A Nairobi beauty salon is giving cancer patients a moment of confidence, comfort and hope as it offers free wigs and makeovers to those coping with chemotherapy-related hair loss.

Salon owner Diana Akech and her team fit wigs, style hair and apply makeup for cancer survivors.

"What inspired me was a friend of mine called Anne Kananu. She came to the salon, and she was diagnosed with cancer, and her hair had all fallen off. So 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."

Akech said the wigs do more than cover hair loss; they help restore self-esteem during one of the most difficult stages of 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."

For patients like Grace Mumo, who was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer, chemotherapy brought a sudden change in appearance, and with it, deep anxiety about being seen in public.

"I was diagnosed with breast cancer, stage two. And that came after the diagnosis. The first session of chemotherapy, the first day, is when I lost my hair."

Cancer patients in Kenya can face stigma, emotional strain and heavy treatment costs. Community projects such as 'Surviving Beautifully' offer support beyond medical care, helping women confront the visible toll of chemotherapy while holding on to dignity and hope.