Wig programme helps Scottish cancer teens
- By Jeremy Harkin
- Published 15th October, 2010
- Hair News
- Unrated
Jeremy Harkin
Jeremy has enjoyed a varied career in advertising and media. He is now a freelance editorial consultant working with mainstream men's mags and their associated websites.
A Scottish campaign to help teenage cancer sufferers to cope with the trauma of hair loss due to their treatment has provided more than 60 youngsters with high-quality wigs made from real hair.
The Teenage Cancer Trust's Hair 4U aims to give teenage girls who have cancer the chance to have a normal head of hair and the confidence it brings, without having to get by on the budget, synthetic wigs that are standard issue from the NHS.
Edinburgh hairdressing icon Charlie Miller provides the wigs for the Scottish patients and offers free one-to-one consultations at his Stafford Street salon, where he fits, cuts and styles the hair pieces.
Mr Miller, 66, has helped with between 50 and 60 girls across Edinburgh and the Lothians since the Hair 4U campaign began in 2008. He said, "I go with the girls to a wig supplier in Canonmills and then I prepare the wig that they choose at the salon. When they come back for their next appointment, I cut the wig on them, which can take, on average, two hours to make it belong to them."
He said the sight of the girls and their parents just lighting up as they watch the wigs take shape are some of the most wonderful sights he has seen. Mr Miller has selected several other hairdressers across Scotland to be involved in Hair 4U and there are plans to extend it south of the border.
The Teenage Cancer Trust's Hair 4U aims to give teenage girls who have cancer the chance to have a normal head of hair and the confidence it brings, without having to get by on the budget, synthetic wigs that are standard issue from the NHS.
Edinburgh hairdressing icon Charlie Miller provides the wigs for the Scottish patients and offers free one-to-one consultations at his Stafford Street salon, where he fits, cuts and styles the hair pieces.
Mr Miller, 66, has helped with between 50 and 60 girls across Edinburgh and the Lothians since the Hair 4U campaign began in 2008. He said, "I go with the girls to a wig supplier in Canonmills and then I prepare the wig that they choose at the salon. When they come back for their next appointment, I cut the wig on them, which can take, on average, two hours to make it belong to them."
He said the sight of the girls and their parents just lighting up as they watch the wigs take shape are some of the most wonderful sights he has seen. Mr Miller has selected several other hairdressers across Scotland to be involved in Hair 4U and there are plans to extend it south of the border.