Baldly Beautiful reveals how women with cancer can still look glam

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Andrea Pellegrini, 40, started YouTube channel Baldly Beautiful
Diagnosed with breast cancer last year but has now been given all clear
Her beauty tutorials have inspired thousands of women with cancer

Published: 05:23 EST, 16 October 2015 | Updated: 05:31 EST, 16 October 2015

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A make-up artist who inspired thousands of women by posting beauty tutorials while she was bald and undergoing chemotherapy has finally beaten the disease.

Andrea Pellegrini, 40, from London, says she cried herself to sleep after shaving her head prior to starting treatment in September 2014 but encouraged by her husband Paul, 40, and fellow cancer patients, the mother-of-two decided to use her beauty expertise to help others.

The mother-of-two, who launched her vlog Baldly Beautiful who was given the all-clear in February and tells FEMAIL: 'The first video I did went berserk.'

Andrea Pellegrini, 40, from London, started YouTube channel Baldly Beautiful, which has inspired tens of thousands of women with cancer

'People were sharing it all over the internet and it was actually the way a lot of people found out I had breast cancer.'

Andrea, whose videos have since been downloaded tens of thousands of times, tackled issues specific to cancer patients including bad skin, watery eyes, washed-out complexion - and a bald head.

Her hair has since grown back to a short crop but Andrea continues to post inspirational tutorials for those undergoing treatment.

Andrea, who is mother to Emily, 15, and Max, ten, believes the videos were a comfort during the tough times.

She said: 'It definitely helped me get through chemo, it was something to focus on and it helped the whole family as they all got involved.'

'My daughter Emily edited all the videos. I have no idea about all that so without her there would have been no YouTube channel!

'In terms of makeup, bright red, orange or pink lipstick always brightens up the face and a bit of pink blusher to brighten up sallow skin works wonders,' she says

Andrea in action: Her tutorials tackle issues specific to cancer patients including bad skin, watery eyes, washed-out complexion - and a bald head

Andrea admits she embarked on the vlogging with trepidation as at first she found it hard to come to terms with losing her hair.

'I shaved my head just before my second chemo just as my hair started to come out. I didn't want to go through the whole process of waking up every morning and finding hair on the pillow or having to go through the balding granddad head stage.

'My husband shaved my head and took it right down to nothing. When I looked in the mirror I cried. And that night I cried myself to sleep.

'It was a horrible thing to go through and hard to see myself looking like that. I felt like I'd lost my identity.'

Andrea perfecting her look with peach cheeks, a thick sweep of eyeliner and bright red lips. She also recommends 'a funky pair of earrings'

Andrea says she was encouraged by her husband Paul, 40, and fellow cancer patients, to launch her vlog, Baldly Beautiful

However it was her husband who gave her the idea to use her skills to help other women.

'At first I thought it was a terrible idea and that there was no way I would be putting myself out there - bald - for the world to see,' she said.

'But then I joined a young Breast Cancer network on Facebook and everyday the girls would post about their make-up problems so I asked if they would be interested in a YouTube channel for chemo patients.'

'They all thought it was a brilliant idea,' she added, and Baldly Beautiful was born.

Andrea experimented with make-up and various accessories to figure out what suited her newly bald look.

'In terms of make-up, bright red, orange or pink lipstick always brightens up the face. And a bit of pink blusher to brighten up sallow skin works wonders,' she said.

Andrea admits she embarked on the vlogging with trepidation as at first she found it hard to come to terms with losing her hair - let alone go so public with the look

'If eyes are too sore and weepy to make up invest in a waterproof liquid liner which won't smudge and flake off if the eyes are dewy.

'Try doing a thickish line with a flick if you have no lashes to accentuate the eyes.'

Andrea says she also ended up having fun with her new look.

'Personally I hated scarves - for me they were a dead giveaway and felt more "cancery",' she said.

'I also hated wigs, although I did wear them for nights out and special occasions. What I did love were funky ready made turbans.'

Andrea also swore by her fake Velcro fringe.

'You could attach it to the inside of the turban so it made it look like you had hair underneath and just your fringe was poking out,' she explained.

Andrea advised using liquid eyeliner to draw a 'thickish line with a flick if you have no lashes to accentuate the eyes'

And according to Andrea a funky pair of earring goes a long way when you have no hair.

'With a turban or if you want to go bald with no head covering - always wear a funky pair of earrings,' she said.

Andrea's honest approach and in-depth make-up knowledge has won her a legion of fans - and Andrea says the messages she receives are often overwhelming.

One message on her YouTube channel read: 'Hey I'm about to start chemo and I'm a total make-up newbie.

'I am going through all your tutorials and they are so helpful. I just want to say thanks. I'm nervous about starting therapy but you look fabulous and are very inspiring.'.

Another wrote: 'Bless you on your journey! As I just completed my fourth round out of 12 I can say that your videos will be a much needed resource for women like yourself. Just what I was looking for.'

Andrea was a fan of turbans before her hair started to grow back: 'Personally I hated scarves - for me they were a dead giveaway and felt more "cancery",' she said

Another said simply: 'Truly inspiring.'

When Andrea started her channel, her tumour was 3.5cm. And once the chemo shrank it to 1.4mm she had the lump removed altogether.

'I will be on tamoxifen for ten years and have also received Herceptin injections. But I am currently cancer-free and touch wood I will stay that way!' she said.

But that doesn't mean the end for Baldly Beautiful.

'Moving forward I will be posting videos on diet and exercise recommendations as well as make-up,' she said.

Apart from helping cancer patients feel better about themselves, Andrea is also campaigning for better benefits for cancer patients, with a petition on change.org.