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November 26, 2007
Wigged and Proud
Text by Bernice Marie V. Berida
(L-R) Stylists Richard of Prive, Sam Lopez & Camille Britanico of Hairbytes Eastwood and cancer patient Gracita Lubo on her first ever visit to a salon. |
Until a cure for cancer is found, people who are afflicted with it still suffer not only physically but also in every aspect of their life. Considering the process that cancer patients go through, besides the weakening of their physical state, the emotional, mental and financial stress adds up to the heavy and painful experience they have to endure. However, these stresses do not only afflict the patients, it also affects the people around the patients, such as their families and caregivers. Some suffer just as much as the patients.
Doctors will no doubt agree that psychological well-being plays an essential role in being able to live with this disease and deal with the strenuous demands of treatment. Hair loss and dry skin are just some of the effects of chemotherapy. Though no doubt only a small part of the indignities patients have to endure, they are no less taxing, especially on women cancer patients.
Women who have cancer are most likely to be sensitive and self-conscious about their appearance compared to men. This as much was recognized by the Artists in Development (AID) Program of the PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF) when it recently launched a movement called “Wigged and Proud”.
(L-R) Wigged & Proud supporter Geoff Simpson of Prive Salon, doing a wig haircut on a patient.
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This movement is for the benefit of the people who suffer from cancer. Its main advocates are beauty specialist Geoff Simpson of the Privé Salon, and Philippine TV personality and entrepreneur Arnel Ignacio. Simpson felt the need of launching this advocacy movement when he saw a friend who was suffering from ovarian cancer. Stirred by the plight of his friend, he approached Anthony Pangilinan, EVP of the PLDT-Smart Foundation, and proposed the project.
The initial event for the Wigged and Proud Movement is a one-day Hair Styling/Makeover session for a group of women cancer patients. It was held at the L’Oreal Academie in Ortigas Center in Pasig City last November 16, 2007 and provided grooming services to a number of women currently undergoing chemotherapy. It also served as a day of communion and interaction among women who are going through the same experience and undergoing drastic changes in their physical appearance.
Several other foundations were involved in the event, including the Philippine Foundation for Breast Cancer, Inc., I Canserve Foundation, Serve Foundation, Inc., and Philippine General Hospital Breast Cancer Survivors. Salon owners, stylists and make up artists from different salons volunteered for this movement as well by sharing their time, expertise and resources.
The project has three components and activities. The first is the stylists’ training, the second is the hairstyle, make-up, and grooming session (the main activity of the whole event), and the last component is the post-event activities/schemes wherein services will be made available to the participants well after the event through the offering of discounts on wig styling and other products and services from the salons, stylists, and wellness establishments that participated and supported the cause.
Patients and beauty experts pose for a "before" shot prior to the makeover sessions. |
Makeover Miracle
Undergoing chemotherapy takes much of a cancer patient’s strength, making him very susceptible and sensitive to his surroundings. It changes the body, lifestyle and environment significantly. When it comes to diet, cancer patients are advised to not eat too much meat, and instead include more fruits and vegetables in their diet.
The feeling of having no taste, the constant vomiting, and having little or no strength to perform ordinary tasks are some of the effects of chemotherapy, said some of the patients present during the event. Erna Palmares is a Stage 3A breast cancer patient. She is 54 years old and is on her sixth chemotherapy session. After the chemotherapy she will be going through radiation. Palmares found out about her cancer only last November 2006 when she felt lumps on her breast and confirmed it when she went for a check up.
Madeline Perez, a housewife and a mother of four, confirmed her Stage 3B cancer only last June. The symptoms she felt were the monthly fevers for four consecutive months, and the presence of lumps and discharge. She disregarded the symptoms because according to her she would rather put her children first before anything else. Shirley Arceo is 32 years old and a mother of two. In 2005, she suffered from breast cancer; today, she is currently undergoing chemotherapy for lung cancer.
Even though these women were clearly suffering from the disease, they said they looked forward to the event, saying they were happy and excited because in some way, they had a chance to relax and doll up even for just one day.
The one-day activity started out with Simpson giving a short briefing to the stylists. He said that the goal for that day is to make the cancer patients feel well, give them what they want, and make them feel at home. Each patient was given a wig and was styled according to how they wanted to look. They were also given a make-over by professional makeup artists.
An "after" shot of the happy patients together with the participating stylists from different salons, Geoff Simpson, and the Wigged & Proud organizers after their makeover. |
Simpson also shared some techniques on how to take care of the wigs and how to style the wigs to make the hair look natural. He also taught the stylists how to teach the patients about taking care of their wigs. He said that one should put the wig inside a net when washing it and keep the wig inside the net when hanging them dry. To avoid deforming the wig, it should be placed on a wig holder but in the absence of a wig holder, a ball of newspaper would be a good replacement. He also added that the wig should not be worn all day because it may cause irritation to the scalp, especially because the patient’s scalp is very sensitive as a result of chemotherapy. He also advised the make-up artists to apply make-up that will look natural to the patients and at the same time make them look vibrant.
During the hair-styling, make-up, and grooming sessions, the patients, families, and their friends had a chance to get acquainted with each other, lending a very light and fun atmosphere to the event. A photo session also immortalized the makeovers given to the patients.
While it was no doubt the patients who greatly benefited from getting beauty experts to give them professional makeovers and beauty advice, the patients also gave back to the stylists and makeup artists who worked their wonders. While not everyone can help in finding a cure for cancer, every person has the potential to make the struggle easier for people afflicted with this dreaded disease.
Wigged and Proud Movement will have a series of events. For more information, call PLDT-Smart Foundation at (632) 856-2771.
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