Wig shop in Shanghai warms hearts of cancer patients

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Cancer is one of the biggest killers in modern society. And treatment for it is still painful. Most go through chemotherapy, which leads to hair loss in the process. But in Shanghai, a small wig shop is helping cancer patients regain their confidence.

It seems like a classic salon, with hairdressers trimming and styling hair – not from a real person, but wigs that will be used by their customers who are cancer patients.

“It is painful for them to shave off their hair – it’s excruciating. But if you give them a wig that’s exquisitely designed, after that it feels like they are reborn. They feel very confident to see themselves in the mirror,” said Qin Kang, the Pinqin wig shop owner.

Wigs made by Pinqin wig shop in east Chinese city of Shanghai / CGTN Photo

It’s a small shop measuring just 20 square meters. The owner said it is rather popular with cancer patients, because it is a safe space for them.

“Many patients wouldn’t mind showing their bald heads here – they can shave their heads in this little shop, but they wouldn’t do so in a hair salon,” said Qin.

The shop also provides other free services, such as lifetime wig maintenance, medication storage, and even the pickup of medical records. But the owner said it is not always a rosy situation.

“Some patients demand they be allowed to jump the queue. If not, they would quarrel with us. At the end of the day, they might leave, saying our service is bad. It happens a lot,” said Qin.

Most of his customers have become his friends, although he might have lost some along the way. But no matter what, Qin said he had never once thought of giving up on his customers.

1085km