A beauty salon in Kenya is turning wigs and makeovers into a source of hope for women with cancer
Key Takeaways
- Diana Akech launched the initiative after supporting a friend diagnosed with cancer.
- The salon provides free wigs and makeovers to women undergoing chemotherapy.
- Beneficiaries say the programme helps restore confidence and self-esteem.
A community initiative is providing free wigs and beauty services to women coping with the emotional impact of chemotherapy-related hair loss
For many women undergoing cancer treatment, losing their hair can be one of the most difficult parts of the journey. In Kenya's capital, Nairobi, one beauty salon is helping patients regain confidence through free wigs and makeovers.
Salon owner Diana Akech launched the initiative after seeing the impact cancer had on a close friend.
"What inspired me was a friend of mine called Anne Kananu," Akech shared. "She came to the salon and she was diagnosed with cancer and her hair had all fallen off."
"I talked to her and I decided to counsel her a bit and then I gave her a wig and that's how it all started," she added.
Since then, Akech and her team have been offering wigs, hairstyling and makeup services to women affected by chemotherapy-related hair loss.
She believes the initiative helps patients feel more confident during treatment.
"When women come to me after losing their hair, they feel they have a reason to live because we remind them how beautiful they are," she remarked. "I can say it gives them hope in life."
Among those benefiting is Grace Mumo, who was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer.
She said chemotherapy changed how she felt about herself after she lost her hair.
"The first session of chemotherapy is when I lost my hair," Mumo recalled. "I was so shy around people because they might laugh at you [...] many of them don't understand because you look so different."
For Mumo, receiving a wig helped her regain confidence in public spaces.
"When a woman has a hairstyle, she looks beautiful," she added. "So when you come across those wigs and they're put on, you can go anywhere, in meetings, in church, feeling like you are a normal woman."
Cancer patients in Kenya often face emotional challenges alongside the financial burden of treatment. Through the 'Surviving Beautifully' project, Akech's salon aims to provide support that goes beyond medical care, helping women navigate the visible effects of cancer treatment with dignity.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
