From Rejection to Triumph: How One Entrepreneur's Hair Syrup Business Soared After Dragons' Den

Rising from Rejection

Despite being turned down by the investors on BBC’s Dragons’ Den, Lucie Macleod, a determined 24-year-old businesswoman, has seen her Hair Syrup brand thrive, projecting an impressive £6.5 million in revenue for the year.

The Backstory

The inspiration for Hair Syrup came during Macleod’s time at the University of Warwick in 2019 while studying English literature. Frustrated with her own damaged hair from bleaching and heat treatments, she began experimenting in her student kitchen to create an affordable hair treatment. After countless attempts, Lucie developed a formula that revitalized her hair and eventually decided to showcase her findings on TikTok. Her viral video garnered over 600,000 views, leading to inquiries about purchases from her audience. Motivated by her friend’s suggestion to sell her creations, she launched her business from her parents’ conservatory.

The Dragons’ Den Experience

In June 2024, after a surge in her brand’s growth, Macleod accepted an invitation to pitch her business on Dragons’ Den. However, the experience was more intense than she anticipated. Initially, her pitch received positive traction until Deborah Meaden began probing into the company’s profitability. The skepticism led to all dragons except Touker Suleyman retracting their offers. Suleyman made an unorthodox proposal to invest £190,000 for a 3% equity stake, but after realizing Macleod’s discomfort with the deal, he also withdrew his offer, leaving her without a deal and a bruised sense of confidence.

Building Resilience

Although her experience on the show was disheartening, Macleod quickly regrouped, acknowledging the valuable lessons learned from the dragons. Rather than giving up, she was motivated to grow and implement their advice.

Rapid Growth and Achievement

Since her appearance on the show, Macleod’s company has skyrocketed, expanding to a team of 14 employees, securing 100,000 orders, and achieving her longtime dream of placing products in Boots, a significant milestone she had envisioned since starting the brand.

Conclusion

Lucie Macleod’s journey exemplifies resilience and determination in the face of rejection. Today, her story is not just one of a small startup but a vibrant testament to chasing dreams, turning ideas into reality, and leveraging challenges for success.