We originally launched BLD BRO back in Lockdown as a supportive Instagram community with the intention of tackling the stigma around hair loss, and to empower men to embrace being bald.
After engaging with the community we had created, we realised that there were many bald men, like us, that were exhausted of the narrative that a full head of hair is something you constantly have to chase. We were tired of being pushed towards hair growth pills, hair products for thinning hair or being made to feel like we needed a hair transplant.
What we wanted was something that would not only empower us to feel confident as bald men, but also help us to look after our scalps, protecting them from the sun and reducing shine.
At its roots, there’s still a massive community around BLD BRO, and a space that says ‘it’s okay to be bald’, but now we can also support people to look and feel the best version of their authentic selves.
Tell us about the business – what it is, what it aims to achieve, who you work with, how you reach customers and so on?
BLD BRO is a skincare brand made specifically for bald men. We create targeted, high-performance products that actually cater to the needs of bald scalps - from sun protection to hydration and shine control.
Our hero product, BLD BRO Daily, is a lightweight, mattifying moisturiser with SPF 30 that covers the face, neck, and scalp in one. We also have a Night cream to support recovery and hydration while you sleep and the Daily SPF 50 for stronger sun protection. Due to sun exposure on the scalp and head/neck, bald men are at an increased risk of some types of cancer compared to non-bald men, meaning a high quality SPF that isn’t going to slip off is really important.
But BLD BRO isn’t just about skincare - it’s about self-worth. Bald men are constantly targeted by ads telling them to fix their appearance, whether through pills or transplants. We wanted to flip that script. Our message is simple: being bald isn’t something to hide - it’s something to own, and we're building a community and culture that reflects that.
How has the business evolved since its launch?
Since launching in lockdown, BLD BRO has grown into a mulit-million pound turnover skincare business which was named as the winner of the Men’s HealthGrooming Award (2024) and has been officially reconsigned by the Telegraph as the best SPF for the scalp .
BLD BRO has seen a 865% year on year growth rate, with more than 73,800 customers to date, and this year we launched into the US and Canadian markets. The business is currently valued at £12.5M, and is looking to raise £1M to support the next stage of our growth.
Tell us about the working culture at BLD BRO?
At BLD BRO, we pride ourselves on having a dynamic and inclusive working culture that truly reflects our innovative spirit. One of the unique aspects of our culture is that our key contributors are spread across the country, allowing us to tap into a diverse pool of talent and perspectives. Despite this distributed team, our main distribution hub remains firmly rooted in South Birmingham. This connection to our local roots keeps us grounded and fosters a strong sense of community, even as we grow rapidly.
Working at BLD BRO is fast-paced and ever-evolving. Deadlines can be tight, and we need to be reactive and adaptable to meet the demands of a competitive market. This environment encourages agility and sharp decision-making, which keeps everyone on their toes and constantly learning.
Because we’re a fast-growing company, there’s a real sense of excitement and momentum. Every day brings new challenges and opportunities to innovate and contribute meaningfully to the business. It’s this combination of local connection, national talent, and a vibrant, challenge-driven atmosphere that makes BLD BRO a really exciting place to work.
How are you funded?
We started out bootstrapping - the three of us put in some personal funds over the first few years to get BLD BRO off the ground. That gave us space to experiment, build the brand, and really understand what bald men were looking for. In 2023, we raised a £350K pre-seed round to take things further, and right now we’re in the middle of raising a £1M seed round. It’s been a steady climb, but it’s helped us stay focused on building something meaningful, with our community front and centre.
What has been your biggest challenge so far and how have you overcome this?
The biggest challenge we’ve faced at BLD BRO has been maintaining best-in-class standards across all our verticals, whether that’s customer service, product quality, or packaging and messaging, while scaling at nearly 1000% growth. Sustaining such high standards during rapid expansion isn’t easy; it has demanded relentless hard work and commitment, especially from the leadership team.
To overcome this, we’ve adopted a philosophy of constant improvement and proactivity. Whenever we identify a shortfall, or spot that something isn’t meeting our expectations, we act quickly to address it. This means being honest about mistakes, learning from them, and adapting our processes so they don’t happen again.
We also aren’t afraid to bring in external expertise when needed. This willingness to seek support and implement expert guidance has been crucial in problem-solving as we scale.
Ultimately, our culture of accountability, high standards, and agility has enabled us to overcome the challenges that come with growth; ensuring our customers always receive the best possible experience from BLD BRO.
How does BLD BRO answer an unmet need?
With over 85% of men experiencing hair loss at some point in their lives, BLD BRO fills a real gap in the male grooming market. Bald heads are exposed skin that needs proper protection, hydration and care. Yet most skincare and grooming brands overlook that completely.
Take sun protection, for example. There’s constant conversation around UV damage in women’s skincare, but almost none when it comes to men - despite the fact that bald scalps are one of the most exposed areas of the body. That skin takes a beating, especially in summer, and it needs more than an afterthought.
BLD BRO gives bald men dedicated skincare that’s functional, protective, and actually designed for them. It’s about normalising that care and turning baldness into something to own, not fix.
What’s in store for the future?
We’re building BLD BRO to be more than just a skincare brand, we want it to become the go-to name for bald care globally. There’s huge potential in markets beyond the UK, we’ve just launched in the US and Canada and will soon be turning to other places in Europe and beyond.
But more than growth, we’re here to change the narrative. Baldness is still seen as something to fix or hide - our goal is to completely reframe that. We want to reshape what confidence looks like for bald men, all while creating products that genuinely support them to feel good in their own skin.
What one piece of advice would you give other founders or future founders?
From our experience, if your product is genuinely solving a real need, stands out in the market, and has a clear purpose behind it - you’re heading in the right direction.
Also, never underestimate how valuable your community is. Our customers, and original followers of our online community have shaped so much of what BLD BRO is today - from product tweaks to the way we talk about being bald. Listening to and building with them has sparked a level of loyalty you can’t manufacture.
So, in short - build something people actually need, and make sure you’re always listening to the ones using it.
And finally, a more personal question! What’s your daily routine and the rules you’re living by at the moment?
Tariq, the CEO of BLD BRO, likes to kick off his morning with coffee and a very light breakfast – nothing too heavy, just something to get going. If he can fit it in, he'll go for a run, which is a great opportunity to set the tone and clear his head before things get busy.
The rest of his morning and afternoon are usually packed with meetings, though lately he's been really focused on making these as short and effective as possible to maximise time for deep work and the hands-on tasks that drive things forward.
The BLD BRO’s have a few key rules that keep them grounded such as prioritising focus by keeping meetings short and protecting personal time in the evenings and weekends to recharge and prevent burnout. Being present when relaxing or spending time with friends and family is also important, as is finding the time to exercise wherever possible to boost energy and mindset.
Tariq Kazemi, Ben Saunders and Richard Boazman are the cofounders ofBLD BRO.
