Cancer Survivor Offers Free Haircuts for Wig Donations

After losing her own hair to chemotherapy, Carla Whelan knows exactly how much a wig can change someone's life. Now the CEO of Regis and Supercuts in the West Midlands is making it easier for others to help children facing the same challenge.

Whelan's salons are offering free haircuts to anyone willing to donate at least 12 inches of hair to the Little Princess Trust. The Hereford charity makes real-hair wigs for more than 2,000 children and young people every year who've lost their hair to cancer and other conditions.

"I found losing my hair particularly traumatic," Whelan said. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2024 and wore a wig throughout her chemotherapy journey.

That wig gave her something priceless: the ability to do her job without everyone knowing she was battling cancer. It restored her confidence when she needed it most.

Now salons in Redditch, Dudley, Birmingham and other West Midlands locations are making it simple to donate. Staff create ponytails and plaits, cut the hair, then restyle what's left as part of the free service.

Bethany donated her hair at the Merry Hill location after watching her cousin lose hair to alopecia. "My hair's been long for so long," she said. "To be able to help someone else, it's really nice."

The Ripple Effect

The impact goes far beyond the individual child receiving a wig. Wendy Tarplee-Morris, who co-founded the Little Princess Trust, says each donation creates waves of awareness and support.

When people talk about the charity and share their donation stories, it inspires others to give. That means more children get the confidence boost that comes from feeling like themselves again during the hardest time of their lives.

For Whelan, the partnership is deeply personal. She understands that hair loss affects people differently, but for many, it's traumatic. A good wig doesn't just cover someone's head. It helps them face the world.

One haircut can help a child walk into school without stares, play with friends without self-consciousness, and focus on getting better instead of feeling different.