IN CONVERSATION WITH: Lucy Palmer
After experiencing postpartum hair loss and finding no solutions, Lucy Palmer used her expertise to create Hair Gain Now - a powerhouse brand offering targeted formulations to restore confidence for women experiencing hair thinning at every stage of life.
This month, I had the pleasure of interviewing Lucy, where she shares her inspiring journey both personally and in business, growing a successful brand whilst balancing motherhood.
PLUS we've got 20% off Hair Gain Now with code STUDIO20.
You have such an inspiring story - a story lots of women can relate to. Can you tell us a little bit about it and how your personal journey has shaped the way you’ve built Hair Gain? - hair loss/thinning affecting women at different stages of life...
The creation of Hair Gain has been a truly personal journey for me. Hair loss is caused by an imbalance during the hair growth cycle and this can happen at any time in your life. Stress, anxiety, ageing, nutritional deficiencies, peri & menopause and medical issues are all common causes. For me, it was hormonal fluctuations after giving birth. When I had my first daughter Molly ten years ago, I had not been warned about postpartum hair loss and it was such a horrible experience. At a time when my body and life had already gone through so much change, I had to contend with losing handfuls of hair each day which I found quite scary and really knocked my confidence.
I spent a lot of time researching antidotes that could stop the shed and help with regrowth but found nothing that spoke to me. My background is in nutrition and supplements, and I became determined to develop a world class supplement that would feed follicles at source and help people like me, who were suffering from hair loss and hair thinning.
I totally understand the emotional impact of hair loss and thinning and our mission at Hair Gain is to help people navigate their hair and scalp issues and arm them with an efficacious and expanding hair care range that is accessible, saves time and is easy to build into their routine, along with the right information, support and tools needed to work towards restoring their hair and their confidence too.
What are some of the biggest misconceptions about hair loss?
I’ve heard so many over the years. Some of the biggest include that hair loss only happens to men, that it only comes with age, washing your hair often will cause hair loss and that all hair loss is permanent! None of course, are true!
If you could sit down with a woman experiencing hair loss, what advice would you give her?
I’d start by suggesting she identify any lifestyle reasons or issues that might be causing her hair loss and then trying to address them. Have a full health MOT to check bloods and hormones etc. This can make sure there are no deficiencies or health issues that may be causing or contributing to the hair loss.
Build Hair Gain into your hair care routine - our nutritional hair supplements (in gummies or capsules) will help support your follicles from within, while our hair mask and scalp foam will nourish the scalp and help hydrate, nourish and strengthen your strands from the outside.
Stop fixating on your hair loss – I found it can be a vicious cycle, and it can really get you down. This makes you more anxious and can cause further (stress induced) hair loss. I know it's hard, but my advice is to try and distract yourself from it as much as possible and to eliminate stress as much as you can by carving out some time each week that is just for you.
What role does nutrition and lifestyle play in the health of our hair?
The hair cell is the second fastest dividing cell in our body and requires a steady stream of vital nutrients to thrive. Hair health is deeply linked to overall health so a balanced diet rich in proteins, vitamins and minerals—such as vitamin D, E, B Vitamins, zinc, and omega-3 & 6 fatty acids will support hair health. Eating nutrient-dense foods like leafy greens, nuts, and fish and staying hydrated can strengthen hair from the inside out.
However, it’s not always easy addressing our hair's nutritional needs through diet alone, as our bodies always treat it as last in the pecking order. So a good quality hair supplement like our gummies or capsules, that are packed with active ingredients can support hair growth alongside a balanced diet.
Running a wellness brand and juggling mum life can be demanding—how do you personally practice self-care and maintain healthy hair/lifestyle?
It is demanding but I’m quite strict about sticking to the hours I carve out for myself each week. I find exercise is a great way to clear my mind and do a Reformer Pilates class every Monday and go for a run once a week too. Those couple of hours of self-care don’t make a difference to what I can achieve at work or impact on family time but make a big difference to me.
My haircare routine consists of taking the Hair Gain capsules daily after breakfast, applying the scalp foam each night before I go to bed and using the Hair Gain hair mask twice a week. I try to be as gentle as I can with my hair to avoid breakage – so no tight ponytails, minimal heat, satin scrunchies instead of elastic bands and I use our wide tooth comb instead of a brush to minimise snagging and pulling.
What is your proudest achievement?
My two wonderful daughters will always be my greatest pride and joy—family comes first! I’m also incredibly proud of Hair Gain, watching it grow and seeing our amazing team thrive. But what truly fills me with joy is seeing the incredible transformation Hair Gain brings to our customers' hair and confidence.
Who has been your greatest inspiration?
I’m most inspired by men and women who overcome adversity and personal challenges to achieve success. There’s something truly powerful about a rags-to-riches journey.
What’s the hardest challenge you’ve had to face/overcome?
Wow, where do I start? In Hair Gain’s five years, we’ve navigated a global pandemic, BREXIT, war, soaring costs of goods and freight, a recession, and a cost-of-living crisis! I’d say that’s more than enough to keep us on our toes!
Top beauty ‘must-have’ in your makeup bag?
I never go anywhere without my lipliner and lip gloss! Adding a pop of colour instantly lifts my mood and brightens up my face! I’m also a huge fan of a light-coloured eye-brightening pencil for the waterline—it opens the eyes and helps me look more refreshed, even on the most tired days!
