A salon owner is a cut above when it comes to friendship.

Anthea Mitchell, of Hair Professional in King Street, found her skills challenged in a way she would never have wanted when her colleague Marianna Moore had breast cancer.

Marianna, from Barming, was diagnosed with the disease last year and started to lose her hair after chemotherapy.

To show her support, Anthea, who lives in Vinters Park, enrolled on a course to learn how to recommend, source and fit wigs for people who have lost their hair through illness.

She said: “When Marianna was diagnosed she asked me where she could find a wig but I had no idea. I wanted to do everything I could to make her hair loss more bearable.”

The 47-year-old had training provided by My New Hair, a charity set up by celebrity hairdresser Trevor Sorbie. The organisation works with approved wig suppliers and Macmillan cancer support.

Anthea, who has worked with Marianna for 12 years, added: “There is a real skill to finding the best solution for each individual. The truly rewarding part is knowing how much difference it makes to the client during a really grim time.”

Other co-workers were also inspired to offer services which could help cancer patients. Beauty therapists Charlie Moore and Siubhan Pearson can offer Sleekbrows, which creates natural looking eyebrows where little or no hair exists.

Marianna, whose locks have started to grow back now she has finished treatment, said: “Although the diagnosis of cancer is devastating, it was losing my hair that worried me, especially as I work in a hair and beauty salon. Knowing there was help available both when my hair fell out and as it started to grow back, was a real comfort.”

Find out more at www.hair-professional.co.uk or www.mynewhair.org