mynewhair

What mynewhair does

mynewhair is a UK-registered charity (Registered Charity Number 1130815) founded in June 2006 by celebrity hairdresser Trevor Sorbie MBE, providing support and advice for people suffering from medical hair loss, primarily cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and individuals with alopecia. The charity operates the 'Salons that Care' network of over 800 independent salons and approximately 1,000 trained hair professionals across the UK and Ireland who deliver wig cutting, styling, and customisation services. Core offerings include a three-tier training programme (Level 1 basic wig cutting/styling with nurse-led communication workshops, Level 2 advanced aftercare post-chemotherapy, and Level 3 advanced technical troubleshooting introduced in 2017), a Salon Finder map tool on its website, a Patient Information Resource booklet produced with the Department of Health and the Institute of Trichologists, and a free in-home wig customisation service operated by the founder from his residence in Gosport, Hampshire.

The charity's training methodology is its principal proprietary asset, combining clinical communication skills delivered by cancer nurses with technical wig styling expertise. Patient services are provided free of charge; revenue is generated through paid training seminars priced at £200-£300 per delegate (£100 for observers on Level 1), donations via JustGiving and text-to-donate, charity fundraising events, and corporate sponsorship — primarily from L'Oréal, which also provides free use of its London Academy for monthly training seminars. Distribution relies on NHS hospital partnerships (including Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Queen Alexandra Hospital Portsmouth), cancer charity referral agreements (Macmillan Cancer Support since April 2014, Look Good Feel Better since January 2018, Maggie's Centres, Alopecia UK, Little Princess Trust), and monthly training seminars at L'Oréal Academy London. The charity has expanded internationally with training seminars in Dubai (May 2018) and Canada (April 2019), conducted in partnership with L'Oréal Middle East and L'Oréal Canada respectively. Governance rests with a board of trustees chaired by Ann Fox (Executive Director of Nursing at Sunderland NHS CCG), with Darren Stuart as co-founder and lead educator, and Joanne Atkinson (Northumbria University) as trustee contributing to education.

Name

mynewhair

Legal name

mynewhair

Website

https://mynewhair.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

mynewhair is a UK-registered charity founded in 2006 by celebrity hairdresser Trevor Sorbie MBE that operates the 'Salons that Care' network of 800+ trained salons providing wig customisation services for cancer and alopecia patients across the UK, Ireland, Dubai, and Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cancer and Medical Hair Loss Support Services

NAICS

Beauty Salons (812112), Cosmetology and Barber Schools (611511)

akta.pro primary industry

Haircutting & Styling Services (HSALAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Mobile Hairdressing Services (At-Home/On-Location) (HSALAAAO)

Keywords

• Medical hair loss support
• Wig customisation services
• Hairdresser training seminars
• Cancer patient support
• Wig styling training

Headquarters

HQ city

Durham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: mynewhair is a registered charity (Number 1130815) that relies solely on donations to continue its work. Donations are accepted through JustGiving platform, text-to-donate (MYNH00 to 70070), and direct fundraising events.
2. Government Grants: The charity received an £86,500 grant from the Department of Health in 2009 to support and extend the programme with advanced nurse-led aftercare training, education resources, and patient information booklets. Gordon Brown also provided a substantial grant when he was Prime Minister.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

mynewhair is a registered UK charity that supports people suffering medical hair loss (primarily from cancer treatment and alopecia) by coordinating a nationwide network of trained salons and mobile hairdressers offering free wig customisation, cutting, styling and aftercare services. It runs a three-tier paid training programme (Level 1, Level 2 Advanced Aftercare, Level 3) for hair professionals, supported by nurse-led communication skills modules, and produces a Patient Information Resource booklet with the Department of Health and Institute of Trichologists.

