The women donating their hair to restore cancer warriors’ dignity
Barbers at Snip Snip Salon in Nakuru Town cut the hair of women who turned up to donate theirs for making wigs for cancer patients on October 4, 2026. More than 30 women took part in the initiative, coordinated by the Lions Club of Nakuru in collaboration with Wig and Wings for Cancer and the salon, under the theme, “Bringing Back Smiles and Self-Esteem to Cancer Patients.”
What you need to know:
- One of the organisers of Wigs and Wings Drive, Jane Okoth, said the campaign was inspired after she noticed some of her regular clients were failing to attend scheduled hair appointments.
- She later learnt they were undergoing cancer treatment.
In May 2016, Harshidha Karia noticed a lump on her left breast while in the shower, but did not give it much thought. She was alarmed when it persisted and sought medical attention at Africa Air Rescue Hospital. After sonography and mammography, doctors recommended a biopsy, which confirmed stage two breast cancer.
A barber from Snip Snip Salon in Nakuru Town displays cut hair donated for making wigs for cancer patients on October 4, 2026.
After consulting her family, she travelled to HCG Cancer Hospital in Ahmedabad, India, for specialised treatment. Tests led doctors to recommend removal of the lump in her left breast and lymph nodes. What followed were months of chemotherapy, 28 radiation treatments and five years of medication.
While her first chemotherapy session was manageable, subsequent treatments took a visible toll. “On my second and third chemotherapy sessions my hair started falling. Soon my eyebrows and eyelashes were also gone,” recalled the Nakuru resident. “It was a difficult time. Beyond changing your appearance, it can affect your confidence and self-esteem since you lose all your hair.”
Nearly a decade after her diagnosis, Karia has turned that painful memory into a source of encouragement for others walking the same path. She was among members of the Hindu community in Nakuru City who participated in a hair donation drive aimed at making wigs for cancer patients.
Organised by the Lions Club of Nakuru in partnership with Wigs and Wings Drive, the initiative brought together hairstylists, beauticians and residents who offered to donate their hair. After donating her natural hair, Karia said it was a deeply personal undertaking. “I was very happy when I heard of the initiative. I have been there and I know what one goes through. It is good to support others when you can. The only thing I can say is cancer is not a big thing; it is a small thing. You just need to fight, be strong and positive and you will be fine,” she said.
The initiative collects human hair to make wigs, which are then distributed free of charge to cancer patients undergoing treatment. Among the donors was Jagjeet Kaur Sagoo, the founding president of the Lions Club of Nakuru, who donated six inches of her hair in honour of a friend battling cancer in Nairobi. Sagoo said she decided to participate after her friend lost her hair during chemotherapy, hoping it would restore her confidence. “I have never cut my hair, except for the occasional trim. I am donating specifically for my friend. I feel great because it costs me nothing, yet it will definitely boost her self-esteem and help her continue living her life. I just hope she will love and treasure this hair the way I do,” she said.
For Nicole Waithera, a psychologist who learnt about the initiative through a WhatsApp message, the drive provided an opportunity to contribute to a cause she had long wanted to support. She said she had often wondered what happened to hair discarded in salons and wished it could be put to more meaningful use. “African hair is rarely donated. I have always wanted to donate my hair, but I was wondering where I could do it. I am happy that the initiative is now in Nakuru. I would like to encourage everyone to come forward and donate,” she said.
One of the organisers of Wigs and Wings Drive, Jane Okoth, said the campaign was inspired after she noticed some of her regular clients were failing to attend scheduled hair appointments. She later learnt they were undergoing cancer treatment. In one case, a 23-year-old woman approached her seeking a wig to wear at her wedding after losing her hair during treatment; she had not disclosed her condition to her husband.
“We were losing so many clients. When we followed up, we realised some were undergoing chemotherapy and had lost their hair,” she revealed. “We asked ourselves how we could help because some patients were asking for wigs to conceal their illness, while other clients were cutting their hair and we were simply throwing it away. That is how we started this initiative.”
They began by supporting 40 patients at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH). Demand grew through referrals and word of mouth. According to Okoth, the number of patients seeking assistance rose to 300 in 2025. This year, they are targeting at least 500 patients. Beyond helping women, they extended the programme to men after receiving numerous requests, as they felt overlooked in cancer-support initiatives.
In Nakuru, Snip and Snip serves as a collection point for donated hair, while Rapunzel Hair Affair Salon receives donations in Nairobi. According to Okoth, before donating, hair must be clean and at least eight inches long. It is then carefully attached strand by strand to a breathable wig cap before being fashioned into a finished wig. She said a wig made from natural human hair costs at least Sh40,000, which is expensive for many patients struggling to meet medical expenses.
“The wigs are given to patients free of charge. We will be having our event on October 23 at KNH where we will also be providing male patients with food supplies and other essentials since most of them are always breadwinners in their families,” she said.
Sailesh Seth, a member of the Hindu Council and the Lions Club of Nakuru, said the community has been supporting oncology-related initiatives, including at Nakuru Teaching and Referral Hospital and Nakuru Hospice. He said the idea of bringing the hair donation campaign to Nakuru arose after his daughter-in-law Chandni Seth learnt about the work of Wigs and Wings in Nairobi.
According to Seth, the first event attracted about 20 to 25 donors, including participants who had arranged to send their hair in advance. “It is our first time to hold such an initiative in Nakuru. We decided to start with a small drive. We hope that next time it will attract more participants. The hair donation drive offers cancer patients a reason to smile,” he said.
