Victoria Lynch, founder of the global hair extension brand Remi Cachet, developed a passion for hair styling in her youth. By age 14 in the UK, she was braiding synthetic hair and styling clients with a waiting list extending six months.
At 18, a road accident caused lower spine injuries, leading to degenerative discs. Despite returning quickly to factory work, Lynch found it difficult to remain on her feet all day and began considering new career paths.
Encouraged by requests to teach hair styling, she pursued professional qualifications at college and launched her first brand, Additional Lengths, in 2003. Targeting consumers directly, Lynch focused on affordable, high-quality extensions, relying on word-of-mouth in her local community before social media became a growth tool.
After a decade, trade professionals started buying her products, creating a mixed customer base. In 2013, she introduced Remi Cachet, a high-end brand designed specifically for professionals.
Remi Cachet quickly gained traction, becoming the UK’s leading professional hair extension brand. Lynch leveraged the logistics and experience from Additional Lengths to support the new brand, emphasizing a distinct identity and relying again on word-of-mouth for growth.
In January 2025, Remi Cachet launched in the U.S., gaining visibility on the red carpet with celebrity hairstylists using the brand on stars such as Ellie Goulding, Margaret Qualley, and Kim Kardashian. The company reports $35 million in sales.
Lynch notes that her business foundation remains strong even without social media, having built a loyal trade customer base dependent on her products and services. Despite recent challenges from U.S. tariffs slowing expansion plans, Lynch aims to prioritize global growth, focusing on markets with quicker returns before deeper U.S. penetration.
Notably, Lynch recently hired her first sales team after more than 20 years of entrepreneurship, attributing earlier success to product quality and relationship building rather than sales efforts.
Looking ahead, she intends for Remi Cachet to achieve worldwide recognition, competing effectively despite increasing competition from white-label brands. Lynch emphasizes deep market understanding and customer service as key differentiators.
This story is part of Entrepreneur’s Women Entrepreneur® series, featuring the journeys and challenges faced by women in business.