“When I decided to become a professional hairstylist, I had to face a lot of resistance from my family and friends. But I felt why not choose an offbeat career that could be rewarding as well? That’s when I quit my ITI job and took a professional hairstyling course with Loreal Academy.

After my training, I had worked with a few prominent hair salons as a hairstylist. Life went on and I started doing freelance hair services as well once I reached the senior hairstylist level. As part of my work, whenever I see people coming in for a haircut and makeover, I could see a lot of hair going on waste. I am aware of the fact that there are a few organisations that are working on the hair recycling and wig making process. That’s when I thought to collect the hair of people, get it made as wigs and donate it to cancer patients who lose their hair. With that intention, I volunteered with an organisation in Mumbai to create awareness about cancer and hair donation for a brief period.

Later, with one of my friend’s advice, I have started my non-profit organisation named Hyderabad Hair Donation last year to provide hair wigs for cancer patients free of cost. I travelled across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to collect the hair from the donors and also tied up with a partner to get the natural hair wigs done for the cancer patients.

It is not an easy process as it costs anywhere between Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000 with 7 ponytails of 12 inches long to make one wig. Moreover, we don’t charge anything from donors or recipients. Over the last one and half years, we have provided wigs to 109 cancer patients with the kind support of our donors. We intend to continue our services in the future too and we need the support of people for that.

A person diagnosed with cancer goes through a lot of physical and emotional stress. The last thing we could do to provide support for them is by donating 12 inches of their hair. Yes. 12 inches of your hair can make a difference in the lives of many!”