LOVE my beauty treatments, and could not be without my eye-brow threading/tinting and getting my nails done!