Pakefield makeup artist helping women living with cancer

Inspired by her mother's successful journey through bowel cancer, Polly Vincent is using her skills to help women who have lost their hair through chemotherapy to regain their confidence - by giving them back their eyebrows.

Miss Vincent, 35, has run Enhance Cosmetics Clinic in Pakefield, Lowestoft for the past decade.

She said: "In 2020, during lockdown, my mother was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer.

"Despite her hair thinning, other women would admire her brows, which I had worked on.

"This highlighted the lack of awareness among survivors and patients about the positive impact of permanent makeup.

"That's when I decided not only to undergo training in areola tattooing but also to spread the word about how permanent makeup can positively impact women with cancer."

Sarah Turner, a mother-of-four from Carlton Colville, and Stella Raphael-Reeves, from Pakefield, have been touched by Polly's transformative work.

Mrs Turner was diagnosed with stage 2, grade 3 breast cancer just weeks before her 49th birthday.

She underwent a lumpectomy and a double mastectomy as part of her treatment, resulting in hair loss.

Sarah Turner undergoing chemotherapy. Picture: The Turner family (Image: The Turner family)

Mrs Turner said: "I didn’t like looking at myself without brows, and I felt I looked silly with makeup on as I had no eyebrows.

"So, a friend of mine persuaded me to get them tattooed on.

Sarah Turner with her new eyebrows. Picture: The Turner family (Image: The Turner family)

"I was so nervous, but Polly was amazing."

Ms Raphael-Reeves, 59, has terminal secondary breast cancer that has spread to her liver and lungs.

An inspirational yoga instructor with a devoted following of 200 beachgoers in Lowestoft, she met Miss Vincent through their shared yoga community.

Stella Raphael-Reeves' yoga class on Lowestoft beach. Picture: Stella Raphael-Reeves (Image: Stella Raphael-Reeves)

Having always exuded confidence, it was her choice to have her eyebrows transformed through permanent makeup.

She said: "The work Polly does helps women feel empowered and confident."

Polly with Stella at Beach Yoga. Picture: Polly Vincent (Image: Polly Vincent)

During Breast Cancer Awareness Month throughout October, Miss Vincent will run a unique Pink Package campaign at Enhance Cosmetic Clinic, on Ashhurst Place, Pakefield.

A percentage of every booking made for the Pink Package will be donated to charity Little Lifts.