She covers ‘shame’ of hair loss for cancer patients

Connie Mbuvi, CEO of Institut Sante et Beaute Capillaire, displays some of the wigs she sells at her shop in Yaya Centre, Nairobi. ABOVE: One of her employees shows how to comb the wigs. [PHOTOS: EDWARD KIPLIMO/standard]

Kenya: When Connie Mbuvi’s mother was diagnosed with lung cancer four years ago, it was a tough moment for the family. As she battled the disease, she also struggled to come to terms with the hair loss as a result of chemotherapy.

“She lost her hair during chemotherapy and we could see that she was really struggling. She tried using a synthetic wig but she reacted to it,” said Connie. They scouted for a healthier hair choice for her and she is now a happy woman.

But every cloud has a silver lining. From her mother’s struggles with hair loss, Connie’s passion for healthy wigs was birthed. Today, she is the CEO of Institut Sante et Beaute Capillaire - literally translated as Centre for Health, Hair and Beauty - which she founded after her mother’s struggles with hair loss.

She sources and sells natural hair products, mainly geared at serving cancer patients battling hair loss and sensitivity to synthetic products.

Connie’s mother is still not a big fan of wigs. She gladly wears turbans, also stocked by the institute. But many people in her position four years ago have found the products offered by Connie’s firm useful.

Thirty-year-old Anne Wangare talks of the stigmatisation that comes with hair loss for cancer patients. “Hair loss is a blow to one’s self-esteem and many of us are forced to hide this truth using a scarf or a hat. It is not easy waking up bald one day after years of having hair. Hair defines a woman’s beauty and femininity and once that power to decide what to do with your hair is taken away, you are left broken,” says Wangare. Wangare, who has been battling cancer of breast for two years, says her nightmare began after she started the chemo treatments. She has now come to terms with the loss after a several months of keeping to herself indoors. She says she is willing to try new products in the market, adding that every other product she has tried has caused itching or shedding. Apart from other side effects of chemotherapy, patients may lose hair all over the body.

This side effect most often starts after the first several weeks of chemotherapy and tends to increase one to two months into treatment.

Chemotherapy drugs are powerful medications that attack rapidly growing cancer cells. They also attack other rapidly growing cells in a patient’s body, including those in the hair follicle. The loss is usually temporary, and most of the time, hair will grow back.

Connie says that her passion to get good quality hair products was also stirred by her own hair loss due to use of harsh chemicals. “My hair fell off after using the wrong product and I had to have it cut,” said Connie, whose hair has made remarkable improvement after going organic with her hair food.

 

Connie vowed to deal in hair products that would bring lasting smiles to women’s faces: “No matter the cause of your hair loss, a wig or weave can really help you look and feel like yourself again.” She only deals with Ellen Wille human hair wigs and weaves from France. The products come with a specified shampoo, conditioner and balm.

Maintain quality

“We advise our clients to only use the items we give them to wash the weave to ensure quality is maintained,” said Connie. A short wig goes for between Sh11,000 and Sh15,000, depending on the length, while a long one can be as high as Sh45,000.

Ellen Wille is big in the European market, with most cancer patients using the wide range of hair extensions. Connie said that convincing the company to sell their products in this country was not easy, but when she demonstrated the need for the items on the Kenyan and African market, she landed her the deal.

Institut Sante et Beaute Capillaire opened its doors to the public in February this year. Connie said it was unfortunate that people still go for synthetic products whose chemical contents are unknown.

Her experience with the hair loss made her alive to the fact that cheap is expensive, and she encourages other women to go for healthy choices. “My products are not just an alternative to bad hair dos or hair loss due to health complications, but a healthy choice that will not disappoint you,” said Connie.

Most famous synthetic wigs and weaves in the market are known to cause irritation and allergic reactions. Apart from wigs, the shop also stocks quality turbans made from 100 per cent cotton in a variety of colours. Turbans are a versatile head covering that can be worn in many ways and are ideal for concealing hair loss.

Connie encourages women to make healthy choices when it comes to products that affect them personally.