UK Edition
Breast Cancer survivors get makeovers: 'I've got back the confidence I lost going through chemotherapy'
London-based Helen Weller, 34, wasn’t sure what kind of wig she should buy after losing her hair – or how to make it look natural
Helen (pictured above) was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014, aged 32, after finding a lump in her armpit. Her latest mammogram has shown as all clear, although she’s still on a treatment regime. "How I look has always been massively important to me. I never wanted to have short hair, let alone no hair. I started to lose it after my second round of chemotherapy so I asked a friend to shave it all off. I shed a tear."
Adam Reed, Ghd global ambassador, says: "For most women, the idea of wearing a wig can be daunting, as they worry it will look obvious. However, often celebrity hair that we lust after can be thanks to a wig. Synthetic wigs tend to be popular because they are fantastically affordable; I recommend them to my clients so they can experiment with looks. Once you’ve found your style, invest in a real-hair wig.
I find that no matter who is wearing the wig, there is too much hair. Go to your regular hairdresser with the wig and let them cut it to your face shape. With Helen’s wig, I added some texture and movement by creating loose waves. However, a natural wig does need to be looked after: you need to wash and blow-dry it regularly."
Lisa says: "Helen wasn’t a big make-up wearer, so I wanted to give her a beautiful “no makeup” look. Mixing a highlighter with foundation was the key to achieving this. Defining the brows and lining her eyes really enhanced her face."
Helen says: ‘I’ve learnt a lot about wigs and I now have one that I love to wear. Having your wig cut and styled is apparently a “thing”; I really wish I’d known this before!"
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Busy mum-of-three Linzi Hodgkinson, 44, from Derbyshire, was keen to find a natural and easy-to-achieve new look
Linzi was 41 when she was diagnosed with grade 3 breast cancer and told she would need a mastectomy and chemotherapy. Her children were badly upset by her change in appearance when she lost her hair and she now has extensions. Linzi is currently in the final stages of having reconstructive surgery.
Adam Reed says: "Hair can grow back totally different after chemotherapy treatment and that was noticeable with Linzi’s hair. It grew back straighter than it was before, so I wanted to give her a textured finish that had natural movement. I created soft, glossy, tousled waves using stylers, reversing the direction of the wave on each section to give a more natural, effortless feel. It’s a look that is easy to recreate and can be worn every day.
I have clients in different stages of treatment and it’s always great to see the boost in confidence when their hair starts to grow back and they can start experimenting with styles. However, I always tell my clients to consult their doctor before they use heated appliances, get extensions (as Linzi has) or colour their hair in the first six months after their treatment."
Lisa says: "Linzi wanted to enhance her eyes, so I blended a soft kohl liner around her upper and lower lids, keeping the look nice and soft. Adding a pop of cream blusher on her cheeks and a natural, clear gloss to the lips completed this fresh look."
Linzi says: "I love the more tousled hairstyle and I invested in a few pieces of make-up after the shoot. It was a lovely day; it really helped my confidence."
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After chemotherapy, 28-year-old Jodi Wilson’s hair grew back differently and she wasn’t sure how to care for it
Jodi was diagnosed with breast cancer at just 25. ‘That year, 2013, was the best of my life: I had a beautiful baby boy in May, but then in October, I found a tiny lump near my nipple. The doctor said it was probably a blocked milk duct.’ But as Jodi had a family history of breast cancer, she had tests and found she had the disease. "I underwent a double mastectomy, chemo and radiotherapy, lost my hair and put on three stone, all in the space of six months. Three years later, I’m married and looking to the future."
Adam Reed says: "When your hair starts to come through after cancer treatment, you might find that it’s uneven. If you had straight hair, it might be tight, coarse curls; if you had curly hair, it might be straight. This is absolutely normal! ‘The first thing I encourage my clients to do is look after their scalp. If you use a facial oil, just take it straight through on to the scalp and massage it in gently. A healthy, nourished scalp is essential to hair regrowth.
I always tell my clients that having regular trims makes a real difference. Even if you don’t want too much taken off, you will notice an improvement."
Lisa says: "Jodi’s biggest beauty concern was her dark circles under her eyes. To brighten these areas, I used a combination of colour correctors and concealers. I then woke up her look with a red lipstick. Gorgeous!"
Jodi says: "The shoot took me out of my comfort zone but I love my look; I’ve never worn colour on my lips before! I also picked up tips on how to cover the circles under my eyes."
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