Product overview

mynewhair is a UK-based charity offering a coordinated service ecosystem for people with medical hair loss. The core offering consists of the Salons that Care network—a nationwide directory of over 800 trained salons across UK and Ireland—accessible through a Salon Finder tool on their website. The charity provides a three-tier training programme (Level 1, Level 2 Advanced Aftercare, and Level 3) that equips hairdressers with wig cutting, styling, and communication skills. The network includes a free wig customisation service operated by founder Trevor Sorbie from his home. A Patient Information Resource booklet, produced with the Department of Health and Institute of Trichologists, provides guidance on hair loss, wig selection, and aftercare. The charity has expanded internationally with training seminars in Dubai and Canada.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Level 1 Training Seminar Day-long introductory training for hairdressers covering wig cutting and styling demonstration, practical wig cutting session and nurse-led communication workshops; equips stylists to deliver medical hair loss services and join the Salons that Care network.
• Level 2 Advanced Aftercare Training Advanced training for stylists who have completed Level 1, covering wig troubleshooting, human hair wig cutting, aftercare post chemotherapy and nurse-supported communications.
• Level 3 Training Seminar Advanced technical training covering wig troubleshooting, patient perspective, resilience building and managing difficult situations; highest tier of the three-stage training programme.
• Salons that Care Network National network of independently owned and operated salons across the UK and Ireland whose stylists have completed mynewhair training and provide free wig customisation, cutting, styling and aftercare services for people with medical hair loss.
• Free Wig Customisation Service (Gosport home service) Free home-based wig cutting, styling and customisation service run personally by founder Trevor Sorbie from his home in Gosport, Hampshire, primarily for local cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and linked with Queen Alexandra Hospital.
• Patient Information Resource Booklet Booklet providing authoritative advice and support for patients experiencing hair loss, covering wig selection, styling, aftercare and hair re-growth, distributed free through the charity's network and partner organisations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 800 salons and 1,000+ trained hair professionals across UK and Ireland as of 2020
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• L'Oréal CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2019Trevor Sorbie led first international training seminars in Canada in April 2019 at L'Oréal Toronto Academy and L'Oréal Montreal Academy in association with Look Good Feel Better, Pureology Canada and L'Oréal Canada.
• Pureology CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2019Partner supporting mynewhair's vision of expanding internationally in Canada through the 2019 training seminars.
• L'Oréal Middle EastcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2018Association with Sister Beauty Lounge and L'Oréal Middle East for the charity's first international training seminar in Dubai in May 2018. Trevor Sorbie and training team conducted two-day wig cutting and styling workshop for professional hairdressers at L'Oréal Professional Academy Dubai.
• Sister Beauty Lounge (Dubai)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2018Dubai-based partner collaborating with mynewhair and L'Oréal Middle East to host first overseas training seminar and workshop for professional hairdressers in May 2018.
• Look Good Feel BettercoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 January 2018Partnership formed January 2018 with the only international cancer support charity. Both charities committed to helping those affected by cancer look and feel better through signposting and mutual promotion via websites and social media. mynewhair network stylists with skincare/make-up experience will be involved in LGFB workshops.
• Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 February 2016Innovative collaboration with Northern Centre for Cancer Care to provide patients undergoing cancer treatment access to specially trained mynewhair hairdressers offering wig customisation either at the trust or via network salons in the North East.
• Macmillan Cancer SupportcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 2 April 2014Innovative partnership launched April 2014 to help reach and improve lives of people affected by cancer. Macmillan directs people seeking hair and wig advice to local mynewhair services, while mynewhair hairdressers refer clients to Macmillan's helpline and advice services.
• Department of HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2009£86,500 grant provided to support and extend the mynewhair programme including advanced nurse-led aftercare training for hairdressers, comprehensive education resources for hair professionals, patient information booklets, and confidence building for hairdressers dealing with psychological implications of wig styling for cancer patients.
• L'Oréal (UK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMain sponsor providing facilities for monthly training seminars at L'Oréal Academy in London. L'Oréal allows use of their facilities and provides financial support to help the charity expand its international reach.
• Trendco Wig SupplierscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred wig supplier of Trevor Sorbie with suppliers all over the UK who can normally deliver next day by mail. Quality is described as first class with hundreds of wigs to choose from.
• Queen Alexandra Hospital (Portsmouth)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNHS hospital with large oncology department linked to Trevor Sorbie's free wig customisation service offered from his home in Gosport for local cancer patients.
• The Institute of TrichologistsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with mynewhair and Department of Health to produce the Patient Information Resource booklet providing advice and support for patients experiencing hair loss.
• Maggie's CentresminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres where mynewhair trained stylists like Caron Collins integrate into Talking Heads Sessions providing wig advice and styling demonstrations.
• Little Princess TrustminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCharity providing wigs to children and young people with cancer. mynewhair network salons work with the Trust and refer clients as needed.
• Alopecia UKminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCharity for people affected by alopecia. mynewhair directs people to Alopecia UK's resources and works together on children's support groups in the North East.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Alopecia UK: UK charity supporting people affected by alopecia, working closely with mynewhair on referrals and joint support groups (e.g., North East children's support). Serves a directly overlapping patient segment (alopecia hair loss).
• Cancer Hair Care: UK charity dedicated to providing hair loss advice and wig services specifically for people undergoing cancer treatment. Operates a similar salon-based, hairdresser-network model and shares patient referrals with mynewhair — the closest functional peer.
• Little Princess Trust: UK charity that provides real-hair wigs to children and young people with cancer and also funds childhood cancer research. Active referral partner of mynewhair's salon network; overlaps on wig provision for medical hair loss, though focused on the paediatric segment.

Others

• Heavenly Wigs (Trendco): UK wig supplier and preferred supplier partner of Trevor Sorbie. Provides the physical wigs that mynewhair stylists then customise — adjacent commercial participant in the same value chain rather than a direct mission peer.
• Maggie's Centres: UK charity running cancer caring centres across the UK; partners with mynewhair via Talking Heads sessions where mynewhair stylists deliver wig advice. Adjacent ecosystem partner rather than direct competitor.

Regional players

• Wigs for Kids: US nonprofit providing hair replacement systems to children experiencing hair loss. Mission overlap on wig provision for medical hair loss but geographically distinct (North America) and paediatric-focused.

Emerging players

• Pantene Beautiful Lengths: Procter & Gamble-run programme providing free real-hair wigs to women with cancer in the US. Similar wig-provision mission but operates a hair-donation model rather than a salon-network/training model.
• Lolly's Locks: US nonprofit providing high-quality wigs to cancer patients who cannot afford them. Smaller, focused mission similar to mynewhair but without an affiliated salon training network.

Broad incumbents

• Macmillan Cancer Support: Large UK cancer charity with a wide range of support services including information on hair loss and wig provision. Partner of mynewhair since April 2014; not a wig-styling specialist but operates a much broader cancer support remit and channels patients to mynewhair.
• Look Good Feel Better: International cancer support charity offering beauty and skin/make-up workshops to women undergoing cancer treatment. Active partner of mynewhair since January 2018; broader scope (appearance overall rather than hair loss specifically) makes it a broader-incumbent peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mynewhairorg
• Facebookfacebook.com/mynewhair
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/my-new-hair-charity
• Instagraminstagram.com/mynewhairorg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about mynewhair