Baldly Beautiful: chemotherapy make-up tips

Mum of two Andrea was 39 when she was treated for breast cancer.

A trained make-up artist, Andrea set up a YouTube channel to give make-up tutorials for women going through chemotherapy. The channel – called Baldly Beautiful – currently has 11 videos, covering topics from eyebrows and skincare to contouring and head scarf tying.

‘Starting up Baldly Beautiful really helped me have a focus while going through treatment,’ says Andrea, ‘and gave me something positive to do with my time. Helping others who, unlike me, aren’t make-up experts and don’t know how to make themselves feel and look better with make-up gave me a real sense of achievement and made me feel really happy.

‘Losing your hair, eyebrows and eyelashes is devastating. It’s horrific when you look in the mirror and don’t recognise yourself. But a bit of make-up and knowing how to apply it can change all that and give you the confidence to take on the world.’

Although Andrea has now completed her hospital treatment, she intends to keep Baldly Beautiful going.