Katie Piper reveals joy at being asked to model for hair care brand 10 years after losing her locks

Katie Piper has revealed her surprise at being asked to model for a hair care brand 10 years after losing her locks – and admits she relies on her tresses for giving her confidence.

The activist and model, 35, from Hampshire, stars in a new campaign for Pantene, and said she found it ‘unusual’ that the natural-looking photos taken of her were not edited. 

Katie lost all of her hair back in 2008 when she became the victim of a horrific acid attack. While some of her locks fell out as result of her injuries, the rest was shaved during surgery.

‘During my recovery my hair was changing a lot,’ Katie told FEMAIL. ‘There wasn’t one thing or one moment where I suddenly thought it was better.’

Katie Piper, 35, from Hampshire, has admitted she was surprised she wasn’t Photoshopped in her latest campaign for hair-care brand Pantene

She added that working on this campaign has given her a lot of confidence and made her realise how much hair is a part of a person’s identity.

‘Ten years ago I could never have imagined this – I didn’t have hair! But it’s amazing that these changes are happening,’ she said.

‘My journey was so unexpected, but anyone can have a relationship with their hair and get to know their hair. You can be empowered.’ 

Katie added: ‘When it did start to grow back I really appreciated it and started to rely on it for confidence.

Katie lost all her hair in 2008 when she was the victim of an acid attack. Some fell out as a result of her injuries, and the rest was shaved off during surgery. Pictured in the unedited photos

‘Caring about your hair isn’t about vanity – it should be celebrated as it can transform us, all of us, men and women.

‘I love my hair and I’m not ashamed of that, but I went through a journey to get here.’ 

The mother-of-two, who has launched her own foundation and starred in the 2018 series of Strictly, told how this is the first campaign she’s been a part of where the feedback she’s received from the public has all been positive.

‘I was so surprised when Pantene approached me, it’s not what you expect at all,’ she admitted. 

A decade after her attack, Katie (pictured in the new Pantene campaign) says she has ‘huge respect’ for her hair

‘They haven’t Photoshopped me, or changed me – which is unusual. Being on social media, I’m used to getting constant feedback from the public. 

‘However, this is the first campaign where I’ve had all positive reaction.’  

When her hair was growing back, Katie told how she grew a fringe and styled it a lot while it was short. 

Now it’s longer, she takes more time to treat it to keep it in good condition, as a good hair day is a ‘better day’ in her opinion. 

Praising the new campaign, Katie added: ‘Before I was burned, I was a big make-up person and big into fashion. Since, I’ve been styling, cutting and colouring my hair’

‘I don’t know how long it took to grow back fully, but because it was “new” hair, it was really healthy,’ she said. 

‘Before I was burned, I was a big make-up person and big into fashion. Since, I’ve been styling, cutting and colouring my hair.

‘I like looking at pictures to see what all my different hair styles represent – and to not be ashamed or experience regret for whatever reason.’

Ramla Ali (left) Paris Lees (centre) and Katie Piper (right) at a live podcast, hosted by Pantene, about the power of hair in women’s lives