A Lanarkshire schoolgirl with severe hair loss had her ‘dreams come true’ after being given a new head of hair by a Glasgow salon.
Chloe McCafferty started suffering from alopecia in October last year, leaving her with large bald patches.
The Wishaw youngster, who is autistic and also has a chromosome disorder and under-active thyroid, initially seemed unfazed by the hair loss.
However, in December she started wearing a Santa hat almost everyday to school to cover her head.
Then, a few days before her 12th birthday on January 6, she asked for a wig as her birthday present.
Mum Joanne told Lanarkshire Live 's sister paper, The Daily Record: “At first it was me who was more concerned about Chloe’s hair loss, trying to cover it with extra bobbles and hairbands.
“Then a few days before her birthday, she was on Facetime with my two eldest twin daughters and they asked what she wanted for her birthday.
“She said all she wanted a wig for going back to school. That's when it hit me that it was starting to affect her.”
The mum-of-five started researching wigs, but due to Chloe’s sensitive skin was unable to find one that was suitable. Her oldest daughter’s mother-in-law, Nicola Ahmed, then told her about hairdresser Lisa Gault at Be Beautiful in Glasgow, who offers hair replacement systems.
The process involves gluing or taping a mesh base to the scalp, which artificial or human hair can then be attached to.
Chloe’s sister Derri Pollock and her mother-in-law Nicola set up a GoFundMe to help pay for the procedure, with the fundraiser reaching its £1,000 target within just a few days.
Joanne said: “The Gofundme page was set up on the Thursday (5th Jan) and by the next day, Chloe’s 12th birthday, they had already raised £900.
After a consultation at the Gallowgate-based salon, Chloe was scheduled to have the system fitted on Friday, January 13.
The process took about four hours, with hairdresser Lisa describing the youngster as the perfect client.
She sat amazingly throughout the whole thing,” Lisa said. “Most kids would be impatient and always asking if they were nearly done, but Chloe wasn’t like that at all, she was wee angel.”
She added: “We tried to weave as much of Chloe’s natural hair through the system as we could and make sure the colour and length of the new hair was as close to her old hair as possible. We also added a few glitter strands to make it special for her.”
The kind-hearted salon owner has also offered Chloe to come in for a free blow dry every week and discounted her weave tightening appointments.
Mum Joanne said: “All Chloe wants is someone to listen to her and Lisa really took her time with her. I don’t have the words to express how thankful we are.
“Chloe’s dream was to go back to school with new hair and Lisa and the team made that dream come true.
“She was over the moon. On the Monday she went round every class to show all the kids and teachers.
“She was phoning everyone, I think the full family got phone calls.
“Its the biggest transformation I’ve seen in her for a long time. I’ve got my Chloe back, the wee girl with the constant smile.”
Inspired by Chloe’s story, hairdresser Lisa would now like to offer a free hair replacement system to someone who is suffering with similar hair loss.
If you or someone you know would be interested, please contact the Be Beautiful salon on 0141 390 6945..
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