In this story, the second in our new Hair Stories series, we’ll learn the personal meaning of hair across cultures and experiences, this time, for those battling and surviving breast cancer.

Hair is at the root of our identity—how we carry ourselves and how we feel about ourselves is often highlighted by the way we present ourselves to the world. So, what happens when you’re faced with a life-altering diagnosis that threatens to change your identity? It’s an unfathomable reality so many people battling cancer have and continue to face. But the Professional Beauty Association (PBA), a proud partner of K18 through the Future Now initiative—K18’s way of investing back into the communities we care about—is helping to put an end to this once-inevitable loss. 

In support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, PBA has partnered with HairtoStay, a non-profit that’s committed to raising funds for cancer patients to undergo scalp cooling, an expensive treatment not covered by insurance that helps dramatically reduce chemo-induced hair loss. More specifically, the funds raised through this partnership will go towards scalp cooling treatments for hairstylists—the same people who are tasked with helping their clients look and feel their best.

“As beauty professionals, we know better than anyone how important our hair is to our identity, and how traumatic and devastating it is to lose your hair,” shares Rachel Molepske, director of leadership operations + charitable programs at PBA. She adds, “Breast cancer affects everyone, including our own community. Stylists are caring and compassionate people. They need to be cared for as well.”

Having worked in the beauty industry for 50 years, Sydney Berry, the Haircare Advisory Board Chair for HairtoStay, received her cancer diagnosis in 1990 and, to her disbelief, experienced hair loss 21 days later. She knows firsthand how vital the dynamic between a client and hairstylist is. 

“The doctor is saving your life but not your dignity or identity; however, a stylist can educate and direct [you] to resources such as Hairtostay, which is the only foundation for scalp cooling subsidies,” says Berry.

The median age of the 55 women approved by the Sydney Berry Fund through HairtoStay is 33. It’s a staggering fact that’s exacerbated by other stats spotlighting the symbiotic relationship between hair and identity. According to Berry, 8 to 12 percent of those diagnosed choose to forgo chemotherapy due to their fear of hair loss. “We just had a mother of two who was not going to proceed with chemo as hair loss was not a direction she wanted to pursue,” says Berry.

Some feel empowered to do both—like Taylor, a recipient of HairtoStay and Sydney Berry Fund shown here at her first chemo appointment.