More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
By Katie Nelson and Tom Pyman
Two salons are offering free bikini waxes to encourage more women to go for life-saving checks.
As part of Cervical Cancer Awareness month, Pinky's Beauty in Elm Court Village has made the offer open to women who have their smear test pending, and want to feel more confident ahead of it.
The salon in Capstone Road, Hempstead, launched a campaign earlier this month on its Facebook page to encourage more people to shed their embarrassment and go for a check-up.
VIDEO: Katie Pickett talks about the Preen for your Screen campaign
Two women a day die from cervical cancer, and one in four miss their screening.
Katie Pickett, who owns Pinky’s said: “We had six ladies within two days say they had booked their smear test, and said 'Thank you for reminding us'.
“A lot of our clients have said they had an abnormal smear and it was sorted and they were okay.”
The 34 year-old, from Walderslade, set up the scheme after six of her friends lost their lives to cancer over the past few years.
She added: “Cervical cancer is a very taboo cancer because of getting your private parts out.
“We thought, what can we do to help create awareness, what can we do to give back?
"Cervical cancer is a very taboo cancer because of getting your private parts out" - Katie Pickett
“They feel more body confident in getting ready for their test and we get really good feedback from people.”
Pinky’s is running the scheme until Valentine’s Day, but hopes to extend it.
People who also take a #smearforsmear photo - a selfie showing lipstick smeared across your face - will get a discount.
Ms Pickett wants other salons to do the same to encourage more people to book a screening and get themselves checked out.
She said: “If we make it a thing in Kent, we are covering a huge area.”
Meanwhile, Christina White has launched the promotion at her beauty parlour in Maidstone as MPs this week began debating lowering the age women are invited to undergo cervical screening from 25 to 18.
A petition was set up by a mum-of-four last year "to enable all women to detect cell changes and prevent cancer" and subsequently received more than 10,000 signatures, meaning it was taken to the House of Commons for discussion.
Now, Miss White, who owns Beautique by Riley in Bank Street, is offering free waxes - normally worth £18 - to all customers who can show confirmation of a booked smear test.
The 34-year-old, of Quickthorn Crescent, Chatham, said: “I try and get involved in a lot of social media campaigns, and saw one called #SMEAR4SMEAR, which involves people smearing lipstick across their face to try and raise awareness.
“But I wanted to take that one step further and offer something to try and make people more comfortable.
“I know us girls find it a bit embarrassing but a bit of shyness is nothing compared to what could happen if you shy away from having a smear.
“I was lucky, when I was growing up my mum spoke to me about it a lot, but there’s many young people who aren’t as aware, I don’t think it’s quite followed through the generations.
“It’s times like these when social media absolutely comes into its own - there’s been a fantastic reaction so far.”
Appointments at the salon are fully booked until March, but Miss White is preparing to open up earlier each day to help meet the rapidly-growing demand.
“I don’t mind it at all, it’s just what we do to try and get the word out there,” she said.
“If you can get over the shyness to have a bikini wax you can then build the courage to go one step further to have your smear.”
