'Pay with a Smile' is Megan's way of helping some cancer sufferers feel more normal

Beauty therapist, Megan Senior-Binks, owner of the Totally Gorgeous Beauty Group, had a client, who had became a friend, who developed an aggressive form of leukaemia. Megan visited her friend to massage her hands and feet to try to relax her and take her mind off the side-effects of the disease and the treatment. But the one thing her friend most worried about was losing her hair, especially her eyebrows and lashes. She could wear a wig and funky turbans but the pins and needles in her hands meant she was unable to draw brows and putting on false eyelashes was impossible. After she died, Megan trained to apply permanent make-up using a digital machine to try to help others like her friend, so she could help to make them feel more feminine and normal. As a tribute to her friend, Megan is now able to offer permanent make-up free-of-charge to some cancer sufferers who cannot afford to pay. She calls this 'Pay with a Smile' because the skills Megan now has could put a smile back on the face of someone who has lost their hair*. People who are considered for 'Pay with a Smile' are referred by other charities or family members or are requests from clients themselves. Megan helps alopecia sufferers, too.

Megan said: " Permanent make-up for brows, lashes and lips is a technique which resembles the effects of applying make-up, so it enhances the wearer's esteem and boosts their confidence. I'm now training to help breast cancer patients who have had a reconstruction." 

Megan and her husband have just opened a new salon in St Mary's Arcade, Beverley. The decor is muted grey and burnished copper, with most of the furniture donated or Facebook Marketplace purchased - Megan is a big believer in reducing her carbon footprint wherever possible. The salon offers dermaplaning, chemical peels and skin analysis using Dermalogica products; aesthetic techniques such as Botox and fillers; weight loss support with the Cambridge Plan and gel nails. As Megan says, "Just making someone's hands look nice can be a positive experience for them. "

Totally Gorgeous aims to help men and women look their best. The salon is open 7 days a week. Megan can be contacted on 07702 560130 to make a consultation - there are 2 relaxing consultation rooms in the salon, ensuring absolute privacy for all clients should they require it. 

*Terms and conditions apply.  

I don’t just work with clients recovering from cancer. Alopecia suffers may also request pay with a smile treatments.