Fresh start for brave Devon mum who lost her hair to chemotherapy

An award-winning Devon hair loss specialist has been recognised for her abilities in creating luscious locks for her shopper, however she says the largest reward of all is seeing the transformation folks’s lives bear after being given again their misplaced hair. Former main college instructor turned Hairdresser Keena Davies is the proprietor of Kurly Sue Hair in Kingsteignton and her many purchasers embody ladies and men who’ve thinning hair in addition to extreme hair loss.

The mum-of-four has helped girls who’ve suffered hair loss for a lot of causes together with naturally, after present process most cancers therapy or on account of well being situations reminiscent of stress and alopecia. Keena believes she is likely one of the solely folks in Devon to supply a brand new meshless integration system.

It’s described as an revolutionary methodology which is predicated on utilizing the shopper’s personal hair. It takes three hours for the transformation to be accomplished and is everlasting however wants common eight-week upkeep.

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Keena defined: “It’s hypoallergenic and fully bespoke to every particular person shopper. The programs are designed to present shoppers again their hair once more. A complete head of hair is created utilizing closures and wefts of hair that are breathable and weightless.

“The system is appropriate for as much as 80 per cent hair loss and is totally non-surgical. New shoppers are requested to deliver an image in of the look they’d like to realize, whether or not that is their previous self or a brand new fashion.

“These programs are appropriate for anybody that want to create a coiffure, male, feminine or transgender, in addition to kids, younger adults and adults too.”

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The salon additionally gives males’s hair loss alternative is completed utilizing a hairpiece to connect to the pinnacle and create a glance that offers them again their look.

Keena arrange the hair salon practically three years in the past and in that point has seen a whole bunch of individuals’s lives change for the higher by being given the prospect to appear to be their former selves once more.

Devon Reside spoke to a few of Keena’s shoppers who’ve bravely talked about their hair loss and the way having the meshless integration system has been life-changing each bodily and mentally.

Amanda Bond

In 2016, Amanda was identified with triple-negative breast most cancers which had unfold to her lymph nodes. She needed to bear surgical procedure and have chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Inside 11 days of getting her first bout of chemotherapy, her thick and lengthy hair had ‘dropped out’ and he or she suffered complete physique hair loss. Amanda was assured her hair would develop again, however it might look totally different. Though her most cancers therapy was successful her hair grew again across the edges of her head however not on the scalp space.

The 50-year-old, of Chudleigh, recalled: “I kidded myself for a few years considering it will develop again and then you definately realise it is not and by then everybody had bought used to me trying the way in which I did, and since I did not have the time or cash I did not do something about it. I additionally did not know the meshless integration system existed.

“I did attempt wigs however they felt so totally different and so scorching. I did take into account a hair transplant however I did not know anybody who had gone via one so I felt too scared.

“My daughter noticed an advert on Fb about Keena on the lookout for fashions for a brand new meshless integration system at a decreased price. She endured I get in contact along with her so my husband and I went to satisfy her. Earlier than I had even bought dwelling I used to be messaging her asking her to order the hair.”

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When it got here to having the therapy simply earlier than final Christmas, Amanda mentioned Keena lined up the mirror till her new look was full. The second she noticed the transformation is one she says she’s going to always remember.

She mentioned: “It was a shock. I had proven her {a photograph} of what I seemed like pre-cancer and it seemed like me once more which I hadn’t executed for six years. I used to be in tears.

“After I went dwelling my husband had the champagne on the prepared and mentioned, ‘oh my goodness, it is you’. I now have a job coping with the general public.

“Individuals do not typically imply to however they did stare once I had hair loss so I’d take myself out of social circles and withdrew from a lot of various things. You are feeling their eyes taking a look at your head and I’d find yourself stuttering and felt like I needed to clarify why I seemed the way in which I did. I used to make apologies for the way in which I seemed.

“Now I do not even take into consideration my hair. Keena has given me a second probability at life. Individuals say when you’ve got conquered most cancers you’re a survivor however should you do not feel such as you then you do not have your life again and you start to query what was the purpose in all of it?

“Keena has allowed me to get on with my life and be regular once more. It is simply completely wonderful.”

