Giving Confidence to Recovering Cancer Patients One Haircut at a Time

In partnership with EGGIE salon studio, the Ochsner Cancer Institute in Baton Rouge launched the Post Chemo Hair Growth Program in 2024. This program provides women with personalized and tailored support as they regrow their hair following chemotherapy.

In 2022 EGGIE salon studio owner, Rachel Eggie, shaved her head to better understand the needs of hair regrowth in post-chemo patients. 

"My whole career has been making people feel confident with hair," Eggie said. "So it's like bringing that confidence out and making them feel beautiful again."

The program offers six haircuts and styling sessions every eight weeks, aiming to empower participants throughout their journey. "It's not an easy thing to do to just lose your hair, but if you can embrace it, it can be also a very empowering thing," Eggie said.

Daphne Caldwell, an oncology nurse at Ochsner and the program's first participant, shared her insights as a two-time ovarian cancer survivor: "Live your life. Be normal. Don't miss out on the things that are so important."