A Pembrokeshire business has achieved the remarkable feat of being dubbed one of the fastest growing entities in the UK—because apparently, everyone just loves their hair oils more than their mortgages these days. Enter Hair Syrup, the beloved hair elixir that has just been crowned the 13th fastest growing private company in Britain, according to that bastion of journalistic integrity, the Sunday Times 100 index.
Based on the scenic shores of Fishguard and Goodwick, this little gem is also basking in the glory of being the second fastest growing business in Wales. Who knew that the secret to success lay in a bottle filled with some aromatic oils rather than a high-powered corporate office?
Founded during lockdown by 24-year-old Lucie Macleod from Newport—who apparently has hair so lovely it could be featured in a shampoo ad—Hair Syrup aims to keep your locks looking luscious longer than your average product. After all, no one wants to be the person whose hair looks great for an hour only to transform into a crow’s nest shortly after.
Legend has it that Lucie was inspired by a *life-changing* hair oil she encountered while living it up in Thailand. So, in the spirit of DIY determination, she decided to create her own concoction of local health food store ingredients. Naturally, she documented this ambitious project on TikTok, because what’s more compelling than seeing hair magic unfold on your phone screen? It went viral, racking up over 600,000 views. Who needs a marketing budget when you have the internet?
From what started as a hobby in her parents’ conservatory—where dreams may or may not come true—Lucie has transformed Hair Syrup into a full-fledged company with a projected turnover of £6.5 million in 2025. That’s right, you can now make millions selling what essentially is plant juice for your hair. Take that, Wall Street!
In a twist of fate straight out of a sitcom, Lucie made an appearance on Dragon’s Den, where even the most hardened investors decided walking away empty-handed was preferable to dealing with another hair-raising story. But fear not! Hair Syrup is apparently thriving, and Lucie feels like a unicorn among horses—wondering how on earth her ‘side hustle’ became the 13th fastest growing company in Britain.
“I started this business expecting to sell 10 bottles at most. Nobody ever thought it would become anything more than a hobby,” Lucie chuckled in disbelief. “After my Dragon’s Den rejection, I thought I was done for, but this ranking says it all—we’re just warming up, folks!”
She added, rather pointedly, that the ranking is a testament to the fact that you don’t need to live in an urban jungle to have a successful business. “Our main warehouses are in Fishguard and Goodwick. So, take that, Silicon Valley! Our amazing local team is the secret behind this magic,” she said, possibly while sipping a health drink from her locally sourced kale farm.
In a dazzling comment, Jon Yeomans, business editor of The Sunday Times, weighed in: “The Sunday Times 100 is the definitive annual ranking that proves there are more entrepreneurs thriving in Britain than you can shake a hairbrush at. These businesses are creating jobs and opportunities like it’s going out of style.” And who knew? Perhaps all this hair oil and entrepreneurial spirit can actually save a few jobs—all while rejuvenating your split ends.