Janine Dienn

Though Janine had by no means been blessed with thick hair, she made the many of the tremendous hair she did have. Nevertheless, when it began thinning she says it shattered her confidence a lot that she did not even wish to depart her home.

Janine, who’s in her 60s and lives in Teignmouth, recalled: “I used to be thinning so badly that I just about did not wish to exit. It was actually dangerous. I’ve all the time had tremendous hair nevertheless it bought worse within the final three years or so. It simply bought thinner and thinner and it was actually miserable, particularly being a lady. Most males look okay when they’re bald, nevertheless it’s horrible for ladies.

“Over time I had purchased three wigs however they made me really feel insecure and they’re very, very popular in the summertime. You simply don’t desire it in your head.

“I began trying on the web as a result of somebody instructed me about hair integration and I needed to discover a salon fairly native. Final summer time I went to see Keena for an evaluation and he or she was so welcoming. The salon is personal, confidential and cosy and he or she was so thoughtful and pleasant.

“After I had the preliminary therapy it took about three hours and it wasn’t painful in any respect. I used to be delighted once I seemed within the mirror and was so stunned. It made an incredible distinction and it was like I used to be again to my previous self, nevertheless it was the brand new me.

“I simply felt wonderful, the truth is a lot in order that I went to indicate everybody and despatched images. My daughters did not even recognise me at first!

“It is identical to regular hair and is simple to handle. I now return each three months.

“It has given me my confidence again and I’ve even bought a boyfriend since. I believe I’d have disappeared into oblivion if I did not get it executed as I hardly ever went out.

“The preliminary price was about £600 after which I pay £115 perhaps each two to a few months to keep up it, nevertheless it’s undoubtedly price it. I’d moderately do this than purchase new garments.

“My new hair simply feels a part of me now.”

Chrissy Goddard

A mix of medicine and stress led to the 72-year-old affected by intensive hair loss round a 12 months in the past. It bought so extreme that she was nearly bald.

Chrissy recalled: “I solely had strands of hair left; I used to be just about bald. It occurred after I had a coronary heart assault and had plenty of stress happening for the final 12 months and a half. It was additionally all the way down to the medicine I used to be placed on.

“I used to be very sad and if I went out I was actually upset as a result of I attempted to do one thing with the little little bit of hair I had and I’d gown up good, however I did not wish to exit. I used to be so down.

“Keena has made me like 1,000,000 {dollars} and I’m a lot extra assured now. It is made me really feel like I am a lady once more.

“The nice factor is folks do not know what I’ve had executed except they know me or I inform them because it appears so pure. I beforehand tried want and so they have been completely horrendous.

“I dwell in Buckinghamshire and Keena involves me as a result of (she has household right here?). Having her do my hair has been completely life-changing. I now get pleasure from going out once more and really feel actually good.”

Keena Davies – the hairdresser behind the brand new appears

After working as a main college instructor, Keena and her household moved to Devon in 2017. A couple of weeks later she found she was pregnant and didn’t return to instructing.

After a 12 months, she determined she needed to return to work however needed to do one thing totally different. Having all the time had hair extensions herself she determined to coach on this space and turn out to be a hair extensions technician.

Her enterprise was going rather well so she and her companion Pete constructed a salon at dwelling and named the enterprise after her late mom Sue who sadly handed away.

A 12 months later, Keena determined she needed to coach in one thing for these which might be experiencing hair loss. She skilled in mesh integration and after just a few months of doing these programs she then found there was a brand new system which was meshless.

She mentioned: “Individuals suppose extensions must be glamorous and lengthy however they don’t; they’re used for every type of causes and in addition change folks’s lives.

“I’ve by no means had somebody say they like a wig as a result of this technique is extra snug and it is so gentle you do not even know it is in your head.”

This 12 months Keena has been a finalist in 4 hair and sweetness awards. She got here second within the worldwide Social Media Hair and Magnificence Awards for Hair Loss Specialist of the 12 months, reached the highest 10 in the identical awards for Hair Extensions Specialist of the 12 months, was a finalist within the UK Hair And Magnificence Awards, and a finalist within the British Hair and Magnificence Awards.

Keena mentioned: “I want to thank my household, mates and shoppers for his or her continued help and believing in me and selecting me to rework their lives.”

Kurly Sue Hair is open seven days per week. For extra particulars please click here.