A hairdresser of 30 years who lost all her hair in chemotherapy has championed the importance of quality wig-makers.

Mandy Thorley, 46, from Bracknell was forced to put her hair styling career on hold after a ‘shock’ cancer diagnosis in September last year.

When her hair, eyelashes and eyebrows began to fall out during treatment, she was astonished to see the price and quality of wigs on offer in Berkshire.

“Losing your hair is a big thing for a lot of people really but if you can get a wig to suit you then it makes you feel a lot better,” said the single mum of one from Turn Pike Road.

Reading Chronicle: Mandy Thorley, after her hair began to fall out during chemotherapyMandy Thorley, after her hair began to fall out during chemotherapy

“There’s not a lot of wig companies in this area, there are one or two but they sell wigs which are extortionate prices and they’re not even real hair.”

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She said physical changes to a someone going through cancer treatment has a big psychological impact, and that it’s hard to research things like wigs because it’s all they can think about is they’re diagnosis.

The hair stylist was told she had cancer last year when she went to the doctors after finding a small dent on her breast while fake tanning for a date.

Reading Chronicle: Mandy Thorley, wearing a wig from The Wig StudioMandy Thorley, wearing a wig from The Wig Studio

“I was shocked because I didn’t feel unwell and there was nothing telling me I had it.

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She added: “There were a lot of emotions, a lot of dark days.”

“My main concern was my little boy, he was five at the time, so for me that caused the emotions really because you hear cancer and you just think you’re going to die.”

“I was scared, I’ve never been into hospitals so MRI and CAT scans are really scary when you’ve never had them before.”

Mandy underwent seven rounds of chemotherapy and a mastectomy, but active cancer cells remain.

She starts 14 more months of chemo and radiotherapy tomorrow (Thursday).

“There is help out there but I think there’s a lot of people who don’t like to talk about, who don’t like to ask for help,” she said, adding that she often felt the same.

A friend pointed her in the direction of Jade Szymonik, who runs The Wig Studio (@the_wig_studio on Instagram).

“She’s really helpful and the price is as much as what people are paying for synthetic wigs,” said Mandy.

“I’ve never had short hair in my life so when I put a wig on it just makes you feel like me again.”

“It makes me feel a bit normal and makes me forget.”