About this episode
Jo hosts The Midlife Entrepreneur Podcast and interviews Nadia Hussein, a multi award-winning hair and makeup artist, educator, and founder of Hair Loving, a UK-made brand supporting women experiencing hair loss from menopause, postpartum changes, PCOS, cancer treatment, and hormonal shifts. Nadia shares being diagnosed with early menopause at 18 due to thalassemia-related iron overload damaging her pituitary gland, leading to severe symptoms, hair loss, and fertility challenges, and explains how treatment helped restore cycles. She describes transitioning from estate agency into beauty, building a training academy now teaching 500+ artists yearly, and creating her first hair oil from her mother’s formula, initially sold from her car before formal regulation, manufacturing, and testing. Launched officially in 2019/2020, Hair Loving grew via digital marketing, a constantly improved website, and platform-specific sales strategies, with goals to expand internationally and into more retailers, including Holland and Barrett.00:00 Welcome and Mission00:55 Meet Nadia and Hair Loving02:13 Early Menopause at 1804:34 Hair Loss and Confidence05:53 From Clients to First Oil07:43 Career Pivot and Academy10:23 Entrepreneur Mindset Lessons11:50 From Kitchen to Compliance13:43 Manufacturing and Product Line16:27 Brand Launch and Early Growth17:37 Staying Calm Under Pressure21:53 Team, Challenges, and Growth Channels25:10 Platform Sales Insights25:50 Five Year Brand Vision26:12 Retail Expansion Strategy27:19 Customer Testimonials29:18 Staying Ahead in Beauty31:03 Product Development Timeline32:14 Three Two Ones Framework32:43 Investing in Marketing34:38 Founder Mental Health39:14 Lessons and Regrets43:08 Thanking Her Parents46:04 Closing and FarewellDiscover all of Nadia's amazing products, here: https://www.hairloving.com/Or follow Hair Loving on Instagram @hairlovingco_Support the showEdited and produced by Jo Glynn-Smith 2025. Recorded at Eight Works Podcast Studios, 1 Dysart Street, London, EC2A 2BXFor bookings: eightworks@eightclub.co.uk Jo Glynn-Smith is an entrepreneur, professional coach, writer, and speaker from London, she is an expert in career transformation and change. Instagram @jojoglynnsmith and @themidlifeentrepreneur Contact: enquiries@joglynnsmith.comwww.joglynnsmith.comMUSIC CREDIT Easy Money by REX BANNER licensed by Artlist.ioPHOTOGRAPHY by JONATHAN GLYNN-SMITH www.jonathanglynnsmith.com
